The course offers an overview of the practice of the diplomatic activity. It is subdivided into 4 classes: 

1) 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 has many specificities compared to the bilateral activities. 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 its countries, but the economic diplomacy requires nowadays a more proactive role, a “scouting” of potentialities and the ability to matching interests of its country and the country of accreditation.

Each class will include time for conducting practical exercises and tests.

At the end of the course, students will be required to write an essay on the subjects above, with a focus on the perspectives of the diplomatic activities in the context of 21st century.