7th Diplomatenkolleg day in Berlin
The Oxford debate is a form of discussion with strict rules. The aim is to persuade the audience with a coherent strategy of argumentation, consistently invalidating the counterarguments. During the exercise, the young diplomats faced the challenge of having to defend opinions which they didn’t share. This allowed them not only to practise formulating arguments but also to look at the issues from fresh points of view. “It was an exciting experience to argue against one’s convictions,” as one diplomat said.
The Oxford debate was organized by the German Council on Foreign Relations for the participants of the 7th Diplomatenkolleg day and the participants of the 35th International Executive Seminar for German-speaking Diplomats. During the event, the diplomats had the opportunity to get to know each other and to exchange experiences.
The Diplomatenkolleg is a unique advanced training programme organized by the Federal Foreign Office and the Robert Bosch Foundation for young diplomats from Central and Eastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus, Central Asia and China who are accredited in Germany. The programme is implemented with support from the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).
