International Relations & Diplomacy

You are interested in international relations and world politics? You want to earn further qualifications at the intersection of political science, history and law? You are looking for a study program that helps to prepare you for job opportunities in the field of international relations?

The Master „International Relations & Diplomacy“ offers you an attractive choice! The study program entails courses in international relations (political science), international history and international law. In sum, the program wants to address conceptual and empirical questions of world organization in a world that is characterized by overlapping patterns of conflict and cooperation, crisis and change.

The Master Program „International Relations & Diplomacy“ reflects the increased relevance, complexity and challenges in world politics. It offers a multidisciplinary academic profile combining political science, law and history. The objective of the Master program is to provide students who aspire to work in an international context with a profound understanding of concepts and theories as well as tools and instruments to be applied in international relations.

Multifaceted Course Offerings

The program spans the realm of international relations in its entirety: Courses deal with a range of actors (from individuals to states, NGOs and international organizations), issues (from armed conflict to cultural exchange or global crises) and principles (from state sovereignty to human security or differing conceptions of world order). The courses are designed to address questions of theoretical understanding as well as questions of practical organization and implementation of policies.

Innovative Emphasis

The emphasis on international relations and diplomacy is an expression of three distinct perspectives that are associated with the program: We understand diplomacy to be concerned with mediating complex international problems, managing a diversity of actors and interests as well as working for the solution of global challenges. Such a perspective includes, but is not confined to the work of „professional“ diplomats. Secondly, our perspective on international relations and diplomacy is guided by the notion of an international community of cooperating and competing actors. This allows for the inclusion of a range of approaches to international relations – from classical positions of the „English School“ to theories of normative change and practice to postcolonial approaches. Thirdly, our emphasis implies a focus on „diplomatic skills“, i.e. using case scenarios, simulations and the exchange with practitioners.