The Geopolitics of Hospitality (FutureLearn)

The Geopolitics of Hospitality (FutureLearn)

Discover the role that cooking and hospitality play in international relations. Explore the rising discipline of gastrodiplomacy. Diplomacy and hospitality are similar in many ways: they bring people from various cultural and social origins together. In international politics, the ritual of meal preparation can help mitigate potentially contentious relationships. Table manners can be the source of pride and distinction. Taste is an inexhaustible topic of conversation and debate. Moreover, the art of seating, servingand addressing guests according to their importance – far from being outdated – is still important in today’s globalised, standardised world.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Discover how hospitality reflects geopolitics
This free online course will help you understand the ethnological and diplomatic implications behind the culinary arts and how to properly host guests.
Developed jointly by the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and Grenoble Ecole de Management, the course will use diverse examples from around the world, plus the work of historians, philosophers, anthropologists and political scientists, to highlight the role of hospitality in international relations.

Gain insights into cultural and intercultural issues
Through the course, you will:

  • gain a better understanding of international relations through the study of interpersonal relationships;
  • deepen your knowledge of geopolitics and learn more about hospitality as an exercise in soft power; gain insights into cultural and intercultural issues, and how mundane tasks can affect the vision people have of the world;
  • compare various lifestyles, and surprising cultural practices and habits;
  • become familiar with “gastrodiplomacy” or “culinary diplomacy” – a rising discipline in public diplomacy;
  • and broaden your vision of the business of hospitality.
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Hotel Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Hotel Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy (Coursera)

This course is a beginner-level program that provides a comprehensive immersion into the world of digital marketing and social media strategies tailored specifically for the hotel industry. In this course, Learners will gain a solid understanding of how to effectively utilize digital marketing tools and social media platforms to enhance a hotel's online presence, engage with potential guests, and drive bookings.

Jul 20th 2026
4 Weeks
India-US Relations: Geopolitics, Culture, and Business (Coursera) Coursera
O.P. Jindal Global University

India-US Relations: Geopolitics, Culture, and Business (Coursera)

Welcome to the India-US Relations: Geopolitics, Culture, and Business course! This course seeks to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the intense ties between India and the US. The government-to-government interactions are elaborated by focusing on the strategic ties between the two countries and the business relationship. You will gain insight into how people-to-people relationships are highlighted by focusing on the diaspora. You will also explore the educational and cultural links strengthening the bonds between India and the US.

Jul 13th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Managing Marketing in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (edX) EdX
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,HKPolyUx

Managing Marketing in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry (edX)

Learn the latest principles and theories in marketing and how to apply them to the hospitality and tourism industry. Marketing within the hotel and tourism industry presents unique challenges, as marketers are tasked with selling services and memories rather than goods. In this hospitality management course, you will learn how to apply marketing knowledge and skills to the hotel and tourism industry.

Aug 23rd 2024
5-12 Weeks
Politics and Economics of International Energy (Coursera) Coursera
Sciences Po

Politics and Economics of International Energy (Coursera)

Energy issues have always been important in international relations, but in recent years may have become even more important than in the past due to the widespread awareness of existing limits to energy sources and negative climate impacts. The course discusses global trends in energy consumption and production, various available scenarios for potential developments in the coming decades, the availability of oil reserves and the evolution of the oil industry.

Jul 13th 2026
5-12 Weeks
International Hospitality & Healthcare Services Marketing (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

International Hospitality & Healthcare Services Marketing (Coursera)

As the fastest-growing sectors of the current global economy, both hospitality and healthcare services sector offer tremendous growth opportunities for incumbents and entrepreneurial opportunities for new entrants. To flourish on these opportunities, one must first understand each industry's unique characteristics. This course is designed to help those who are interested in career advancement opportunities in these industries or who want to be inspired by these industries to better equip themselves with enlightened and creative management capabilities.

Jul 20th 2026
3 Weeks
Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy in the Modern World (Coursera) Coursera
University of London,SOAS University of London

Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy in the Modern World (Coursera)

The Global Diplomacy course is a unique offering to the MOOC environment. Bringing together cutting edge research in the broad fields of Diplomatic and International Studies, award winning distance learning delivery and the instructors previous experience of delivering a successful MOOC. Please see the volume Global Diplomacy: Theories, Types and Models authored with Dr Alison Holmes, (Westview, 2016), and the Understanding Research Methods MOOC from Coursera.

Jul 13th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations (Coursera) Coursera
O.P. Jindal Global University

Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations (Coursera)

Welcome to the Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations course! This course acquaints you with how power matters in the conduct of international relations and how it affects the strategies and tactics of a nation-state in dealing with other nation-states. It demonstrates the link between a country’s ranking in the international system and the means and methods it adopts to deal with the rest of the world.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Inequality and Democracy (Coursera) Coursera
Universiteit Utrecht

Inequality and Democracy (Coursera)

Most countries are getting more and more unequal. But the core of democracy is political equality: that everyone should have an equal say in how their country is run. Can we really expect these things to go together? Can people have equal political power while economic inequality grows and grows? Take this course and decide for yourself.

Jul 13th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Arctic Change & the Nexus of Governance, Economics & Culture (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Arctic Change & the Nexus of Governance, Economics & Culture (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how the changing Arctic environment is tied to the growing economic and strategic importance of the North. After setting the stage through a review of the peoples of the Arctic and how they are dealing with change, Arctic governance, economies national defense, attention turns to marine use of the Arctic, oil and gas exploration, mining, fisheries and tourism.

Jul 6th 2026
4 Weeks