Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations and Diplomacy

•Academic Description: Serving as the mandatory foundational cornerstone and the very first course for doctoral candidates in International Relations and Diplomacy, this module elevates scholars from traditional political analysis methods to political epistemology and the philosophy of geopolitical and strategic analysis. The course delves into complex doctoral-level strategic research methodologies, encompassing philosophical doctrinal analysis, critical deconstruction of political discourse, and comparative methodology in global power balance studies. Candidates receive rigorous training in identifying genuine scholarly and analytical gaps within international affairs literature, formulating complex geopolitical problems, and constructing testable strategic hypotheses using future foresight and scenario-building methodologies. Furthermore, the course emphasizes systematic deconstruction of diplomatic documents and international strategic reports, alongside objective scholarly critique of prevailing theories. The module culminates in intensive practical training on engineering a comprehensive Doctoral Dissertation Prospectus, managing international archives and documents, and adhering to the highest standards of academic integrity and peer-reviewed international publishing (Scopus / Web of Science), delivered through intensive research seminars.

•Academic Description: This compulsory doctoral course centers on a profound philosophical, critical, and analytical investigation of the philosophy of major theories in international relations and the evolution of the global order's architecture. Doctoral researchers deeply analyze the jurisprudential and philosophical debate between traditional explanatory models (classical and new realism, institutional liberalism) and modern critical schools (social constructivism, neo-marxism, post-colonial theories, and feminist IR theory). Scholars critically analyze the structure of the international system, the concept of anarchy, power distribution, and its historical transformations from the Concert of Europe and Westphalia to the Cold War and the travails of contemporary multipolarity and geopolitical competition. Furthermore, the curriculum delves into evaluating modern global governance crises, the erosion of multilateral institutions, and the rise of non-state actors and cross-border networks through deep comparative research seminars.

•Academic Description: This doctoral module provides an anatomical, in-depth examination of Critical Geopolitics and the strategic analysis of major and regional power rivalries. The course critically analyzes classical geopolitical theories and deconstructs them in light of contemporary realities, such as control over the Heartland and Rimland, energy route struggles, and vital maritime chokepoints. Researchers delve into containment, confrontation, and counter-containment strategies among the US, China, and Russia, analyzing the nature of the "New Cold War" and Hybrid Warfare. Furthermore, the curriculum examines the strategic impact of major technological transformations (AI, cyber warfare, outer space) on re-engineering global military and economic power balances across major strategic theaters (Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Eastern Europe) through advanced research seminars and strategic analytical precedents.

•Academic Description: This compulsory doctoral course addresses the advanced philosophy of public diplomacy, mechanisms of shaping and utilizing Soft Power and Smart Power, and the dynamics of information warfare and artificial intelligence in international politics. Researchers delve into analyzing the theoretical structure of strategic communication and digital diplomacy, exploring how states deploy social platforms, algorithms, and transnational media networks to shape global public image, influence international public opinion, and forge alliances. The curriculum rigorously studies the phenomenon of systematic Disinformation, AI-driven cyber influence operations, and the impact of generative technology on national security and democracies. Furthermore, scholars evaluate cultural, scientific, and sports diplomacy strategies, assessing the efficacy of soft power tools in achieving strategic state goals compared to hard power, through critical comparative research seminars.

•Academic Description: This doctoral course delves into the strategic philosophy of international security, the engineering of arms control regimes, and the management of non-traditional cross-border security threats. Researchers deeply analyze major nuclear proliferation crises, the future of strategic nuclear arms control treaties, and the balance of terror in the era of Hypersonic Weapons. The curriculum deconstructs structural and political dilemmas of the global disarmament regime and the role of regional and international security alliances in risk mitigation. Furthermore, scholars delve into analyzing transnational security threats requiring comprehensive international cooperation: global terror networks, transnational organized crime, WMD smuggling, and environmental/climate security as threats to state strategic stability, evaluating the efficacy of UN collective security mechanisms through research seminars grounded in advanced strategic security literature.

