https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/R_DipLawHInsight in the historical development of both diplomacy and public international law and their connections.Awareness of the relevance of pre-modern developments for the understanding of present-day international relations. Ability to do bibliographical research.Ability to use published primary sources next to secondary literature.Ability to write a research-based paper departing from a central question.Eindtermen: 2-3, 5-6, 9-10, 15-20, 22.International law is as old as relations between political collectivities. The question of how these contacts evolved over time will be central to this course. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of current developments – Europeanisation and Globalisation – on the history of international law and diplomacy which puts Grotius as the ‘father’ of modern international law in perspective. The aim is to gain insight into the diplomatic and other contexts in which international relations, its legal aspects in particular, developed. Special attention is given to the so-called ‘new diplomatic history’, derived from and inspired by all kinds of new forms of diplomacy, which collectively are referred to as ‘new diplomacy’. This new approach to diplomacy recognizes the role of non-state actors in international relations and public international law. The history of international law and diplomacy can benefit from this new and wide-ranging approach. This applies in particular to pre-modern times – antiquity, middle ages, early modern period – during which non-state actors as the church, nobles, city states and cities (associations) were actively engaged in diplomacy alongside states. This change of perspective will yield surprising insights providing interesting points of departure for comparisons with contemporary developments.This course is part of the honours programme. This is a seminar, which expects active participation of the students!Course participation (active discussion) (25%), oral presentation (25%), written paper (50%).(either available (electronically) at VU library or to be handed out and/or posted on Canvas). Required reading: For the second course:C.G. Roelofsen, ‘Inleiding’ in: A.C.G.M. Eyffinger, Compendium volkenrechtsgeschiedenis (Deventer 1991), 1-9. [English translation available] N.J. Schrijver, Internationaal publiekrecht als wereldrecht (The Hague 2011), 19-27. [English translation available]For the third course:R.C.H. Lesaffer, ‘International law and its history: The story of an unrequited love’ in M. Craven, M. Fitzmaurice and M. Vogiatzi eds., Time, history and international law (Den Haag 2006) 27-41. Further literature will be announced.This course is open to honours studentsIntroductory Lectures and Seminars; reading and discussing relevant literature; writing a paper during the course; instructions concerning the demands of the paper will be given step by step along with the seminar series. The course starts in the first week of March!