Diplomacy: Facts, Concepts & Dynamics
Spring 2025
Amb. (ret) Larry André
Course Description
This course considers diplomacy from a practitioner perspective informed by the instructor’s 40-year career in global public affairs. We begin with a unit on the origins and definitions of diplomacy, followed by an examination of United States structures for the development and implementation of diplomatic policies. Next, we review key dynamics in the development and implementation of diplomatic policy including goal setting, shared goal determination, international partner coordination, and various influences. Finally, we consider diplomacy “in extremis” and wrap up. We consider historical and contemporary examples from around the globe, weighed toward contemporary diplomatic practice by the United States. “Practitioner perspective” means that the instructional sources are comprised of official documents, think tank analyses, journalism, and practitioner narratives. This course aims to equip students with facts, concepts and dynamics about diplomacy, both formulation and implementation.
This is a hybrid lecture and discussion seminar. Active student participation in class discussions, informed by thorough engagement with the instructional sources (readings and other media), is essential. Assessments consist of midterm and final exams (last day of class), discussion blog contributions, two writing assignments, and an oral presentation (briefing).
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