Executive Course - Diplomacy in a new international order

“Develop your skills and understanding in contemporary diplomacy”

As the global balance of power shifts and new actors, technologies, and narratives reshape the diplomatic arena, today’s diplomats and international professionals must operate across a broader spectrum of issues, platforms, and stakeholders.

This one-week executive course offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of global affairs, equipping participants with the tools to navigate complexity, build influence, and engage strategically in an increasingly multipolar, digitized, and contested world—demanding not only a deeper understanding of these changes but also adaptation to new diplomatic norms and practices.

The course takes participants on a journey through today’s shifting geopolitical landscape, exploring the foundations of global power and the evolving practices of diplomacy. It examines the expanding ecosystem of international actors—from legislators and corporations to defence and security sectors—highlighting their growing influence on global affairs. Participants will then unpack the political implications of technological advances, including disinformation and the global AI race, before engaging with the digital tools and strategies shaping diplomacy in the 21st century

OBJECTIVES

• Trace the historical foundations of geopolitical thinking and analyze how global power has shifted over time, shaping today’s strategic landscape.
• Identify and evaluate the roles of new diplomatic actors—including parliaments, cities, and defense institutions—and how their practices reshape the conduct of international relations.
• Examine the geopolitical implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, from diverse regional perspectives focusing on Asia.
• Understand and assess the impact of disinformation and influence operations, and explore strategies for debunking and countering such threats in diplomatic contexts.
• Develop a working knowledge of digital tools and platforms used in diplomacy, including GovTech, and the application of AI in digital diplomatic engagement.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

This programme is particularly relevant for mid-to senior-level practitioners from various organisations working or aspiring to work as:

• Early career diplomats and members of permanent missions
• Professionals in the fields of governmental affairs, compliance, corporate social responsibility, environment, social and governance and sustainability
• Policy and governance officers and the head of mid-to-senior-level programme

CERTIFICATE
Executive Certificate of Attendance for the Diplomacy in a New International Order programme.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

DAY 1

Set the stage for understanding today’s geopolitical dynamics

• Global power and foundations of geopolitical thinking
• Present and emerging trends in diplomatic practices

DAY 2 – DAY 3

Explore the expanding diplomacy ecosystem and how new actors influence international affairs.

• From informal diplomacy to hybrid and networked diplomacies
• Parliamentary diplomacy: legislators in foreign and international dialogue.
• Multinational corporations, business lobbies, and private-sector actors
• Armed forces, Defence and Security Sector

DAY 4:

Unpack the political and geopolitical implications of recent technological advances

• Disinformation: countering influence operations and narrative manipulation
• Global AI race and the geopolitics of AI: An Asian perspective

DAY 5:

Engage with the tools and techniques shaping diplomacy in the digital age.

• Opportunities and challenges of AI and data analytics for Govtech and Diplotech.
• Apply and use innovative and creative digital tools for digital diplomatic engagement.