Diplomacy Decoded: Harvard's Approach To Global Relations

what is diplomacy harvard

Harvard University is home to several initiatives and programs dedicated to the study and advancement of diplomacy. The Future of Diplomacy Project, for instance, aims to promote the study and understanding of diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft in international politics. It also seeks to enhance Harvard Kennedy School's teaching capabilities in this area and build public awareness of diplomacy's critical role in addressing global challenges. The American Academy of Diplomacy focuses on strengthening American diplomacy by leveraging the expertise of former senior ambassadors and foreign policy leaders. Additionally, the Diplomacy and International Politics Program explores pressing issues in global political relations, including US-Russian tensions in cyberspace and their potential impact on nuclear stability. These efforts reflect Harvard's commitment to fostering diplomatic knowledge and engagement on a global scale.

Characteristics Values
Definition "The American Academy of Diplomacy works to strengthen American diplomacy."
Membership "A small group of former senior ambassadors and leaders in foreign policy."
Mission To strengthen American diplomacy, improve staffing, and recommend essential improvements in professional education and training for America's diplomats.
Activities Outreach programs, lectures, awards, and competitions to promote interest and understanding of the importance of diplomacy to foreign and national security interests.
Scope "Successful diplomacy involves a broad spectrum of agencies and tools, and how we coordinate these assets is a major part of success."
Related Projects "The Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, which aims to promote the study and understanding of diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft in international politics."
Publications "A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century," a report published in 2020 by the American Diplomacy Project, which offers recommendations for reforming and strengthening the U.S. Foreign Service.

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The American Academy of Diplomacy

The Academy's study programs have made unique contributions to examining proper staffing for State and USAID and recommending essential improvements in professional education and training for America’s diplomats. Through outreach programs, lectures, awards, and competitions, the Academy promotes interest in and understanding of the importance of diplomacy in addressing the most challenging problems facing foreign and national security interests.

The Future of Diplomacy Project aims to enhance Harvard Kennedy School's ability to teach diplomacy, support research in modern diplomatic practice, and build public understanding of diplomacy's indispensable role in an increasingly complex and globalized world. It engages with leading practitioners who use innovative means of conflict prevention and resolution. The project also brings leading practitioners and thinkers to Harvard through the Fisher Family Fellows program, where they conduct seminars and engage in critical reflection on issues of their expertise with the Harvard community.

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The Future of Diplomacy Project

The project engages leading practitioners who employ innovative methods of conflict prevention and resolution beyond the negotiation table. It also includes the Fisher Family Fellows program, which brings renowned practitioners and thinkers to Harvard to explore the evolving discipline of diplomacy in the context of 21st-century challenges. These fellows, including diplomats, politicians, scholars, and activists, spend several weeks or months at Harvard, conducting seminars and engaging in critical reflections with the wider Harvard community.

In November 2020, as part of the American Diplomacy Project, Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries published a report titled "A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century." This report highlighted the challenges faced by the U.S. Foreign Service and offered recommendations to strengthen and reform America's diplomatic capabilities. The project continues to address pressing issues in diplomacy and international relations, fostering a deeper understanding and contributing to the development of effective solutions.

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Diplomacy and International Politics Program

The International Relations Master's Degree Program at Harvard Extension School offers a flexible curriculum that can be customised to suit your schedule and professional goals. The program consists of 12 courses, including a thesis or capstone project, and covers a range of topics such as human rights, international security, armed conflict, comparative politics, and world religions. The program provides a strong foundation for careers in diplomacy, government, and non-profit organisations, with 99% of recent graduates recommending it.

The program's flexible structure allows students to study part-time and choose courses that align with their interests and goals. The curriculum is designed to provide a deep understanding of global issues and their implications, with a focus on transferable knowledge and skills. Students can also take advantage of the "earn your way in" admissions process, where foundational courses count towards their degree and help ensure success in the program.

In addition to the master's degree program, Harvard Extension School offers a graduate certificate in International Relations. This certificate requires four courses and provides insight into regional and international political institutions and their impact on governance and diplomacy. Students can choose from a range of course groups, including international relations, international political economy, foreign policy, human rights, and geopolitics.

The International Relations program at Harvard is taught by renowned academics in the fields of international affairs, international security, conflict negotiation, and more. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a globalised society and pursue careers such as foreign service officers, policy analysts, intelligence analysts, and public affairs consultants. With its flexible curriculum, renowned faculty, and focus on transferable skills, the Diplomacy and International Politics Program at Harvard offers a comprehensive and practical approach to studying international relations and preparing for careers in diplomacy and international politics.

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The American Diplomacy Project

The Future of Diplomacy Project recognises that the U.S. Foreign Service is facing one of the most significant crises in its history. American diplomats lack the necessary support, funding, training and access to senior leadership positions to effectively represent the interests of the American people and provide elected leaders with policy advice. In response to this, Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries co-authored a report, 'A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century', which offers recommendations on how to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of American diplomacy. The report calls for a major bipartisan initiative led by President-elect Biden and Congress to address these issues.

The American Academy of Diplomacy, a group of former senior ambassadors and leaders in foreign policy, also contributes to strengthening American diplomacy through its study programs. These programs have made significant contributions by examining proper staffing and recommending improvements in professional education and training for American diplomats. Additionally, the Academy promotes interest and understanding of the importance of diplomacy in addressing challenging foreign and national security issues.

The Diplomacy and International Politics Program at the Belfer Center further supports research and teaching on global political relations, with a specific focus on the Middle East, the Gulf, and South Asia. The program explores urgent questions, such as the potential implications of U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace and the impact of renewable energy on the hegemony of fossil fuel-rich states.

Through these initiatives, The American Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School strives to enhance American diplomacy by addressing contemporary challenges, promoting research and understanding, and improving the effectiveness of diplomatic representation and policy advice.

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The role of diplomats in the 21st century

Diplomacy in the 21st century is facing new challenges, and diplomats must adapt to an increasingly complex and globalized world. The role of diplomats remains vital to international relations and conflict resolution, but the landscape is shifting.

The United States Foreign Service is facing a crisis, with career diplomats lacking support, funding, training, and access to senior leadership positions. This is a view shared by Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries, who co-authored a report in 2020 on how to "rebuild, reform, and reimagine" the service. Their aim is to ensure that diplomats have the tools to defend and advance their country's interests in a rapidly changing world. This crisis is not unique to the US, and other nations' diplomats are facing similar issues.

Diplomats must now navigate a world where cyber operations blur the line between peace and war, and where renewable energy sources could potentially democratize the energy landscape, shifting power away from fossil fuel-rich states. The discipline of diplomacy must evolve to meet these challenges, and projects such as Harvard's Future of Diplomacy Project are working to promote the study of modern diplomatic practice. The project engages with leading practitioners who are finding innovative ways to prevent and resolve conflict.

Frequently asked questions

The American Academy of Diplomacy at Harvard works to strengthen American diplomacy. It is made up of a small group of former senior ambassadors and leaders in foreign policy. They aim to promote interest and understanding of the importance of diplomacy in addressing the most challenging problems facing US foreign and national security interests.

The Future of Diplomacy Project is dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft in international politics. It aims to build Harvard Kennedy School's capacity to teach in this area, support research in modern diplomatic practice, and increase public understanding of diplomacy's crucial role in an increasingly complex and globalized world.

The American Diplomacy Project is part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. It produced a report titled "A U.S. Diplomatic Service for the 21st Century," which was co-authored by Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries. The report addresses the profound crisis facing the US Foreign Service and offers recommendations on how to rebuild, reform, and reimagine it to defend and advance US interests.

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