Public Diplomacy Essentials Feb 2026

Public diplomacy is a key feature of today´s international affairs, as more actors are involved in the pursuit of foreign policy goals.

There is a new intensity in the interactions between governments and countries in the international system, influenced by factors such as: 

• Globalisation
• The rise of non-state actors in the international arena
• Greater global competition, affecting multilateral diplomacy collaborations
• Democratisation of diplomacy

With more public interest in foreign affairs than ever before, ordinary people are demanding greater scrutiny on diplomacy, and governments are obliged to respond with public information about the policies they pursue and the results that they achieve.

This course covers the essentials of public diplomacy, outlining what it can and cannot do, with case studies.