This course will provide students with a deep understanding of the mutual influences between different cultures and diplomatic dynamics and international relations. Students will be exposed to the basic concepts of culture, identity, and value norms, and learn how these factors contribute to creating barriers or bridges between societies and states.

At the beginning of the course, students will be presented with various definitions and characteristics of culture, exposing them to key terms such as subcultures, strategic and political culture, and collectivist versus individualist cultures. We will discuss whether certain cultures are better than others, address the ethnocentric approach, and ask ourselves whether cultures can be ranked and classified as "superior".

Then, students will be explained what diplomacy is, how states maintain relations in the international arena, and what cultural diplomacy is. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding that lack of recognition of others' culture and differences in language, norms, and customs can be a significant barrier to diplomatic activities such as negotiation, conflict resolution, and formulation of international agreements.

We will examine historical examples where cultural differences between states were an obstacle to reaching agreements in the international arena and even led to conflicts and wars. Among others, we will explore the diplomatic relations during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the misunderstandings between Israeli and Egyptian representatives during the Camp David Accords negotiations.

We will learn what public diplomacy is and why "soft power" is no less important than military power for states. We will examine how the West uses companies and brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald's to spread Western values and norms.

We will also discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on cultures and examine how international intervention can be carried out while maintaining cultural sensitivity.

As a final assignment, students will propose solutions for bridging gaps between cultures and participate in a simulation of negotiations between representatives of different countries aiming to reach an agreement.

* The course material will be tailored to the age of the learners.