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Project
Future of Diplomacy Project
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Project

Future of Diplomacy Project

Leadership
Programs
Future of Diplomacy Project

About the Future of Diplomacy Project

The Future of Diplomacy Project was dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of diplomacy, negotiation and statecraft in international politics.

The Project aimed to build Harvard Kennedy School’s ability to teach in this area, to support research in modern diplomatic practice, and to build public understanding of diplomacy’s indispensable role in an increasingly complex and globalized world by engaging with leading practitioners who use innovative means of conflict prevention and resolution at the negotiation table and beyond. 

Programming Highlights

Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair, Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, and Susan Thornton, former acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
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Through convening global senior leaders, policymakers and practitioners of negotiation, diplomacy and conflict resolution, the Future of Diplomacy project conducted events, seminars and student-focused teaching to support future generations of leaders at the Kennedy School. 

Pictured: Nicholas Burns, Ban Ki-moon, and Susan Thornton. 


 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN
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Pictured: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. 

John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair
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In Conversation: Nick Burns and John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State. 

Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair of TAPP and Future of Diplomacy Project, and Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister of Israel
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On Israel: Nick Burns in conversation with Tzipi Livni

Christine Lagarde, then Chair and Managing Director of the IMF, and Larry Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor
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Christine Lagarde, then Chair and Managing Director of the IMF, and Larry Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor in conversation. 

Amb Chan Heng Chee, former Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S., and Amb. Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow
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On global negotiations: Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, former Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S., and Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center. 

Susan Rice, former Director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council, speaks virtually to HKS
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Virtually, Susan Rice--22nd Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council from 2021 to 2023, and the 27th U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations--speaks to students. 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN
John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair
Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair of TAPP and Future of Diplomacy Project, and Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister of Israel
Christine Lagarde, then Chair and Managing Director of the IMF, and Larry Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor
Amb Chan Heng Chee, former Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S., and Amb. Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow
Susan Rice, former Director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council, speaks virtually to HKS
Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair, Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, and Susan Thornton, former acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
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Representing the American people effectively overseas and in Washington, D.C.

The Future of the U.S. Foreign Service

In November 2020, at a time of pandemic, recession, and mounting global challenges, Ambassadors Nicholas Burns, Marc Grossman, and Marcie Ries argued in this report that the U.S. needs a strong and high performing Foreign Service to defend national security and advance U.S. interests in the 21st century.