This course is offered through IPD’s broader global leadership training program.
Join a growing international community of policy leaders committed to professional growth and driving global impact.
The Applied Geopolitics and Strategy Course (AGSC) is the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy’s flagship policy leadership course for professionals across sectors whose work is increasingly shaped by evolving geopolitical dynamics.
This intensive course equips selected participants with the strategic foresight and practical skills needed to translate geopolitical insights into real-world decision-making, addressing complex challenges while seizing emerging opportunities in an increasingly volatile global environment.
Through practitioner-led instruction, scenario-based learning, and interactive workshops, participants engage with a top-tier faculty of current and former ministers, ambassadors, business leaders, academics, and journalists who are working at the forefront of international affairs and global industry.
Now in its second year, AGSC will convene a selective cohort of 35 participants for an eight-week virtual course running from June 23 to August 20, 2026.
Applications close June 1, 2026. Applications will reviewed on a rolling basis.
This opening week introduces a shifting international system marked by the end of unipolarity, intensifying great-power competition, and the rising influence of middle powers in an increasingly multipolar world. Participants examine competing visions of U.S. grand strategy—from primacy to restraint—in light of renewed debate under the second Trump administration and its new U.S. National Security Strategy.
June 23, 2026
Deputy Director, Better Order Project, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Senior Fellow, Institute for Peace & Diplomacy
June 25, 2026
Research Director and Managing Director, U.S. Operations, Institute for Peace & Diplomacy
This week examines how modern wars are fought and how states compete for strategic advantage amid rapid technological change and intensifying geopolitical rivalry. Participants explore how strategic deterrence, escalation dominance, and battlefield effectiveness are shaped by military innovation and cross-domain operations across land, air, sea, cyber, space, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
June 30, 2026
President, Security Management Institute
July 2, 2026
Fellow, Institute for Peace & Diplomacy; Military Engineer Officer, Canadian Armed Forces
This week examines how economic power is exercised through global trade, financial infrastructure, and monetary policy amid intensifying great-power competition. Participants explore how states use protectionist policies, monetary power, and diversification strategies to shape their preferred economic agenda at home and abroad.
July 7, 2026
July 9, 2026
Adjunct Senior Fellow, Energy, Economics, and Security Program, Center for a New American Security
This week examines how strategic resources are becoming instruments of power in a tech-driven economy, as control over critical inputs, processing capacity, and key supply routes translates into geopolitical leverage. Focusing on critical minerals and energy, it explores how states deploy export controls, industrial policy, investment screening, and supply-chain security strategies to secure access, reduce vulnerabilities, and reshape strategic dependencies.
July 14, 2026
Director of Research and Programs, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council
July 16, 2026
Director of the Institute of Geoeconomics, International House of Japan; Professor of Science and Technology Policy, University of Tokyo
This week examines how frontier technologies are becoming core arenas of strategic competition and state power, as leadership in AI and quantum increasingly shapes economic advantage, national security, and geopolitical influence. The week also assesses how competition is driving investment strategies, industrial policies, and public-private partnerships that will define the rules and trajectory of the next technological era.
July 21, 2026
Faculty Associate, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University; Professor, Northeastern University
July 23, 2026
This week examines how diplomacy today increasingly operates through informal channels and intermediaries, where outcomes are shaped as much by behind-the-scenes engagement as by formal negotiations and traditional institutions. Focusing on backchannel diplomacy and mediation, it explores various structures, strategies, and real-world applications of diplomacy from multi-track dialogues and shuttle diplomacy to state-backed mediated negotiations and high-level strategic dialogues utilized for conflict resolution and deal-making.
August 4, 2026
Project Manager, Mediation and Peace Support, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
August 6, 2026
European Union Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament and Special Adviser on the Iran Nuclear Issue
This week examines how policy agendas are shaped through influence rather than formal institutions—by those who frame debates, mobilize coalitions, and sustain pressure over time. Participants explore how interest groups, think tanks, businesses, and advocacy networks translate ideas into access and policy impact. The week also develops practical skills in strategic communication, focusing on persuasive writing and narrative-building to move decision-makers and shape public discourse.
