Diploma of Specialist in International, Diplomatic and Consular Affairs Instituto Séneca - Centro Internacional de Postgrado

The growing incidence of global issues in local politics, interdependence, a consequence of globalization; the proliferation of sub-state, intergovernmental and non-governmental actors that share protagonism with the Nation-State, as well as the different scenarios in which international relations, both formal and informal, take place, make it advisable to provide specialized training for the different types of agents that interact in the different planes of reality, be it political, economic or social affairs.

The diversification of the activities carried out abroad by the different powers of the State, as well as the presence of a business or sectorial commissions in international scenarios, make this Specialist Course a very current and necessary training for those who operate in multicultural environments.

In recent times, other forms of diplomacy have been added to traditional diplomacy, in accordance with the profound changes that society has undergone, as well as the new forms of interlocution and intermediation.

The Diplomatic Corps and the Consular Corps of a country are nowadays complemented by new actors with very well-defined roles, and with technical characteristics that turn them into valuable external agents of a country, in the Corporate, Cultural, Commercial, and Tourism fields, among the main areas.

Certification

At the end of the course, students will receive a diploma certifying them as " Specialist in International, Diplomatic and Consular Affairs" issued by Instituto Séneca which accredits 300 hours.

The diploma is endorsed by the Hague Apostille so the document is valid in more than 80 countries.

To whom is it addressed?

• University graduates of any speciality who are interested in developing professionally abroad and wish to acquire this specialization
• Professionals working in embassies and consulates
• Entrepreneurs who operate in international environments and need to know the mechanisms of action in diplomatic and consular environments
• Managers who deal with diplomatic environments in their country or as expatriates abroad, who need to acquire knowledge in this area
• Any professional who needs this knowledge to complement their training and act as an agent abroad

Moving Closer to Goals

• To understand the different theories of International Relations.
• To know the different types of actors interacting at the international level.
• To become familiar with the political, economic and social aspects at the global level.
• To identify the frameworks of analysis of International Relations.
• To know how to define international society and to know the types of powers and actors that make it up.
• To go further into the intricacies of foreign policy, knowing the agents in charge of executing it.
• To know the characteristics and peculiarities of the Diplomatic Function.
• To understand the different forms of diplomacy that exist today.
• To know the potential of the "country brand".
• To become familiar with the Consular Function and its characteristics.

Field of Work

• Counseling at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Support to Embassy and Consulate staff. Attaché offices at Embassies
• International civil service (regional and universal IGOs)
• Multidisciplinary teams in the negotiation of Treaties
• Participation in the representations to the IOs
• Non-governmental development organizations
• Parallel Diplomacy (consultancy, promotion, and management)
• Commercial and Tourism Offices abroad
• Chambers of Commerce

Academic Program

Part I - International Relations

• Theory of International Relations
  Introduction to International Relations. Realism. Structuralism. Transnationalism.
• The Actors in International Relations
  Classification of the actors. Relations of Cooperation. Conflict Relations.
• Levels of International Relations
  Political level. Economic-commercial level. Social level.
• Framework of Analysis of International Relations
  Macrointernationality. Microinternationality. Structural Analysis. Conjunctural Analysis.
• International Relations and Foreign Policy
  General considerations. The context and the agents of foreign policy. Variables to consider.
• International Society
  The hegemon. Great powers. Middle powers. Sectorial powers. Emerging powers. Micro States. Failed and failing states.

Part II - The Diplomatic Function

• Diplomacy
  Types of Diplomacy. The Diplomatic Function. Appointments. The Placet. The presentation of Letters of Credence. Category of Diplomatic Missions.
• The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
  Text of the Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Optional Protocols.
• The Structure of the Diplomatic Mission.
  Sections: Political, Economic-Commercial, Cultural, Press and Dissemination, Defense, Ceremonial, and Protocol. Others.
• Functions of the Diplomatic Mission
  Representation. Negotiation. Observation/Intelligence. Promotion of friendly relations. Promotion. Protection of the national.
• Diplomatic Officials
  Qualifications. Duties and rights of officials of the Diplomatic Service. Leave of absence. Situation of availability. Retirement.
• The regime of the Diplomatic Service
  The Senior Management. Categories and positions. The highlights. Personnel Commission. Transfers and rotations. Evaluations and promotions.

Part III - Diplomatic or Political Means

• Diplomatic Means
  Negotiation. Good offices. Mediation. Investigation. Conciliation.
• Parallel Diplomacy
  Phases of a crisis. Civil or Citizen Diplomacy. Multitrack Diplomacy" approach.
• Complementary Forms of Diplomacy
  Cultural Diplomacy. Corporate Diplomacy. Economic Diplomacy. Commercial Diplomacy. Paradiplomacy. Diplomacy 2.0.
• Other Forms of Diplomacy
  Coercive Diplomacy. Gunboat Diplomacy. Dollar Diplomacy. Ad-Hoc Diplomacy.Preventive Diplomacy.
• Public Diplomacy and Media
  Public Diplomacy. Actors of Public Diplomacy. Shaping public opinion.
• Diplomacy and Country Image
  Benefits of having a "country brand". Management and consequences of the "country brand". Country branding strategy.

Part IV - The Consular Function

• Consulates
  Types of Consulates. Establishment of Consular Relations. Category of Consular Posts.
• The 1961 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
  Text of the Convention on Consular Relations. Optional Protocols.
• Accreditation
  Appointments. Letters Patent. The Exequatur. Termination of Consular Functions. Consular Corps.
• Consular Posts.
  Positions in the Consular Posts. Type of personnel. Consular categories. Budget of the Consular Post.
• Honorary Consular Officers
  Functions, duties and powers. Privileges, facilities and immunities. Consular premises. Allocation of expenses.
• Consular Management
  Civil Registry. Registration of Public Instruments. Management of Passports, Safe-conducts, Visas. Registration of Wills. Execution of letters rogatory.
• Consular Accounting
  Consular Stamps. The Cash Book. The Remittance of Balances. Accounting Documents. Rendering of Accounts.
• Minutes and Inventories of the Consular Offices.
  Minutes of Opening. Act of Assumption. Act of Handover. Minutes of Temporary or Definitive Closure of a Consular Post.
• Function of Protection and Assistance To The National
  Function of Legal Protection. Function of Humanitarian Assistance.
• Consular Promotion Functions
  Cultural Promotion and Heritage Defense. Economic and Commercial Promotion. Tourist Promotion.
• Notary Functions
  Public Deeds. Wills. Powers of attorney. Protests. Testimonies, Ballots and Parts. Certificates. Legalization of Signatures. Certified Copies and Letters

Mode of Study

This course is taught online, has a duration of 300 hours, and students have six months to complete the training action. From the Virtual Campus students will be able to view and/or download the content. They will have a tutor to solve any doubts that may arise, and will be evaluated by means of online questionnaires and practical cases.

Students can participate in the conferences and online classes that are organized periodically and will also have access to the recording of the same through the Virtual Campus. Our faculty is composed of professors with extensive professional and teaching experience. Students will have the opportunity to attend classes and lectures given by university professors, consultants from international organizations, diplomats, military personnel, regular radio and television talk show hosts, representatives of non-governmental organizations and experts in various areas of the international arena.