Our Mission

Diplomacy is seen not as simply the purview of the diplomat or exists within the confines of state-to-state relations, but encompasses the broad range of governmental and nongovernmental players concerned with issues as old as war and peace, as new as cybersecurity or climate change, and as critical as human security and good governance. The Institute also seeks to look beyond the issues of the day and explore the over-the-horizon challenges and the impact of domestic politics on the limits and opportunities of diplomacy.

To fulfill its mission, the Institute:

  • Offers the Certificate in Diplomatic Studies, open to all GSFS or BSFS candidates, and prepares students to work effectively in careers beyond diplomacy, in an interdisciplinary, interagency and multilateral context on global issues that confront states, international institutions and their officials working across governments, with the private sector and civil society, and non-state actors.
  • Hosts mid- and senior-level practitioners who are afforded the opportunity to research and write on significant issues confronting diplomacy-substantive and functional-and who also conduct courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
  • Manages the Georgetown Leadership Seminar, which promotes dialogue on global affairs among individuals from the public, private and nonprofit sectors who will shape the future of their organizations and countries.
  • Sponsors working groups, often in collaboration with other elements of the School and the University as well as non-academic groups that bring together high-level, experienced practitioners and eminent scholars to examine emerging international and statecraft issues and recommend policy solutions.
  • Awards scholarships, fellowships and travel grants to undergraduate and graduate students interested in diplomacy as a field of study.
  • Develops and curates an extensive library of case studies on diplomacy that serve as a unique teaching tool and resource for high school through graduate school.
  • Builds diplomatic skills and capacity through international negotiation simulations (e.g., “Syria’s Civil War and the Refugee Crisis”) and modules (e.g., negotiations) and short courses for practitioners.
  • Co-founded/co-chairs The International Forum on Diplomatic Training, which currently includes more than 60 member-states.