Diplomacy by Design
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n the U.S. and around the world, a succession of dramatic processes—among them: the digital revolution, the COVID pandemic, and destructive shifts in our planet’s biosphere—have collided. The consequences have been profound and often devastating. But new possibilities beckon. The promise of AI, the prospect of a green-energy transition, and efforts to create more inclusive politics are all cause for cautious optimism. With both division and opportunity so ubiquitous, few fields are as critical to our shared future as is diplomacy. Yet only a handful of universities offer such a degree. The University of Utah is about to become one of them.
Based in the College of Humanities, the new diplomacy major will be a first-of-its-kind program in the Mountain West and among the few such undergraduate degrees anywhere—distinguishing Utah among peer research institutions nationally.
More than foreign affairs, Utah’s program will focus on the fundamental causes of conflict and on the cultural and communicational competencies demanded for effective negotiation and consensus-building. Especially in a world of digitally-mediated encounters, college graduates who understand the texture and nuance of human interaction are essential. As Hollis Robbins, dean of the College of Humanities explains, “Diplomacy graduates will be increasingly valued in an age when rhetorical sophistication, understanding of etiquette and protocol, and a subtlety of thinking and expression remain beyond AI ability.”
The innovative program represents “a vision of diplomacy designed to address the rapidly evolving challenges of the 21st century,” says Hugh Cagle, associate professor of history and director of international studies, where the proposed major will be housed.
we are creating skilled peacemakers trained in cultural sensitivity
“There are two things to understand about diplomacy,” says Cagle. “The first is that it has changed dramatically in recent decades.” Traditionally, diplomacy has been understood as the delicate work of negotiation between sovereign states, often in areas like politics or trade. “A lot of things about that vision,” explains Cagle, “are inherited from the 19th century, a time when European empires encompassed much of the globe, and when a narrow group of imperial rulers claimed to speak on behalf of an extremely diverse range of imperial—often colonized—subjects.” Following the end of World War II, Cagle continues, “decolonization and globalization created a new kind of global politics.” Interlocutors are now more diverse. The world is more interconnected. “Diplomacy,” insists Cagle, “has to be more culturally grounded and communication-oriented.” It also demands sensitivity to new issues. As Cagle explains, “Calls specifically for environmental diplomacy began 20 years ago. The COVID pandemic drove calls for global health diplomacy. Now AI and the digital revolution have prompted calls for tech diplomacy. This new degree is an attempt to bring into alignment the way we think about diplomacy and the need for specific areas of diplomatic practice in the world today.”
“The other thing about diplomacy,” says Cagle, “is that it’s not a specialized academic discipline, like history or political science. It’s more like an interdisciplinary craft.” Hence, the new degree focuses on diplomacy-as-practice, in all of its cultural complexity. As Robbins put it, the new degree will “focus on craft and methods, the ‘how to’ of negotiation and mediation in multiple languages toward conflict resolution,” which is a demand that Robbins hears among current international studies and communication majors.
Because diplomacy is inherently interdisciplinary, many colleges and universities struggle to field programs in it. “But here at Utah,” says Cagle, “within the College of Humanities, we have international and area studies, which is already a thriving home for globally-oriented interdisciplinary programs. It’s a perfect place for the diplomacy major, with lots of experienced staff and faculty support.” The new major capitalizes on particular areas of diplomacy in which the college enjoys distinguished national and international reputations: communication, language and culture, and area studies, specifically for the regions of Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The degree also strengthens connections to programs across campus. Like the other majors in International and Area Studies, the proposed diplomacy major—offered as both a B.S. and B.A.—is designed to facilitate a double-major for those students interested in pursuing it. Mike Middleton, associate dean for academic affairs in the college, who has advised on the curriculum and helped shepherd it through the approval process praises “the generous support that the proposal has received from across the university.”
“Diplomacy graduates will be increasingly valued in an age when rhetorical sophistication, understanding of etiquette and protocol, and a subtlety of thinking and expression remain beyond AI ability.
The proposed degree replaces the former peace and conflict studies major—maintaining the flexibility and interdisciplinarity of the old program but providing clearer structure and a much stronger focus. PCS understood conflict as a generalized human phenomenon. The new degree understands conflict through context. It is a more sensitive approach—both historically and culturally. As Robbins explains, “We are creating skilled peacemakers trained in cultural sensitivity able to communicate in multiple languages.” The diplomacy degree is attuned to more specific and urgent challenges. In addition to a core focused on language, culture, and communication, students will build their degree in one of four thematic focus areas: (1) tribal sovereignty and cultural heritage; (2) conflict, displacement, and humanitarian affairs; (3) health, climate, and sustainability; and (4) science, technology, and society. These represent key convergences between some of the most consequential issues of our time, the research strengths of both the college and the wider university, student interest, and labor market demand.
That combination of practical skills and specialized knowledge will distinguish graduates of the program, setting them up for well-paying careers in an expanding area of professional opportunity. As Robbins explains, “Our diplomacy major aligns with the U’s mission of preparing students from diverse backgrounds to have impact as global leaders.” An essential premise of the new degree is that the craft of diplomacy is valuable anytime that competing interests collide, and especially when they lead to heightened tension or threaten violence. This is true at every scale, from community engagement to international negotiation. Career opportunities range widely from politics and the foreign service, to corporate leadership and governance, sustainability, translation and interpretation, project management, public relations, and human resources.
The degree is expected to receive its final approvals by state and regional accreditors in Fall 2024 and will launch the following academic year.
Acting Dean Wanda Pillow is enthusiastic about this new degree offering. “Our talented faculty are exceptionally well-placed to lead this program, and I expect that it will become a nationally and internationally respected degree in short order,” says Pillow. “University of Utah students will benefit tremendously from this educational experience.”