Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Name	Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Established	1933
Type	Private graduate school
Parent	Tufts University
Dean	Rachel Kyte
City	Medford, Massachusetts
Country	United States
Website	fletcher.tufts.edu

Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is a graduate school of international affairs located in Medford, Massachusetts, and is the oldest school of international affairs in the United States. Founded in 1933 through a bequest from Austin B. Fletcher, it is a part of Tufts University and operates as a distinct, self-contained entity. The school is dedicated to preparing leaders for the global stage through a multidisciplinary curriculum that blends the study of law, diplomacy, economics, and business.

History

The school was established following a bequest from Austin B. Fletcher, a former mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and philanthropist. Its founding was a collaborative effort between Tufts University and Harvard University, with initial plans for a joint degree program; this formal partnership ended in the 1940s, though cross-registration between the institutions continues. Early leadership and curriculum development were significantly influenced by figures like Homer B. Vanderblue, the first dean, and the school's mission was shaped by the interwar period's need for professional diplomatic training. Throughout the Cold War, it expanded its focus to include security studies and international political economy, educating many future leaders for the U.S. Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, and multilateral organizations like the United Nations.

Academics

The school offers several master's degrees, including the Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, the Master of International Business, and a Master of Laws in International Law, alongside a Doctor of Philosophy and executive education programs. Its core curriculum requires study across three fields: international law and organizations; diplomacy, history, and politics; and economics and international business. Students tailor their studies through numerous specializations such as international security studies, international negotiation and conflict resolution, and development economics. The pedagogical approach emphasizes a practitioner focus, with frequent instruction from former ambassadors, military officials, and leaders from institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Campus and facilities

The school's primary campus is located on Tufts University's main grounds in Medford, Massachusetts, near the border with Somerville, Massachusetts. Its central academic building is the Cabot Intercultural Center, which houses classrooms, administrative offices, and the school's main auditorium. The adjacent Ginn Library is a specialized research facility with extensive collections in international affairs, law, and diplomacy. The school also maintains a significant presence in Washington, D.C., for its executive education programs and hosts events at its affiliated Washington office.

Notable alumni and faculty

Alumni hold prominent positions in global governance, including former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, former Prime Minister of Greece Loukas Papademos, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Thomas R. Pickering. Distinguished graduates in the private sector include former CEO of Citigroup Vikram Pandit and economist Mohamed A. El-Erian. The faculty has included renowned scholars such as international relations theorist Robert O. Keohane, former U.S. National Security Advisor James L. Jones Jr., and legal scholar and former dean Stephen W. Bosworth.

Research centers and programs

The school hosts several interdisciplinary research institutes, including the Center for Strategic Studies, which focuses on international security, and the Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs. Other key centers are the Institute for Business in the Global Context, which examines the intersection of business and international relations, and the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World, which studies media and public diplomacy. These centers often collaborate with organizations like the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Economic Forum on policy-oriented research.

Rankings and reputation

Consistently ranked among the top graduate schools for international affairs globally by publications like *Foreign Policy* and U.S. News & World Report, it is particularly renowned for its programs in international law, security studies, and international business. It is a core member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, a consortium of elite institutions. The school is widely recognized for producing a high number of diplomats, officials in the U.S. Foreign Service, and executives in multinational corporations and international financial institutions.

Category:Tufts University Category:Graduate schools in Massachusetts Category:International affairs schools in the United States