E-diplomacy

transcript

Jovan Kurbalija, DiploFoundation 2010

Excellencies, ladies & gentLmN, dEr guests

gud aftRnun.

It iz plSUR 2 b w U 2day.

When does our story start?

Probably, when our ancestors discovered that:

“It was better to hear the message than to eat the messenger.”

Evolution of Diplomacy: Continuity & Change

Thousands years of the history of diplomacy

Continuity & Change

“My God, this is the end of

diplomacy.”

Reaction of Lord Palmerstone when he received the first telegraph back in

However…

Lord Palmerstone

Continuity & Change

To date, diplomacy has survived all these technological challenges.

As a specific method for compromise and consensus diplomacy is here to stay.

The question is only, by whom, at what level, how and to what ends it will be performed.

EVOLUTION of Modern Diplomacy

Changes in the ENVIRONMENT for diplomatic activities

Introduction of NEW TOPICS on diplomatic agendas

Introduction of NEW TOOLS for diplomatic activities

Changing ENVIRONMENT for Diplomatic Activities

Globalisation & Interdependence

Cable Geo-Strategy

New Actors – Inclusiveness

Disintermediation (“no need for the middle man”)

Need for “Global Sync”

Interdependence

Cable Geo-Strategy

New Actors

- Facilitated by the Internet-based communication

- Beyond governments and political elites

- Diplomats’ monopoly in foreign relations has been undermined.

- Need for dialogue with new actors in diplomacy (broad enough – deep enough).

DISINTERMEDIATION

Will disintermediation affect diplomats?

WITH INTERMEDIARIES WITHOUT INTERMEDIARIES

NEED FOR “GLOBAL SYNC”

NEW TOPICS

NEW TOPICS on Diplomatic Agendas

• Climate Change• Global Health• Internet Governance• Bio-diversity• Migration• …..

NEW TOPICS on Diplomatic Agendas

Multidisciplinary Nature of the New Topics

Global Actions are Fragmented by Institutional Silos

New Topics are “Wicked Problems”

Increasing Importance of Science

Dealing with Different Professional Cultures

INTER-PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

Global Governance - Theory & Practice

Uneasy communication between:

Academics, Scientists&

Policy-makers, Lawyers, Diplomats

&Corporate sector representatives

&Civil society activists

NEW TOPICS - Different Professional Cultures

“On each side of the table, national culture and organisational culture unite while professional cultures divide.

Across the table, the situation is the opposite: national culture and organizational culture divide whereas professional culture may facilitate communication and agreement.”

(Faure 1999)

Different Cultures

National Culture

Organisational Culture

Professional Culture

Uniforms, visual codes, protocol and etiquette

Language: Vocabulary & Jargon

Referential framework, thinking paths, methodologies and approaches

Layers of Professional Profiles

NEW TOOLS

NEW TOOLS for Diplomatic Activities

1950s 2000s

Multitasking

NEW TOOLS

WEB 1.0 (websites and e-mail)Huge amount of informationGoogle-based knowledgeHow to get relevant and reliable

information?

WEB 2.0 (wiki, blog, social networking)Centrality of the Text & DraftingInformal CommunicationImportance for Policy and Social

Networking

Web 3.0. (Virtual Reality)Virtual EmbassyVirtual Negotiations

NetvibesGoogle DesktopWikipediaGoogle AlertsDelicious

Google DesktopWikipediaGoogle Calendar

EviteDoodleSkype

MindmanagerGoogle Docs

DeliciousPicasa

MindmanagerGoogle Docs

MindmanagerSkype

Google DesktopWikipediaGoogle AlertsDelicious

NetvibesWikipedia

Google AlertsDelicious

Continuity and Change – FUTURE?

NEED FOR MORE DIPLOMACY – representation of various entities; solving problems and conflicts in increasingly fragmented societies; new types of conflicts

BY WHOM – not only by official diplomatic services; new actors will emerge empowered by technology

AT WHAT LEVEL – all levels of society with important interplay among global, regional, national and local levels

HOW – mix of traditional approaches (negotiations) and online approaches (regular diplomatic activities)

TO WHAT END – increasing blend of national and broader interests

A FEW GRADUAL TRANSITIONS:

- From a state craft to a management tool

- From the management of order to the management of change

- From a policy instrument to international process of social relations

Nothing is as constant as change – Heraklit

THE MORE DIPLOMACY CHANGES,

THE MORE IT STAYS THE SAME.

E-diplomacy

Education