Consular Conversations: The Expulsion of Diplomats
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The expulsion of diplomats —a technically neutral mechanism codified in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations— has evolved into a powerful instrument of political communication between states. While the Convention grants the receiving state absolute discretionary authority to expel a diplomatic agent without providing justification, this very legal silence creates space for intense political signaling. Drawing on recent cases from Latin America and the Ibero-American space, this talk explores how a legally uniform norm produces divergent political effects depending on context, and why, in contemporary diplomacy, it is politics that fills the silence the law leaves behind.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵSchool for International Studies’ Consular Conversations series is a monthly public forum featuring discussions with members of the Consular Corps in Vancouver. These conversations are moderated by , an IS Adjunct Professor and Consul General of Argentina. The goal is to bring together the Consular Corps of British Columbia for public lectures that encourage dialogue on issues that transcend borders, explore inspiring topics, and cultivate connections. We invite members of the consular corps of British Columbia and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community to join us.
Speaker Biography
Dr. Ricardo Arredondo is an Argentine diplomat, international law expert, and professor with more than thirty years of experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, academic teaching, and policy advisory roles. He currently serves as the Consul General of Argentina in Vancouver, and he is an Adjunct Professor at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.Throughout his diplomatic career, Ricardo has held numerous senior positions in Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of the Office for the Settlement of Economic Disputes. Abroad, he was Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles, and he represented Argentina at the Embassies before the United Kingdom, the International Maritime Organization and Spain.Ricardo holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Buenos Aires, and he earned an LL.M. in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is the author of four books, co-authored three other and has published more than a hundred academic articles, book chapters, and editorials addressing diplomacy, international law, Latin American foreign policy, and global governance.