IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy (7-16 June 2021)- Virtual

Registration is Open

The IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy, the first IPSA Summer School to be held in Canada, is a ten-day program hosted virtually at Concordia University, in the heart of Montreal. Policy-oriented seminars will be complemented with a practical hands-on Diplomacy Lab, allowing the participants to work on case studies in teams. Through virtual field trips, participants will also explore practitioners’ points of view and have the opportunity to network with Montreal’s vibrant international community.

Montreal is home to over 60 International Organizations (IO), including IPSA and the only UN agency in Canada (the International Civil Aviation Organization) and has a very active consular corp. Furthermore, it is situated close to Ottawa, Canada’s capital, making it easy for ambassadors and global affairs experts to participate in the Summer School.

We invite all graduate students, young researchers and professionals to participate in the upcoming IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy.

Academic Leaders

Elizabeth Bloodgood (Concordia), Cameron Thies (Arizona State University), Kim Fontaine-Skronski (IPSA).

Educational Program

The IPSA-Concordia Summer School in Applied Diplomacy course objective is to combine theory and practice by prominent scholars and diplomats, for the benefit of the participants from around the world. Students will attend two (2) or three (3) classes per day on Zoom, mixing discussions on the theory and practice of diplomacy as it has changed over time, complemented with a practical hands-on Diplomacy Lab to collaborate on actual case studies as teams. The best Diplomacy Lab team will be invited to the next IPSA World Congress of Political Science to organize a panel and present their research.

Course Outline

Introduction: The Evolution of Diplomacy
Diplomacy in International Relations Theory
Traditional Diplomacy – States, International Organizations
Changing Diplomacy – Agencies, Non-State Actors, Municipalities
International Negotiations, Past and Present
Digital Diplomacy
International Law and Norms of Diplomacy
Scientific Diplomacy

The language of instruction is English but written assignments can be submitted in either French or English. In 2021, all activities will be conducted remotely via Zoom.

Educational Field Trips

A virtual field trip to Ottawa, the nation’s capital, will be organized to meet with Canadian government officials. Students will also meet leaders of Montreal-based international organizations as well as participate in virtual networking events with diplomats and government officials.

Schedule

Monday, 7 June 2021
AM – Introduction: Diplomacy in IR Theory
PM – Traditional Diplomacy (states and international organizations)
Opening ceremony keynote by a practitioner on the “Practice and challenges facing diplomats today”

Tuesday, 8 June
AM – Changing Diplomacy (agencies, non-state actors)
PM – Municipal Diplomacy

Wednesday, 9 June
AM – International Negotiations, Past and Present
PM 1 – International Law and Norms of Diplomacy
PM 2 – Introduction to the Diplomacy Lab (presentation of the simulation exercise on real-problem cases and creation of teams)

Thursday, 10 June
AM – Digital Diplomacy
PM – Diplomacy Lab (first working session)

Friday, 11 June
Virtual field trip to Global Affairs Canada (to be confirmed)

Saturday, 12 June
AM and PM – Diplomacy Lab (all day working session)

Monday, 14 June
AM – Scientific diplomacy
PM – Diplomacy Lab (third working session)

Tuesday, 15 June
AM – Diplomacy Lab (final session)
PM – Diplomacy Lab Team Presentations and Virtual Networking

Wednesday, 16 June
AM – Virtual field trip to a Montreal-based International Organization
PM – Closing Ceremony Keynote “The Future of Diplomacy”

Thursday and Friday, 17 and 18 June
Completion of final assignments

Cost

Details on cost breakdown can be found on the tuition and fees page.

View tuition and fees

Accommodations

The 2021 IPSA-Concordia Summer School will be conducted remotely via Zoom.

How to apply

Applications sent in by 1 April will be considered for fellowship and traveling support. International students can get up to over 1,000 CAD in financial assistance.
Financial assistance will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. If no financial support is needed, the final application deadline is 15 April. Participants seeking to take the summer school for professional rather than academic recognition can apply until 30 April (space allowing).

Contact Information and Questions

Questions about the IPSA-Concordia Summer School, and application processes, can be sent to [email protected].

New Deadline

Applications sent in by 1 April 2021 will be considered for fellowship and travel support. Financial assistance will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.