August 11, 2026
Vice President, Foreign Policy, Stand Together
August 13, 2026
Former Canadian Minister of International Trade; Advisor, Institute for Peace & Diplomacy
The final week focuses on translating ideas into influence and leadership across sectors. Participants develop the skills to communicate clearly and persuasively through effective policy writing, then examine how policy leaders build credibility, leverage networks, and drive impact in the field. Together, the sessions show how strong analysis, strategic communication, and cross-sector engagement combine to shape real policy outcomes.
August 18, 2026
Opinion Editor, Editorial Board, Toronto Star; Author, 'That's What You Think: A Practical Guide to Writing Compelling Op-Eds and Short Memoirs'
August 20, 2026
AGSC welcomes participants at different career stages, from rising professionals to experienced practitioners seeking to deepen understanding of geopolitics, expand their networks, or transition between sectors.
Consider applying if you are:
A public servant working on policy development, diplomacy, trade, defence, or other internationally oriented portfolios
A private sector professional engaged in global markets, corporate strategy, investment, risk management, or international operations
A professional at a nonprofit, NGO, or think tank with an overlapping focus on global issues, including peacebuilding, advocacy, multilateral engagement, economics, security and defence
An academic or researcher specializing in international relations, finance, technology, defence, trade, or political economy, or other relevant fields
A journalist or media professional covering public policy, international affairs, or global economics
The program is open to participants across career stages in government, business, nonprofit organizations, intergovernmental entities, and media, as well as researchers and graduate students in public and international affairs.
If you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please consider applying by completing the application form. Only selected applicants will be contacted.
You can view the program agenda and list of instructors directly on the main page above. If you are selected for the program, you will receive full access to detailed weekly session outlines, along with supporting materials and guidance.
The online program runs from June 23 to August 20, 2026 with 90 minute sessions held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants should expect to dedicate 3–5 hours per week, including the sessions.
The program will be limited to 35 participants to ensure a truly interactive and effective learning experience. This selective cohort size allows for meaningful engagement with instructors and peer-to-peer learning.
Yes. A modest program fee of $749.99 USD will be charged to accepted participants.
Yes. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a digital certificate of completion issued by the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy.
Five partial scholarships are available and awarded based on both merit and demonstrated financial need, which you can describe on the application form.
AGSC will feature a distinguished faculty of current and former ministers, ambassadors, senior government and business leaders, think tank experts, academics, and journalists who are actively navigating geopolitical uncertainty in their respective fields.
Absolutely. Participants will engage in networking sessions, small-group discussions, and peer-to-peer collaboration throughout the program. Graduates will also gain access to IPD’s global alumni network, with invitations to future events, programs and other exclusive networking opportunities.
The Western powers have failed to effectively manage the increasing threat of proliferation in the Middle East. While the international community is concerned with Iran’s nuclear program, Saudi Arabia has moved forward with developing its own nuclear program, and independent studies show that Israel has longed possessed dozens of nuclear warheads. The former is a member of the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), while the latter has refused to sign the international agreement.
On Middle East policy, the Biden campaign had staunchly criticized the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal and it has begun re-engaging Iran on the nuclear dossier since assuming office in January 2021. However, serious obstacles remain for responsible actors in expanding non-proliferation efforts toward a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.
This panel will discuss how Western powers and multilateral institutions, such as the IAEA, can play a more effective role in managing non-proliferation efforts in the Middle East.
