Course 2025-2026 a.y.

Classes: 31 (II sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: VIKTORIIA LAPA

The course does not require prior knowledge of specific areas of law, though knowledge of comparative public law and European/international law would be a plus. Since most classes are interactive and include expert workshops and lectures, regular attendance is essential for students to acquire the necessary skills and engage in role simulation.

In today's world, marked by pandemics, ongoing political tensions and wars, diplomacy is more crucial than ever. Whether it is nuclear disarmament negotiations or peace agreements in conflict-ridden regions, diplomacy continues to be a key instrument in shaping international relations. Although it may sometimes seem that diplomacy fails when wars occur, negotiations continue even during times of conflict and tension—whether they involve peace talks or prisoner exchanges. Intercultural communication and storytelling have become crucial for delivering messages to a wider public and for creating coalitions in support of specific causes. Whether students aspire to work at the UN, WTO, WHO, represent their governments, or work in the public relations departments of private multinational companies, skills in public communication, storytelling, and political analysis will be essential for their future in any field, whether at the local or global level.

The curriculum is highly interactive, incorporating a blend of learning methods, including experiential activities (such as a simulation on a specific real-life problem), expert-led lectures, and workshops from leading diplomats and negotiators.

• Public Diplomacy: Strategies for influencing public opinion and promoting national interests.
• Political Analysis Reporting: Analyzing and reporting on political events and trends.
• International Negotiation and Peace Mediation Techniques: Approaches to resolving conflicts and reaching diplomatic agreements.
• Diplomacy in Multilateral Settings & Wartime Diplomacy: Working as a diplomat in international organizations and navigating diplomacy during conflict.
• Effective Communication & Storytelling: Mastering the art of storytelling to communicate complex ideas persuasively.
• Trade Negotiations: Understanding the stages of trade negotiations, from consultation to final agreements.

  The curriculum is highly interactive, incorporating a blend of learning methods, including experiential activities (such as a simulation on a specific real-life problem), expert-led lectures, and workshops from leading diplomats and negotiators.

At the end of the course student will be able to...

At the end of the course student will be able to...

Students will develop and apply a wide range of skills, including:

• Public Diplomacy: Using strategies to influence public opinion and promote national interests abroad.
• Effective Intercultural Communication: Navigating cultural differences to build stronger international relationships.
• Political Analysis and Reporting: Analyzing political events and effectively communicating insights through detailed reports.
• International Negotiation and Peace Mediation Techniques: Engaging in a dialogue and conflict resolution in global settings.
• Effective Communication and Storytelling: Crafting compelling narratives to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Trade Negotiation Skills: Navigating all stages of trade negotiations, from consultation to final agreements. 

At the end of the course student will be able to...

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Practical Exercises
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments
• Interaction/Gamification

Using a workshop format, the course is structured around three parts:

1.     Discussion of key concepts through presentations/workshops by guest speakers and experts

2.     Student interaction with the experts, and

3.     Engagement in a simulation where students are required to present a position from the perspective of an assigned role.

The simulation is not graded, but they must be completed in order for the student to build skills and to receive a feedback by the professor (and also to receive course credit).

	Continuous assessment	Partial exams	General exam
Individual Works/ Assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)	x
Collaborative Works / Assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)	x
Active class participation (virtual, attendance)	x
Peer evaluation	x

The goal of the course is for students to acquire a substantial set of skills in negotiation, diplomacy, and intercultural communication. The instructor will dedicate time to reviewing and discussing each student’s position paper, which they will submit as a result of the final case simulation.

Since the course follows a workshop format—focusing on practical, real-life challenges—most assignments stem from brief negotiations or role-playing exercises conducted during class. Therefore, attendance is essential for students to gain practical, hands-on skills needed to address the challenges that diplomats, negotiators, and other experts encounter in their work.

Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (2006). Getting to yes (2nd ed.). Penguin Putnam.

Apps P., (2024). Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of NATO: the “astonishingly fine history” of the world’s most successful military alliance, Headline.

Cooper, A., Jorge H., and Ramesh T. (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy(2013; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Aug. 2013)