Welcome to the Hume Institute Lausanne. There has seldom been a more important time to delve into the intricacies of the theory and practice of diplomacy and international relations. Today’s world is full of institutions and entities with wildly varying degrees of power ranging from supranational bodies, international organizations, states, multinational corporations, and myriad sub-state actors. The aims, actions, and modus operandi of this complex and interconnected melange of actors are often unaligned as each strives to maximise their relative power. And some actors are, of course, deeply hostile and malign influences in international affairs that disregard the rules of the road that have been increasingly codified in recent decades and centuries. Yet, despite these structural challenges, it is incumbent upon today’s practitioners and researchers to cut through the difficulties, find common ground, and work out ways to effectively counter hostile adversaries. Moreover, a bitter irony is that, at a time when we all face interdependent geostrategic problems of tremendous importance – from climate change to health crises to conflict and social flux – the complexities of such problems induce competing, piecemeal responses precisely when we need a united and coordinated reaction. So, while the problems are vast and dizzyingly convoluted, the importance of studying such issues have never been greater. Whether you are interested in theories of international affairs, modes of diplomacy, or examining the nature of threats, I look forward to working with you as you define and then engage with your issue.

Dr David B Roberts is an Associate Professor in the School of Security Studies at King’s College London and Adjunct Faculty at Sciences Po. Previously, David taught for King’s at the Qatar Defence Academy and he was the Director of the Gulf office of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security studies think-tank (RUSI Qatar). He has lived in the Arab world for much of the past decade, including stints learning Arabic in Syria, Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait.

David is the author of Qatar: Securing the Global Ambitions of a City State (2017), several influential academic articles on foreign policy and security issues in the Middle East, and dozens of shorter articles for wider audiences in outlets like Foreign Affairs, the BBC, CNN, and the Financial Times. David has consulted widely for leading banks, international energy companies, defence companies, and a range of international organizations and government ministries. He has also been asked to present evidence for enquiries at the NATO Parliament, the UK House of Lords, and at the UK High Court of Justice.

All applicants to Hume must satisfy one of the following conditions in order to be considered for an interview with a Programme Director or Tutor:

1. A good Masters degree from a recognised university, OR
2. Ten or more years experience in a related area of work, plus an undergraduate degree of high standing.

In addition, in all cases where a student has not previously completed a degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) taught in English, it will be necessary to provide one of the following:

• IELTS – Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.
• TOEFL – Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.
• Pearson – 58 with no less than 55 in all communicative skills

Duration for the full-time programme is normally 3 -4 four years with a fee of £12,000 per year;

Duration for the part-time programme is normally 5 -6 years for a fee of £6,000 per year.