Panelists:
– Peggy Mason: Canada’s former Ambassador to the UN for Disarmament
– Mark Fitzpatrick: Associate Fellow & Former Executive Director, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
– Ali Vaez: Iran Project Director, International Crisis Group
– Negar Mortazavi: Journalist and Political Analyst, Host of Iran Podcast
– David Albright: Founder and President of the Institute for Science and International Security
Closing (5:45 PM – 6:00 PM ET)
What is the current economic landscape in the Middle East? While global foreign direct investment is expected to fall drastically in the post-COVID era, the World Bank reported a 5% contraction in the economic output of the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries in 2020 due to the pandemic. While oil prices are expected to rebound with normalization in demand, political instability, regional and geopolitical tensions, domestic corruption, and a volatile regulatory and legal environment all threaten economic recovery in the Middle East. What is the prospect for economic growth and development in the region post-pandemic, and how could MENA nations promote sustainable growth and regional trade moving forward?
At the same time, Middle Eastern diaspora communities have become financially successful and can help promote trade between North America and the region. In this respect, the diaspora can become vital intermediaries for advancing U.S. and Canada’s business interests abroad. Promoting business diplomacy can both benefit the MENA region and be an effective and positive way to advance engagement and achieve foreign policy goals of the North Atlantic.
This panel will investigate the trade and investment opportunities in the Middle East, discuss how facilitating economic engagement with the region can benefit Canadian and American national interests, and explore relevant policy prescriptions.
Panelists:
– Hon. Sergio Marchi: Canada’s Former Minister of International Trade
– Scott Jolliffe: Chairperson, Canada Arab Business Council
– Esfandyar Batmanghelidj: Founder and Publisher of Bourse & Bazaar
– Nizar Ghanem: Director of Research and Co-founder at Triangle
– Nicki Siamaki: Researcher at Control Risks
The Middle East continues to grapple with violence and instability, particularly in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Fueled by government incompetence and foreign interventions, terrorist insurgencies have imposed severe humanitarian and economic costs on the region. Meanwhile, regional actors have engaged in an unprecedented pursuit of arms accumulation. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have imported billions of both Western and Russian-made weapons and funded militant groups across the region, intending to contain their regional adversaries, particularly Iran. Tehran has also provided sophisticated weaponry to various militia groups across the region to strengthen its geopolitical position against Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel.
On the other hand, with international terrorist networks and intense regional rivalry in the Middle East, it is impractical to discuss peace and security without addressing terrorism and the arms race in the region. This panel will primarily discuss the implications of the ongoing arms race in the region and the role of Western powers and multilateral organizations in facilitating trust-building security arrangements among regional stakeholders to limit the proliferation of arms across the Middle East.
Panelists:
Luciano Zaccara: Assistant Professor, Qatar University
Dania Thafer: Executive Director, Gulf International Forum
Kayhan Barzegar: Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Science and Research Branch of Azad University
Barbara Slavin: Director of Iran Initiative, Atlantic Council
Sanam Shantyaei: Senior Journalist at France24 & host of Middle East Matters
The emerging regional order in West Asia will have wide-ranging implications for global security. The Biden administration has begun re-engaging Iran on the nuclear dossier, an initiative staunchly opposed by Israel, while also taking a harder line on Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen. Meanwhile, key regional actors, including Qatar, Iraq, and Oman, have engaged in backchannel efforts to bring Iran and Saudi Arabia to the negotiating table. From a broader geopolitical perspective, with the need to secure its energy imports, China is also expected to increase its footprint in the region and influence the mentioned challenges.
In this evolving landscape, Western powers will be compelled to redefine their strategic priorities and adjust their policies with the new realities in the region. In this panel, we will discuss how the West, including the United States and its allies, can utilize multilateral diplomacy with its adversaries to prevent military escalation in the region. Most importantly, the panel will discuss if a multilateral security dialogue in the Persian Gulf region, proposed by some regional actors, can help reduce tensions among regional foes and produce sustainable peace and development for the region.
Panelists:
– Abdullah Baabood: Academic Researcher and Former Director of the Centre for Gulf Studies, Qatar University
– Trita Parsi: Executive Vice-President, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
– Ebtesam Al-Ketbi: President, Emirates Policy Centre
– Jon Allen: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Israel
– Elizabeth Hagedorn: Washington correspondent for Al-Monitor
Military interventions, political and economic instabilities, and civil unrest in the Middle East have led to a global refugee crisis with an increasing wave of refugees and asylum seekers to Europe and Canada. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has, in myriad ways, exacerbated and contributed to the ongoing security threats and destabilization of the region.
