Master in International Law, Diplomacy, Consular Affairs and Foreign Trade

Module I. Public International Law

Public International Law. Concept. Characters. Sources.
Hierarchy of international norms in the internal law of each State.
International legal personality. Subjects. The State and International Organizations.
Treaties. Definition. Types. Conclusion. Entry into force. Reservations. Vienna Convention 1969 on the Law of Treaties.
Personal competences of the State. Nationality and aliens. Ius sanginis vs ius soli ., Conventions on dual nationality. Cases of plurinationality and its determination. Consular registration. Maintenance of Nationality. Nationality of those born abroad to Spanish parents. European and Spanish regulations on asylum, refuge and statelessness. Concept of Asylum and Considerations. United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Territorial Asylum. Cases of exposure.
The international protection of human rights. Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Application of International Law. Instruments of guarantee of forced application of international law. Principle of peaceful settlement of disputes. International arbitration. International tribunals
International responsibility of the state.
Fundamental rights and constitutional freedoms and duties: Fundamental rights and public freedoms. The guiding principles of State action. Fundamental rights of foreigners. The system of protection of constitutional rights: The Constitutional Court
The territorial competences of the State. The territory. The ways of acquiring territorial competence. Borders and cross-border cooperation. Spanish borders. Airspace. Areas of international interest: polar areas, international watercourses, international channels, outer space.
Space law.
State Immunity

Module II. International Private Law

Spanish nationality, acquisition, option and consolidation. The proof of Spanish nationality. Assumptions of loss and recovery of nationality. Processing of the nationality of foreign children of Spanish parents in the country of origin.
The Spanish immigration system. The LO 4/200 of 11 January on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and its modifications. Entry and residence regulations. Citizens of the Union and their families.
Entry regulations. Visas: I. Short term visas. The Schengen Agreement and its implementing Convention. Types of visas. Stay visas. Processing and resolution of short-stay visa applications. Long-stay visas. Applicable legislation. Residence visa without work purposes. Family reunification visas: general and Community rules. Residence and work visas. Study visas. Transnational provision of services. Temporary movement of foreign minors.
Expulsions and returns of foreigners. Types. Internment. Resources
Private International Law. Jurisdiction and competence. Legal regime of the form of the acts The evidence of foreign law. The value of the foreign public document. Legalization. Evidentiary force. The foreign sentence. Structure, nature and content. Recognition and enforcement. Extraterritorial effectiveness of judicial decisions. Access to the Civil Registry for foreign judgments, public documents and registry certifications
Criminal Law and International Criminal Law. System of international judicial cooperation. Assistance to the detainee. Extradition and its legal regime. European surrender. Enforcement of sentences.
Civil law and international civil law. Consular marriage of nationals abroad and with foreigners. Marriage by proxy. Admission of the consular marriage. Nationality of the contracting parties Marriages of convenience. Brief description of the process of obtaining a visa. Adoptions. Competence of the consular authority. Late birth registrations. Recognition of late paternity. Competent law.
Practical cases of international public and private law.

Module III. Diplomatic and Consular Law

Diplomacy. Concept. Origin and historical evolution of diplomatic relations. The Origins of Permanent Diplomatic Missions. Vienna Regulations of 19 March 1815, concerning the status of diplomatic agents. Aachen Protocol of 21 November 1818. The present situation.
Factual budgets for diplomatic and consular relations. (Political, sociological and economic). Legal budgets (International Legal Personality. Right of legation and the right of consulate. Recognition. The reciprocal agreement)
Delimitation of diplomacy. Diplomacy and international relations. Diplomacy and foreign policy.
The normative content of diplomatic and consular law. The process of rule-making. The value of sources. Rules of international and domestic law. Codification. Effectiveness, application and guarantees.

Module IV. Diplomatic Law

1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Diplomatic relations. Establishment.
The diplomatic mission. Definition. Functions. Members.
Diplomatic agents. Definition and implications.
The Head of Mission. Definition. Classes.
Start of functions. Notice of arrival. Credentials. Accreditation.
Analysis of diplomatic functions. Mission activity.

Module V. Consular Law

Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963. Consular offices. The Head of Consular Office. Definition. Categories. Appointment and admission. Accreditation. The principle of the useful effect of international treaties and the reference in the 1963 Vienna Convention to the law of the receiving State with regard to consular functions.
Consular notification: Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention, the case law of the International Court of Justice and the law of States.
Analysis of consular functions.
Consular functions relating to the law on aliens: documentation of persons for the purpose of expulsion. Respect for the law of the receiving State, judicial authority and the rights of persons recognised by international treaties. CIE and prisons.