•Academic Description: This course delivers an elite critical and applied examination of the intersection of politics and international economics (International Political Economy - IPE), development diplomacy, and sanctions. Doctoral scholars investigate the structural crisis of the global financial and economic system, and the role of international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) in guiding or obstructing development policies in the Global South. The course deeply analyzes "Economic Diplomacy" policies and the use of aid, debt, and trade agreements as political influence tools. Furthermore, it delves into analyzing the political economy of Unilateral and Secondary Economic Sanctions, sovereign asset freezes, Weaponized Interdependence, and their repercussions on political stability and diplomatic relations between major powers and emerging markets, supported by studies of prominent geopolitical-economic precedents and crises.

•Academic Description: This course examines deeply the mechanics and practices of contemporary multilateral diplomacy, the philosophy of major international treaty-making, and advanced peaceful dispute settlement strategies. Researchers study negotiation dynamics in major international conferences (such as climate COP summits and disarmament conferences), the formation of temporary and permanent diplomatic coalitions, and drafting complex legal and diplomatic texts in multilateral treaties. Furthermore, the curriculum deconstructs the role of judicial and diplomatic institutions in mediation, good offices, and managing acute interstate diplomatic crises via Preventive Diplomacy. Scholars discuss mechanisms for resolving intractable diplomatic and political disputes and forging historic peace treaties through advanced research seminars and intensive diplomatic simulation applications.

•Academic Description: This course provides a specialized comparative study of the most volatile geopolitical and strategic theaters in the contemporary international system: the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and the African continent. Researchers deeply analyze the dynamics of strategic competition between the US and China in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific and its repercussions on global security. In the Middle East, scholars study the intersecting influences of regional and international powers, regional security crises, and new alliance engineering. In Africa, the course analyzes international and strategic scrambles for vital resource control, the role of rising powers (China, Turkey, Gulf states, Russia) on the continent, and peacebuilding/stability challenges in fragile states. The module aims to build scholars' capacities to deliver precise strategic analytical insights across regions through deep comparative research seminars.

•Academic Description: Serving as the culminating coursework module prior to the dissertation phase, this course focuses on high-level diplomatic and strategic engineering for designing and drafting Strategic Policy Papers and comparative foreign decision-making memoranda at national and international levels. Scholars deeply examine the technical and political mechanisms for translating complex geopolitical analyses into concise policy options targeted at heads of state, foreign ministers, and diplomatic decision-makers. Candidates train in evaluating foreign policy alternatives, assessing strategic risks and gains, and formulating evidence-based recommendations supported by intelligence and diplomatic documents, ensuring the realization of supreme state goals and rapid crisis response, delivered via advanced research seminars.

•Academic Description: Administered at the conclusion of the third semester upon successful completion of all nine coursework modules (36 credit hours), the Comprehensive Doctoral Examination (written and oral) assesses the scholar's holistic and profound mastery of the philosophical foundations, advanced international relations theories, strategic studies, rules of public and economic diplomacy, alongside verifying methodological maturity and critical analytical capability regarding complex geopolitical phenomena. Rather than testing rote memorization, this rigorous examination confronts the doctoral student with multi-layered international and diplomatic crises requiring precise strategic characterization, rebuttal of competing arguments, invocation of grand theories, and formulation of sound policy solutions. Passing the Comprehensive Examination is a mandatory prerequisite for advancing to formal "PhD Candidate" status and commencing the Doctoral Dissertation and Practical Application modules in the fourth semester.

•Academic Description: Initiated in the fourth semester, this module marks the first phase of advanced practical and academic training designed to prepare the doctoral candidate as a university professor and practicing international affairs and diplomacy expert. The College assigns the candidate an undergraduate academic course (such as Introduction to International Relations or Modern Diplomatic History, alongside an applied diplomatic portfolio leveraged through the College's extensive partnerships with foreign ministries, embassies, and strategic research centers across multiple countries). In this first part, the candidate designs a comprehensive syllabus and structures the first sequence of concise academic lectures. For each lecture, the candidate authors a rigorous written scholarly summary (Word format), accompanied by a professional voice-over video presentation (PowerPoint) lasting accurately between 10 and 20 minutes, alongside submitting a detailed report on their workplace diplomatic practice—honing their university teaching and complex strategic knowledge-transfer competencies.

