12/03/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘Soft Diplomacy – Implementation and Necessity of using Soft Diplomacy instead of Hard Diplomacy’
The art of diplomacy is necessary to communicate mostly with people that do not share your point of view. Using hard diplomacy as coercion (military or economic), goals can be reached only for a short period of time. Using soft diplomacy, goals can be reached for a long period of time with future mutual benefit …
23/04/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘Geopolitical changes and its consequences for Europe’
Europe is in its most difficult phase after the Second World War: its security is challenged, its economy is under severe threat form China and the US, and the European Union is far from being united in coping with these challenges. In addition, the two biggest economies, France and Germany, are proposing opposite solutions that …
21/05/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities with Mexico’ – TBC
Agenda: 16.00 – 16.15 Welcome 16.15 – 16.45 Lecture by David Oliva Uribe and Ambassador of Mexico 16.45 – 18.00 Networking Reception 18.00 End Participant fee: BDA House of Diplomacy Member: free of charge BDA House of Diplomacy Non-Member: 40 euro excl. 21% VAT Registration: Please send an email to delia.barbu@vub.be. Participation is guaranteed upon written confirmation …
18/06/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘The International Rules-Based Order and the Sea’
“The International Rules-Based Order and the Sea” explores how law, power, and interests interact across the world’s oceans. The lecture outlines the current international legal regime applicable at sea, maps the key legal, security, and economic stakeholders, and examines possible avenues for maritime law in eras when the rule of law gives way to the …
17/09/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘Financial Diplomacy in a Fragmenting World: New Tools for Global Stability’
Agenda: 16.00 – 16.15 Welcome 16.15 – 16.45 Lecture by Jo Vanbelle 16.45 – 18.00 Networking Reception 18.00 End Participant fee: BDA House of Diplomacy Member: free of charge BDA House of Diplomacy Non-Member: 40 euro excl. 21% VAT Registration: Please send an email to delia.barbu@vub.be. Participation is guaranteed upon written confirmation only. Cancellation : Registrations can be …
15/10/2026
BDA HOUSE OF DIPLOMACY LECTURE: ‘Soft Power at the Checkout: Influencing Sustainable Consumer Behaviour’
This lecture examines sustainable consumer behavior through the lens of soft power, highlighting how marketing and behavioral strategies can influence everyday choices in support of sustainability objectives. It connects consumer decision-making to diplomacy and international business by showing how markets play a key role in translating policy ambitions into daily practices. While diplomacy and regulation …