IR226: Applied Diplomacy: Strategy, Influence and Negotiating

Curious about becoming a diplomat or want to understand what diplomats really do? This course takes you beyond the stereotypes of formal speeches and champagne receptions to uncover the realities of diplomacy in action.

You’ll explore how nations negotiate, respond to crises, and manage relationships behind the scenes. From drafting urgent communiqués in the early hours to navigating the complex rules of protocol, you’ll gain insight into the skills and strategies that shape international affairs—and discover what it truly takes to succeed in this fascinating field.

This is applied diplomacy, meaning you'll work through the same challenges real diplomats face. Trade negotiations demand patience and precision, crisis response requires quick thinking under pressure You will learn both through structured exercises and simulations themed around conflict resolution and strategic influence. The academic literature anchors everything, but the focus stays firmly on practice.

Getting into a foreign or diplomatic service, moving up the ranks, and building effective relationships with counterparts all require specific skills. This course unpacks them systematically, drawing on insights from practitioners. You'll explore protocol's hidden logic (what is diplomatic immunity), understand how diplomatic entertaining serves strategic purposes, and confront the gap between diplomacy's glamorous image and its often unglamorous reality.

London becomes part of the classroom. Walking past the Foreign Office, 10 Downing Street, embassies and international organisations like the Commonwealth lets you contextualise the work in real space. 

Whether you're considering a diplomatic career or simply want to understand how international relations functions beyond the headlines, this course should be fun and enriching. You'll learn what diplomats do and how they do it with an exceptional group of LSE faculty including Professors who have served as the former Deputy Foreign Minister of Mexico, the Chief Economist of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, an adviser to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, a Senior Adviser in the U.S. Department of State, and acting High Commissioner (Ambassador) to India and Pakistan.

The course will be fast-paced, engaging and fun, and will help you build skills, insight and understanding of diplomacy. 

Prerequisites: At least one introductory course in either social science (e.g. political science, international relations, sociology, economics), history or law.

Level: 200 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: Class participation (25%) and a final exam (75%)

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

Are you interested in diplomacy?  Do you want a career that has an international dimension? Are you curious about foreign policy? How international relations works between states, and how diplomats negotiate, advise and operate? This course will engage you on this and more, with a focus on applied skills and insight into how diplomats work in practice. This will be particularly useful if you want to work as a diplomat, as a civil servant, in think-tanks or lobbying, or for the United Nations or other international organisations.

• Learn about applied diplomacy, measured by a short exam at the end of the course.
• Develop drafting and advisory skills, measured by writing a short draft diplomatic cable.
• Gain crisis and negotiation skills, measured by participation in simulations and live feedback from tutors.
• Develop an understanding of the major international policy themes that countries deal with, and how they organise to deal with them.

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.