The course offers an overview of the practices of the diplomatic activity. It is subdivided into 4 classes, each one of 4 hours, on a Friday afternoon: 

1) The basics of the diplomatic activity and the profile of a diplomat. The structure of an embassy and its diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff; the tools of communication with the institutions of the country of accreditation; the modalities and channels of the public communication daily activity

2) the activities connected with the organization of a visit or another event that concerns the relations between States. Protocol matters are functional to the foreign policy of a country. The organizational skills are essential for the training of a diplomat.

3 the multilateral diplomacy, that presents many specific features compared to the activities connected with the bilateral diplomacy. Communication and negotiating skills are the essence of multilateral diplomacy. Coalition-building, mediation, a balance between firmness and compromise are fundamental requirements in multilateral diplomacy.

4) the activities related to the promotion of bilateral interest, especially in the economic field. Embassies and trade offices have been always supportive of companies of their own countries, but the economic diplomacy requires nowadays a more proactive role, a “scouting” of potentialities and the ability to matching interests of its own country and the country of accreditation.

Practical exercises may be assigned to the students on the tools discussed in each class..