Diplomacy and Diplomatic Law Course Cyril Svoboda: Diplomatic Law Foreign Policy and Diplomacy – Basic Concepts Politics as promotion of public interest National interests and national security Alliance and Union relations Bilateral and multilateral relations Export promotion and human rights Understanding Politics •Politics is the process of making collective decisions that affect society. •It involves power, authority, conflict, and cooperation. Why Politics Matters •Shapes laws, rights, and daily life. •Decides how resources are distributed. •Maintains order and protects citizens. •Influences international relations and peace. Political Systems •Democracy – Power belongs to the people. •Authoritarianism – Power in one leader or elite. •Monarchy – Power held by royalty. •Comunism – State controls economy. •Hybrid regimes – Mix of democracy and control. Key Political Ideologies •Liberalism – Individual freedom, democracy, free markets. •Conservatism – Tradition, stability, gradual change. •Socialism – Economic equality, welfare state. •Nationalism – Loyalty to one’s nation. •Environmentalism – Protecting the planet. Global Political Challenges Today •Climate change and sustainability. •Migration and inequality. •Rise of populism and misinformation. •Conflicts (Ukraine, Middle East, Sudan). Balancing national sovereignty and global cooperation. Constitutional Framework President – Head of State External representation Negotiation and ratification of treaties Appointment and recall of heads of missions Responsibility for Foreign Policy Government bears responsibility President not politically accountable Countersignature requirement Government responsible for decisions Concept of Diplomacy Ancient Greek diploma – sovereign authorisation Art of negotiation Maintenance of international relations Protection of strategic interests Public and Private Diplomacy Public diplomacy – state representation Negotiations with foreign governments Private diplomacy – NGOs and corporations Global corporate actors in diplomacy Methods of Diplomacy Summits and high-level meetings Permanent diplomatic representation Special missions Secret negotiations Diplomatic correspondence and media Types of Diplomacy Bilateral and multilateral Economic and cultural diplomacy Parliamentary diplomacy Military diplomacy European External Action Service Historical Development 15th century Italian city-states 18th century France Diplomatic corps and hierarchy Monarchical direction of diplomacy Vienna Congress (1815) Vienna Regulation – three classes Legates, Ambassadors, Nuncios Ministers and Chargés d’affaires Vienna Convention (1961) Principle of seniority Classes of heads of mission Codification of diplomatic law Functions of a Diplomatic Mission Representation of sending State Protection of nationals Negotiation Reporting Promotion of cooperation Immunity and Indemnity Immunity – procedural protection Indemnity – substantive non-liability Diplomatic Immunity Personal inviolability No arrest or detention Duty of respect and protection Diplomatic Missions under Czech Law Embassy Permanent Mission Consular Post Special Mission Liaison Office Privileges and Immunities Use of flag Inviolability of premises Tax exemption Diplomatic courier Limited staff immunity Duration of Immunity Begins upon entry Ends upon departure Functional immunity persists Diplomatic Service Developing foreign relations Protecting Czech interests Conducted within Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy of Donald Trump Graduate Lecture Presentation Analytical and Comparative Framework 1. Analytical Framework Realism vs Liberal Institutionalism Nationalism and Economic Statecraft Transactional Diplomacy Rupture or Structural Continuity? 2. America First Doctrine Sovereignty over multilateralism Bilateralism over institutional diplomacy Alliance burden-sharing Trade as a security instrument 3. NATO and Alliance Management Pressure for 2% GDP defence spending Public criticism of allies Conditional rhetoric on Article 5 Strategic uncertainty vs fiscal correction 4. China Policy Shift Trade war and tariffs Technology restrictions (Huawei, semiconductors) Indo-Pacific strategic framing China as systemic competitor 5. Economic Statecraft Withdrawal from TPP Renegotiation of NAFTA → USMCA Section 301 tariffs Trade as geopolitical leverage 6. Middle East Policy Withdrawal from JCPOA Abraham Accords Jerusalem recognition Targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani 7. Russia Policy Ambiguous rhetoric vs sanctions regime Eastern Europe troop deployments Helsinki summit controversy Personal diplomacy vs structural constraints 8. North Korea Diplomacy Singapore and Hanoi summits Leader-to-leader diplomacy Media-driven summitry Limited denuclearisation progress 9. Multilateral Institutions Withdrawal from Paris Agreement WHO withdrawal attempt UNESCO and UNHRC exit Critique of liberal international order 10. Sanctions and Executive Power Expanded sanctions regime Use of IEEPA authority Iran, Venezuela, Russia, China Growth of economic coercion 11. Strategic Outcomes Continuity in China containment Disruption in alliance cohesion Normative rhetoric shift Acceleration of multipolar realism 12. Comparative Perspective Obama – Multilateralism Trump – Bilateralism / Transactionalism Biden – Alliance restoration Structural vs personal determinants 13. Academic Debates Transactional diplomacy vs grand strategy Erosion of liberal international order Executive dominance in foreign policy Populism in international relations Conclusion Realist correction? Institutional damage? Structural inevitability? Open debate for advanced analysis