Module VI. Immunities and privileges

The privileges and immunities in the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and their impact on the consular office and consular officials.
Privileges and immunities in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and its impact on the diplomatic mission and diplomatic agent.
Status of diplomatic and consular staff.
Status of family members of diplomatic and consular staff. Residence. Nationality.
Regime of hired personnel.
The attachment of the national judge to international law.
Immunity from jurisdiction and execution. Differences between diplomatic and consular officials. Jurisdictional immunities of international organizations. Diplomatic protection from administrative and judicial decisions taken by foreign persons or companies. Headquarters agreements, representations and their officials before the justice of States. Declinatory of Jurisdiction.
Inviolability of premises and assets of the mission.
Tax and customs immunity. Social security regime.
Cases of exposure.

Module VII. International Diplomatic Law

Diplomatic relations between States. Establishment and breakdown of diplomatic relations. Practical situations in diplomatic activity: The Note Verbale. The call for ambassadorial consultations. Expulsion of diplomats. The rupture of relations and other aspects.
Diplomatic relations in times of war. Article 41 of the United Nations Charter.
Diplomatic relations and international organizations. Right of legation. Representation before international organisations.
Diplomacy in the European Union.
Diplomacy in Latin America.

Module VIII. Diplomacy and International Relations

Concept of international society. Characteristics of today’s international society.
The new international realities. Development of new non-state actors. Regionalism as a determining factor in international society. Change in the use of force and coercion.
Power in international relations. Power and interdependence. Structural power and economic sources of power. The diffusion of power.
The State in international relations. The principle of sovereign equality of States. State, people and nation. The transformations of the State in the process of globalization. Problems of international society. International security. Problems of international society: natural resources, environment and sustainable development. The control of vital resources.

Module IX. Diplomacy in Spain

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organization and competences. Structure and organisation of the State’s foreign administration: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Missions and Spanish diplomatic officials from the perspective of Administrative Law. The AECID and other actors in educational and cultural matters. Public diplomacy and Casas Consorcio. The Cervantes Institute, the cultural centres of Spain and the action of the representations abroad.
The Spanish policy of cooperation for development. Main stages in its evolution. Regulatory framework: Law 23/1998 on International Cooperation, the Master Plan and the Annual Plans for International Cooperation
Diplomacy in Spain. Access to the diplomatic career.

Module X. Foreign Trade

Introduction to Foreign Trade.
International Transport of Goods. The International Transport Contract. The transport insurance.
International Contracting.
International Taxation.
Means of payment and international financing
Competition law. Unfair competition

Of an executive nature, candidates must submit the following documentation for evaluation by the admissions committee

• Curriculum vitae
• Motivation letter (in which you express your reasons for wanting to do this master’s degree)

In certain cases, a written test and/or a personal interview may also be required.

If you wish to begin the admission process, you can do so by sending us your documentation via the following link: ISDE ADMISSION PROCESS

H.E. Mr. Aníbal de Castro

Ambassador of the D.R. in Belgium

He has a degree in Public Information Sciences from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and Development from the University of East Anglia in England, where he graduated with honors.

He has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Dominican Republic to the United Kingdom and concurrent to the Commonwealth of Australia. Since 2009, he has also been concurrent Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland. From July 2011 to the end of 2014 he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, from 2014 to 2017 as Ambassador of the D.R. in Spain.

In 1986 he received the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, and in 2012 the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the rank of Knight. In 2000 he was awarded the prestigious “Caonabo de Oro” prize.

Mr. Angel Loja Llanos

Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Public Works of the Government of Ecuador

Bachelor of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence. Master’s degree in Senior Public Management and specialist in Public Contracting. He has been advisor to the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Ecuador and Counselor to the Foreign Service of the Government of Ecuador, Embassy of Ecuador in Spain.

D. Bonifacio Mitogo

First Secretary Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Spain

Forestry Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Master’s Degree in Computer Management and Programming, Diploma in Business Management and International Marketing and Master’s Degree in Diplomatic Law and International Relations.

He has served as Assistant Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Equatorial Guinea until 2007, and extended his functions in the national structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, first as Director General of International Organizations (2007-2010), later Director General of International Cooperation. He also stands out as a writer, having authored among other books “The Reform of the United Nations: The African Approach” and “The African Union 50 years”.