•Academic Description: This module marks the formal commencement of the Doctoral Dissertation, undertaken concurrently with Practical Application (1) following the Comprehensive Examination. Working under the direct supervision of a senior faculty professor specializing in International Relations and Diplomacy, the candidate completes the official registration of the dissertation topic with the Faculty and University Councils. Research in this semester centers on conducting an exhaustive, multilingual literature, historical/contemporary diplomatic document, and theoretical review, refining the core research problem and hypotheses, and drafting the foundational first part/chapters of the dissertation dedicated to theoretical, philosophical, and conceptual grounding, alongside defining the governing strategic framework. The academic supervisor closely monitors the candidate's methodological rigor and submits a semi-annual progress report detailing accomplishments and adherence to doctoral standards.

•Academic Description: In the fifth semester, the doctoral candidate advances to the second phase of academic and professional training. The candidate develops and records the second sequence of lectures for the assigned undergraduate course, focusing on integrating applied case studies and strategic diplomatic documents into both the written scholarly summaries (Word) and interactive video presentations (PowerPoint, 10–20 minutes per lecture). Additionally, the candidate trains in designing academic assessment instruments (hypothetical crisis management scenarios, geopolitical analytical questions, and grading rubrics), co-moderating virtual seminars (Webinars), and submitting detailed workplace practice reports—solidifying their readiness as a university faculty member and senior international diplomatic expert.

•Academic Description: Representing the analytical and critical core of the Doctoral Dissertation, this fifth-semester module transitions the candidate from theoretical grounding to in-depth strategic, applied, and comparative policy/conflict analysis (the main substantive chapters of the dissertation). The candidate rigorously tests their research hypotheses by deconstructing foreign policy documents, comparing strategies across powers and international systems, and analyzing pertinent case studies and historical/contemporary diplomatic precedents. At this stage, the scholar's independent academic voice must emerge prominently—critiquing prevailing literature, advancing original strategic interpretations, and deducing novel analytical models or frameworks that resolve the core research problem. The supervisor continuously reviews the manuscript to ensure analytical depth and strategic originality, submitting the semi-annual progress report to the Faculty Council.

•Academic Description: Concluding the practical and academic training track in the sixth semester, the candidate completes the final sequence of written summaries and video lectures for the assigned undergraduate course, yielding a complete, peer-reviewed instructional portfolio (12 to 14 model lectures in Word and PowerPoint Video formats) ready for university delivery. Furthermore, the candidate culminates this track by authoring a publishable scholarly paper derived from their research or delivering a comprehensive Doctoral Colloquium / Masterclass before faculty and peers, alongside submitting their final detailed workplace practice report—demonstrating full readiness for professorial appointments or senior international diplomatic and advisory leadership upon graduation.

•Academic Description: This module represents the final culmination and public defense of the Doctoral Dissertation. The candidate drafts the concluding chapters, synthesizes verified strategic research findings, formulates actionable Strategic Policy Recommendations and innovative foreign policy frameworks, and completes comprehensive linguistic and methodological editing of the final manuscript. Upon the supervisor's final review confirming fulfillment of statutory duration and originality standards, the supervisor submits a formal readiness report to the university administration (evaluating the candidate's performance out of 140 marks), accompanied by a signed copy of the dissertation and proposed names for the examining Jury Committee for Faculty Council approval. Following individual written evaluations by the three Jury members (out of 100 marks each—requiring a minimum score of 70% in both the supervisor's evaluation and individual Jury reports, and a minimum 15-day interval after committee approval), the candidate defends the dissertation in a Public Viva Voce Defense, concluding with a signed collective Jury report (out of 100 marks) conferring the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in International Relations and Diplomacy.