Professional Ethics, Diplomacy and Communication

• Government officials, MPs, Senior civil servants
• Spokespersons and senior communications officials
• Diplomatic staff, advisers and consultants
• Embassy and High Commission staff
• Foreign Ministry senior staff and officials
• All personnel dealing with International Relations
• Directors of policy and communications
• Policy and campaigns managers
• Public Relations Officials
• Employees involved in external affairs and protocol
• Key personnel from all Ministries
• Security Forces personnel
• Management from departments organising international conferences and meetings
• Permanent Secretaries, senior secretarial
• Staff and administrators
• Business leaders with government contracts

• Develop and understand how international relations functions
• Appreciate the role of diplomacy in foreign affairs
• Raise an awareness of ethical considerations in overseas activities
• Understand the impact of international law, relationships and procedures on national governments
• Make aware the importance of protocol and procedures for overseas and visiting dignitaries
• How to use diplomacy in times of conflict and crisis
• What the real and ethical obligations of diplomatic recognition and privilege are
• What international codes of ethics are and their obligations
• Appreciate the basic principles of international negotiating
• The impact of social media and new technology on diplomatic activity
• Understand how 24 hour news has changed the international relations landscape
• How to use media to good use in diplomatic initiatives

Understanding International Relations

• Understanding the concept of international relations
• What is diplomacy and why is it necessary
• Who are diplomats
• How does diplomacy function
• An approach to international ethics
• The three main forms of ethics
• The need for good communication and its role in international relations
• Trends in government communications globally

The role of diplomacy in international affairs

• Key areas of concern in diplomacy
• Modern diplomatic practice based on Talleyrand
• Observing basic principles of international law
• Cross border and international arbitration and monitoring
• Diplomatic recognition and its responsibilities
• Eight important types of diplomatic activity
• Use of formal and informal diplomacy
• Diplomatic relations between smaller states
• Diplomacy in times of conflict

Ethics and their importance in international affairs

• Code of ethics in international relations
• Global organisations and their ethical codes
• International and national pressures on ethical behaviour and codes
• Self-interest versus moral obligation
• Considering self-interest against international obligations
• Negotiating in good faith
• Observing international ethics in such areas as climate change
• Ethnic and ideological considerations in interstate relations
• Problems of ethical considerations in areas such as Space and the Arctic
• The international issues raised by corruption and patronage
  

The Management of Communications

• The effect of modern media-24 hour news on diplomacy and international relations
• The impact of the new phenomenon of social media and new technology on diplomacy
• The reality of new means of communication; e mail, twitter, Facebook and texting
• Communications and dissident groups and other protestors
• The role of international news media in international relations
• The importance of media relations and using national media to good effect
• The importance of key messages in international communications

Important diplomatic, ethical and communications considerations

• Protocol, cultural affairs, and dealing with overseas dignitaries
• Governments and their role in international business
• Embassies, High Commissions and their roles
• The role of diplomacy and communications in times of crisis
• The importance of well managed international events
• The impact of social megatrends on government relations (poverty, greenhouse gases, technology trends etc.)