The First Diplomacy Class for the General Public
Fans of Netflix's "The Diplomat," which draws on some of my work, can now separate reality from fiction.
Are you a fan of the Netflix show “The Diplomat”? Did you know that its creator drew on my book “America’s Other Army” while developing the series? Even though its storylines aren’t entirely realistic — it’s entertainment, after all — it has undoubtedly brought the idea of diplomacy to more people than anything else in U.S. pop culture. “The Diplomat” was the number-one show on Netflix during the week of Oct. 20-26, with 1.2 billion minutes of viewing time, and has been renewed for Season 4.
I was pondering what this unprecedented level of public interest in diplomacy might mean for us at the Washington International Diplomatic Academy (WIDA), when we received an email from Phillip Woodard of Mason, Michigan, one of my Substack subscribers. At 70, “I’ve developed a real interest in diplomacy and find it very exciting,” he wrote. “I’m learning things new to me.” He added that he was reading my latest book, “Diplomatic Tradecraft,” and “really enjoying it.” He also said he found my podcast “very interesting” and was keen on “discussing diplomacy with people.”
I don’t know whether Woodard’s curiosity was sparked by “The Diplomat,” but given the show’s popularity — and my Substack and podcast following — there are clearly many more people like him, who have genuine interest in how diplomacy actually works. I realized we could help them separate the show’s dramatic storytelling from authentic diplomatic practice.
So we created The Essential Diplomacy Class, a new WIDA online course designed to open the hidden world of international diplomacy to the general public. Through the experience of veteran career ambassadors, the program offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the practices, forces and people driving global affairs.
With decades of service around the world, our instructors will share insights gained from managing international relations, building trust, solving problems, preventing and defusing crises. These are the same ambassadors who teach our professional programs. They will help you understand the world the way diplomats do — and learn key transferrable skills that can improve your own life and work, such as empathy and the ability to advance your interests by understanding the interests of others.
The 10-hour course will be held live, allowing you to interact directly with our ambassadors and ask them the questions you have always wondered about. You don’t need to pursue a diplomatic career to take — and benefit from — this class.
At $350, the tuition fee is significantly lower than the cost of the rest of our courses, which provide practical professional training to working and aspiring diplomats. The Essential Diplomacy Class is for diplomacy enthusiasts like Woodard and fans of “The Diplomat,” who want to learn more about the inner working of diplomacy simply out of curiosity.
We are now accepting applications for the first iteration of the course, which is scheduled on five consecutive Saturdays, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, beginning Jan. 10, 2026.
Whether you are a fan of “The Diplomat,” curious about international affairs, or simply eager to understand the world on a deeper level, the program delivers a candid, accessible and engaging introduction to one of the most misunderstood professions.
And if you have diplomatic experience yourself, this is a unique opportunity to help your family and friends learn what exactly do — or did — for a living. So help us spread the word about The Essential Diplomacy Class far and wide.
Both The Diplomacy Notebook and The Diplomacy Podcast are free, but you can show your support by making a donation to help us continue to produce unique and timely content.
Nicholas Kralev is the founder and executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, and a former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent. His books include “Diplomatic Tradecraft,” “America’s Other Army” and “Diplomats in the Trenches.”