Despite the ongoing discussion about the declining role of the state in international relations, the importance of diplomacy has never been questioned in research papers. The founder of classical realism, Hans Morgenthau, described diplomacy as the core element of power1 and a way of converting all types of public resources into influence. A well-known theorist of international relations, Adam Watson, saw diplomacy as a tool of interaction between independent states that exist in a common international environment and as a means of protecting the internal environment of states from external impulses. Norwegian researcher Iver Neumann identified three main profiles in forming the diplomat’s professional qualities: “a bureaucrat,” “a hero,”and “a mediator.”

       The study of diplomatic practices is crucial as the international order transitions from hegemony to polycentricity, intensifying rivalry between states. This paper represents a preliminary exploration of the training of international analysts and diplomatic personnel worldwide, conducted by MGIMO University. The contributors assert that the quality of diplomatic training holds significant importance in enabling nation-states to attain autonomy and agency in the evolving polycentric world order.

       The report is grounded in the examination of diplomatic training practices within countries experiencing significant shifts in their global standing. Among the Western states scrutinized are the United States, witnessing a decline in global hegemony; the Federal Republic of Germany, France, and Finland, – European nations undergoing changes in their once distinctive foreign policy traditions; and Poland, aspiring to emerge as a new EU power center. The analysis also encompasses Global Majority countries, such as India and Brazil, positioning themselves as leaders in the emerging multipolar order; Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, aspiring to lead regional subsystems; and South Korea and Turkey.

       Edited by Andrey Sushentsov and Nikita Neklyudov

       Report_Crafting National_Interests

       pdf 4.98 MB