While these challenges pose serious risks to Canadian security, Ottawa will also have the opportunity to limit such risks and prevent a spillover effect vis-à-vis effective humanitarian initiatives in the region. In this panel, we will primarily investigate Canada’s Middle East Strategy’s degree of success in providing humanitarian aid to the region. Secondly, the panel will discuss what programs and initiatives Canada can introduce to further build on the renewed strategy. and more specifically, how Canada can utilize its policy instruments to more effectively deal with the increasing influx of refugees from the Middle East.
Panelists:
Erica Di Ruggiero: Director of Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto
Reyhana Patel: Head of Communications & Government Relations, Islamic Relief Canada
Amir Barmaki: Former Head of UN OCHA in Iran
Catherine Gribbin: Senior Legal Advisor for International and Humanitarian Law, Canadian Red Cross
In 2016, Canada launched an ambitious five-year “Middle East Engagement Strategy” (2016-2021), committing to investing CA$3.5 billion over five years to help establish the necessary conditions for security and stability, alleviate human suffering and enable stabilization programs in the region. In the latest development, during the meeting of the Global Coalition against ISIS, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau announced more than $43.6 million in Peace and Stabilization Operations Program funding for 11 projects in Syria and Iraq.
With Canada’s Middle East Engagement Strategy expiring this year, it is time to examine and evaluate this massive investment in the Middle East region in the past five years. More importantly, the panel will discuss a principled and strategic roadmap for the future of Canada’s short-term and long-term engagement in the Middle East.
Panelists:
– Ferry de Kerckhove: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Egypt
– Dennis Horak: Canada’s Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
– Chris Kilford: Former Canadian Defence Attaché in Turkey, member of the national board of the Canadian International Council (CIC)
– David Dewitt: University Professor Emeritus, York University
While the United States continues to pull back from certain regional conflicts, reflected by the Biden administration’s decision to halt American backing for Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen and the expected withdrawal from Afghanistan, US troops continue to be stationed across the region. Meanwhile, Russia and China have significantly maintained and even expanded their regional activities. On one hand, the Kremlin has maintained its military presence in Syria, and on the other hand, China has signed an unprecedented 25-year strategic agreement with Iran.
As the global power structure continues to shift, it is essential to analyze the future of the US regional presence under the Biden administration, explore the emerging global rivalry with Russia and China, and at last, investigate the implications of such competition for peace and security in the Middle East.
Panelists:
– Dmitri Trenin: Director of Carnegie Moscow Center
– Joost R. Hiltermann: Director of MENA Programme, International Crisis Group
– Roxane Farmanfarmaian: Affiliated Lecturer in International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa, University of Cambridge
– Andrew A. Michta: Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at Marshall Center
– Kelley Vlahos: Senior Advisor, Quincy Institute
The security architecture of the Middle East has undergone rapid transformations in an exceptionally short period. Notable developments include the United States gradual withdrawal from the region, rapprochement between Israel and some GCC states through the Abraham Accords and the rise of Chinese and Russian regional engagement.
With these new trends in the Middle East, it is timely to investigate the security implications of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy. In this respect, we will discuss the Biden team’s new approach vis-à-vis Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. The panel will also discuss the role of other major powers, including China and Russia in shaping this new security environment in the region, and how the Biden administration will respond to these powers’ increasing regional presence.
Panelists:
– Sanam Vakil: Deputy Director of MENA Programme at Chatham House
– Denise Natali: Acting Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies & Director of the Center for Strategic Research, National Defense University
– Hassan Ahmadian: Professor of the Middle East and North Africa Studies, University of Tehran
– Abdulaziz Sagar: Chairman, Gulf Research Center
– Andrew Parasiliti: President, Al-Monitor