D. Carlos Ortiz Bru

Transport and Telecommunications Councillor. Representation of Spain before the European Union. Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

He has a degree in Law from the Autonomous University of Madrid, is a civil servant in the Higher Body of Civil State Administrators, and has held several positions in the Ministry of Culture (Advisor to the Minister of Culture, Secretary General of the Institute of Film and Audiovisual Arts, Director of Strategic Planning of Radiotelevisión Española, Director of the RTVE Cabinet, General Secretary and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Public Entity of the Spanish Technical Television Network (RETEVISIÓN), Advisory Member of the General Secretariat of Communications, Member of the Board of Directors of the Public Postal Entity,)
He has been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1997, and is currently the Counsellor for Transport and Telecommunications at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union.

D. Christian Garma

Director of Business Services and Financial Advice at ICEX (Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade). Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness)

State Economist, he has been President of Spain Expansión Exterior in the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Executive Advisor in the cabinet of the Secretary of State.

Ms. Cynthia Favero Ballesteros

Graduate in Law (UB) and Analyst in Business Administration (UB). Specialist in new economy business, Master E-Business &e-commerce

She is an expert in international public and private law with several postgraduate degrees in the field, advising foreign governments, royal houses, embassies and consulates. She has published numerous articles, conferences, workshops and lectures. He has held various representative positions in business organizations and sectors such as Labour and social security advisor to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, Quilmes Bank, Roberts Bank SA (Maximum AFJP); Treasurer of the Cabo Verdiana Association of Madrid; Manager and General Secretary of the Association of Optics Trade Businessmen; Member of the Board of Directors of the Glass and Ceramics Confederation, Member of the Family Business Commission of the C.E.O.E, General Secretary of FEDAO, etc. Having represented these organizations and negotiated the collective agreements of the optical, chemical, extractive, metal, glass and ceramic sectors etc. She is also an arbitrator for the Madrid Court of Arbitration, Health and Consumer Affairs Area, and is a member of the Bar Association in Spain and Argentina. She is also a managing partner of several law firms.

D. Gabriel Elorriaga

Bachelor of Laws. Belongs to the State Finance Inspectorate

He has held, among other positions, the post of Comptroller General of the Complutense University of Madrid, head of studies at the School of Public Finance and research adviser at the Support Unit of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, deputy director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government in 1996, and was subsequently appointed Secretary of State for Territorial Organisation at the Ministry of Public Administration. In 2004 he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabel the Catholic. In November 2013 he entered the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation as a corresponding academic.

He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the ICO Foundation (1996-2000) and of the Ibero-American Foundation of Government and Public Policy. Between 2004 and 2012 he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Analysis and Social Studies (FAES) and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Fiscal Studies of the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, among other positions.

D. Galo Chiriboga Zambrano

Former Attorney General of Ecuador

Bachelor of Laws. Doctor in Jurisprudence from the Catholic University of Quito. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Administration, specializing in Human Rights, from the Robert Shuman University in the city of Strasbourg, France. Some time later, he specialized in Labor Law at the Central University of Ecuador, studied a Master in Administration at the EAFIT University in the Colombian city of Medellin, specialized in Financial, Stock Exchange and Insurance Law at the Simón Bolívar Andean University, and specialized in Contracts at the University of Salamanca in Spain.

He has been President, Vice President and Continental Secretary General of the American Association of Jurists, a Non-Governmental Organization with consultative status to the United Nations.

He has been Minister of Labor and Minister of Government. He was also President of Petroecuador.
In the government of Rafael Correa he has been Minister of Mines and Petroleum from July 23, 2007 to October 8, 2008 and Ambassador of Ecuador to Spain from December 23, 2009 to February 3, 2011, in which he assumes the position of Attorney General of the State that has served until 2017.

Mr. Eduardo Montes

President of UNESA (Spanish Association of the Electrical Industry)

Industrial Engineer by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Master in Senior Management by IESE. He has been CEO of Alcatel, president of the Alstom group, then president of Siemens Spain, and later a member of the worldwide Siemens Management Committee and president of the Telecommunications division, with more than 400,000 people under his belt.

