Contemporary reflections series – Diplomacy, teaching and AI

What is the value of diplomacy in contemporary international relations, and how should we teach it to students? And what does the rise of generative AI mean for how we teach and assess International Political Theory?

Diplomacy remains central to the study and practice of international relations, but its value, purpose and role are increasingly open to question. At the same time, teaching diplomacy raises practical questions about what students should learn and how they should encounter it: through theory, history, or the experiences of contemporary practitioners? How might different approaches shape what students understand about diplomacy, and what might they leave out?

Generative AI is also rapidly changing the educational landscape. Its growing use raises questions about how we teach International Political Theory, how students engage with theoretical material, and how assessment can continue to foster critical thinking, theoretical understanding and independent intellectual engagement.

This informal 90-minute discussion is the first session of Contemporary Reflections, a new discussion forum for the Contemporary Research on International Political Theory (CRIPT) Working Group. The forum provides an opportunity to step away from the demands of formal academic presentations and reflect openly on contemporary developments in International Relations teaching and research. Rather than a series of formal presentations, the session will bring colleagues together to exchange experiences, ideas, reading suggestions and provocations.

The discussion will consider questions including:

• What is the value of diplomacy in contemporary international relations, and how can we communicate that value to students?
• Should diplomacy be taught through theory, its history, contemporary practice, or a combination of these approaches?
• How might different approaches to teaching diplomacy shape what students understand, and what might they leave out?
• How can questions of diplomacy be incorporated into International Political Theory (IPT)?
• What can practitioners' experiences contribute to the teaching of diplomacy?
• What opportunities does generative AI create for teaching International Political Theory?
• What challenges does AI present for teaching and learning in IPT?
• How might AI be used constructively in the classroom without replacing students' own intellectual engagement?
• What experiences, approaches and resources have colleagues found useful in responding to these changes?

The session will be an informal, conversational discussion rather than a series of formal presentations. Participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, raise questions, offer provocations and exchange ideas and reading suggestions. The aim is to create a genuinely collaborative space for informal knowledge exchange and collective reflection.

Contemporary Reflections is intended for members of the CRIPT Working Group and anyone interested in contemporary questions around International Relations teaching and research. No prior preparation is required, and participants are encouraged to come ready to contribute to the conversation.

Registration will close two hours before the event begins.