Young Diplomat Summer School – 21st Century Diplomacy

About

The world of diplomacy is changing, faster, and more profoundly, than at any point in recent memory. Old rules are being rewritten. New powers are asserting themselves. Technology is reshaping how states communicate, compete, and cooperate. And the next generation of diplomats and global leaders will need to be equipped not just with classical skills, but with a sharp understanding of the forces now redefining international relations.
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The Young Diplomat Summer School on 21st Century Diplomacy brings together students and young professionals for an intensive week in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice. Through expert-led lectures, hands-on workshops, and a full diplomatic simulation, participants will explore the central question of our time: what does diplomacy look like when the world it was built for no longer exists?
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We live in an era of strongman politics, where leaders like Trump and Putin pursue personal envoy diplomacy, bypassing traditional multilateral frameworks. Conflicts are multiplying. Cyberspace has become a new battleground for influence and disruption. Geopolitical fault lines are shifting. And yet diplomacy, humanity's oldest tool for resolving conflict, remains more essential than ever. The question is not whether diplomacy will survive these pressures, but how it will transform to meet them.
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Over the course of one week, participants will examine these questions from multiple angles: the geopolitical landscape reshaping alliances and rivalries, the growing role of cyber diplomacy and digital power, the skills of public speaking and persuasion that all diplomats must master, and the importance of inclusive leadership in building coalitions across difference. Each session connects theory to practice, preparing participants not just to understand the world but to act in it.
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The program also makes full use of The Hague's unique position as the global hub of international law and diplomacy. Visits to the city's international institutions will bring the week's themes to life — and the culminating diplomatic simulation will challenge participants to bring everything they have learned to the table.
Set in the city that houses the International Criminal Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and dozens of international organisations and embassies, the Summer School offers more than education. It offers immersion.
Join us this summer and become part of a new generation shaping what diplomacy looks like in the 21st century.

Course leader

Hans van den Berg

Target group

To be admitted for this program you do not need previous experience, knowledge, or related studies in the field. The minimum age is 18 with no maximum age, there are no further restrictions on educational background or work experience. This program is open to anyone interested in the subject and wishing to obtain experience with diplomacy and negotiation

Course aim

GAIN THEORETICAL INSIGHTS
You will be challenged to gather theoretical insights in the rapidly developing field of diplomacy in relation to cultural diplomacy from leading figures in the field.

WORK ON NEGOTIATION AND DIPLOMACY SKILLS
Gain valuable skills through a proven combination of applying theoretical knowledge in high end simulations. During the summer school, you will develop skills for public speaking, speech writing, doing research for negotiation and reporting.

START BUILDING YOUR OWN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
Build your international network through the Young Diplomat community and meet with diplomats from different disciplines. The Young Diplomat community offers you the opportunity to find new contacts within the field.

Fee info