H.E. Mr. Juan Sunyé Mendía

Introducer of Ambassadors of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Juan José Gómez Neira

Alternate Judge in the Canary Islands Supreme Court

Mr. Juan José Alarcón

Analyst in geopolitics, security and defence and international relations

Mr. Marcos Cross Sánchez

Deputy of the Dominican Congress and President of the Pld for Europe

Degree in Education, Math and Physics, at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). With a Master’s Degree in Public Management from the Complutense University of Madrid. He has served as Secretary of Organization of the Dominican Association of Professors (ADP), of the Provincial Bureau in María Trinidad Sánchez. (1982-1986), as General Secretary of the Dominican Association of Professors (A.D.P.), of the Provincial Bureau in María Trinidad Sánchez (1986-1991) and Provincial Coordinator of the Eugenio María de Hostos Teachers’ Current (1986-1991). Currently Deputy of the Government of the Dominican Republic and president of the Dominican Liberation Party for Europe. He has been Consul General of the Dominican Republic for 7 years, until 2011 when he was appointed Minister Counselor of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Madrid.

Mrs. María Ascensión Cuchillos Barrado

She has a degree in Law from the University of Zaragoza and a degree in criminology from the University Camilo José Cela, a Master’s degree in Fundamental Rights (UNED), a postgraduate degree in Catalan civil law, (UB), and an academic teaching certificate (University of Zaragoza). She has been a public prosecutor in the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Madrid since 2010, having been transferred from the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona, where she had been working since 2002.

Ms. Marta Iglesias Berlanga

Doctor of Law from the Complutense University of Madrid. Degree in Law from the UCM, Master’s Degree in European Union Law from the UCM

After several years of professional activity at the United Nations Information Centre for Spain (UNIC), she is currently Professor of International Public Law at ISDE, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) and the Institute of Stock Market Studies (IEB), also working as an External Consultant for the Studies in Law and Political Science at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Specialized in Law of the Sea, Marta Iglesias Berlanga has developed most of her research activity at the Palais des Nations (Geneva, Switzerland) and at the Hague Academy of International Law (Netherlands). Especial referencia a los intereses españoles” and a plurality of articles collected in prestigious national and international specialized magazines. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Revista Electrónica de Estudios Internacionales (REEI) (2007-present) and of the Madrid Bar Association

D. Miguel Carasatorr

He holds a degree in chemical science from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, a degree in management development from IESE, a degree in foreign trade, international finance and business administration from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and a degree in international business management from Centennial College in Toronto, Canada. He currently serves as Professor of International Business and Foreign Trade at Centennial College School of Business in Toronto, Canada. He has developed his professional life in the business world as a manager in several multinationals in the chemical sector.

Ms. Alejandra Hernández

Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of the D.R. in Belgium

She has been until 2017 Minister Councillor for D.R. in Spain and previously in the United Kingdom and the USA.

David Odalric de Caixal i Mata

Graduate in History from the University of Barcelona, Master’s in Military History from the Sorbonne University, Graduate in Humanities from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

He is the Managing Director of SECINDEF (Security, Intelligence & Defense) Israel-USA International Consulting. He has served as Dean of the International University Campus of Security and Defence of the CISDE and Director of the Department of Military History and Culture of the CISDE, Professor of Heraldry and Noble Prize Law at the ESPRI (School of Protocol and Institutional Relations of Catalonia). He is Coordinator and Professor of the University Expert Course on International Geostrategy, Diplomacy and Jihadist Terrorism at the EIP (International School of Protocol), among many other positions, having published over 100 articles and a dozen books.

Angel Manuel Ballesteros García

He has been Vice President of the Superior Council of Foreign Affairs, Director of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advisory Member for Continental Asia, and was the first Director of Cooperation with Africa, Asia and Oceania.

He was the first Spanish Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea Bissau.
Consul General of Spain in Cordoba and then in Mendoza (Argentina).
Known for his double work as a diplomat and writer, he is one of the greatest experts in Spanish diplomatic disputes.

Speakers at the conferences to develop the Master’s programme

H.E. Mr. Angel Juanes Peces, Vice President of the Supreme Court of Spain
Mr. Jorge Dajani, Alternate Executive Director in the chair of Spain at the IMF, former Director General of Macroeconomic Analysis and International Economics of the Ministry of Economy of Spain
H.E. Doris Osterlof, Ambassador of Costa Rica
H.E. Ms. Taous Feroukhi, Ambassador of Algeria
H.E. Mr. Stefanno Sannino, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Spain
H.E. Mr. Antonio Simoes, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Spain. H.E. Ms. Roberta Lajous, Ambassador of Mexico
H.E. Mr. Francisco Ribeiro, Ambassador of Portugal to Spain
H.E. Mr. Masashi Mizukami, Ambassador of Japan to Spain
H.E. Mr. Miguel Eduardo Calahorrano Camino, Ambassador of Ecuador to Spain
H.E. Yuri P. Korchagin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Spain
H.E. Mr. Daniel Kutner, Ambassador of Israel to Spain