No country today holds influence through armed strength and formal treaties alone. How a nation is perceived, culturally, economically and diplomatically, has become just as decisive in shaping outcomes on the world stage. Modern international relations have shifted dramatically alongside the wider transformation of the global order, so that every political entity is now deeply interconnected with the others inside a single global political system, built on solid ties and mutual interdependence between states.

Each state still puts its own strength and security first, operating within a system based fundamentally on self-defence, and seeks standing among other states based on the independence of its decisions and the alignment of mutual interests. This course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy examines modern international relations alongside soft power strategy, and their impact on foreign policy and on the economic, social and diplomatic relations that keep a country in a lasting position of influence.

Who Should Attend?

• Personnel and officials in the diplomatic sector, and officers responsible for international agreements.
• Directors of international relations offices, and staff in international organizations.
• Employees of government institutions related to economic functions.
• Students, graduates and new professionals in political science, international relations or economics.
• Anyone wishing to develop their capabilities in this field.

Programme Objectives

• Trace the historical stages that shaped international relations as an independent concept and political science.
• Identify the basic and subsidiary entities involved in international relations.
• Explore the topics and branches of international relations and international law.
• Understand how foreign policy, international politics and international relations connect to one another.
• Understand soft power as a strategic tool, and how it compares with hard power in shaping outcomes.

Module 1: What International Relations Is, and How It Developed

• Defining international relations and the rules that govern it
• Key concepts and theories in the field
• Its origins, history, and how it developed into an independent political science
• The basic and subsidiary entities that make up international relations

Module 2: The Forces Shaping Today's Global Politics

• The changing landscape of global politics
• Theories and factors that influence international relations
• International politics and the role of international organizations in interstate relations
• Why keeping a country in a continuous position of influence matters

Module 3: Understanding Power — Hard Power versus Soft Power

• The concept of power and soft power, and whether soft power is more effective than hard power
• The sources of soft power, and how it emerged as a force in international relations
• The tools soft power uses to achieve political goals, and the implications of using it

Module 4: The Instruments of Soft Power in Practice

• Cultural diplomacy: promoting national culture and values
• Public diplomacy: engaging foreign publics and opinion leaders, and educational exchanges
• The influence of media and information, and the role of digital platforms and social media

Module 5: Diplomacy, Law and International Agreements

• International diplomacy and the rules of international law
• International treaties and conventions
• Improving international diplomatic performance

Module 6: Building a National Soft Power Strategy

• Developing soft power initiatives, domestically and internationally, to strengthen a nation's brand
• Managing relations with NGOs, interest groups and other agencies that affect diplomatic business
• Economic diplomacy, trade relations, and attracting foreign investment through soft power

Module 7: Soft Power in Action — Cases, Norms and Challenges

• Examining successful soft power strategies used by different countries, and their impact on international relations
• Soft power's role in shaping global norms and institutions, and how international organizations promote it
• Using soft power in diplomatic negotiations, peacebuilding, and building trust and cooperation
• Ethical considerations, limitations, and countering disinformation and propaganda in the use of soft power

Module 8: Where Soft Power Is Headed

• Emerging trends and innovations in soft power strategy
• The impact of technological advancements on how soft power is used