diplomacy · What can diplomats learn from primates? Interview with Prof. Frans De Waal
In January 2021, Diplo began a series of open monthly Zoom discussions on the evolution of diplomacy and technology titled Diplomacy and Technolog...
LATEST: Listen to our podcast interview with Prof. Frans de Waal, primatologist.
We asked Prof. de Waal to tell us more about the behaviour of primates, how and when they negotiate, compromise, and mediate, in order to find the earliest origins ...
25 Feb 2021
Event
The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.
Winston Churchill
This quote from Winston Churchill could be a tweet about the interplay between diplomacy and technology. This page will, by revisiting the history of diplom...
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As we move through history, our aim will be to discover how civilizations dealt with ‘new’ technologies, from simple writing to telegraph, and nowadays the internet.
On 28 January we will set the stage for our learning journey through history, by ...
28 Jan 2021
Event
Our July WebDebate aimed to unpack the relationship between technology and diplomacy, and to make suggestions for diplomats who want to understand and address the geopolitical, security, human rights, and economic implications of the rise of new tech...
17 Jul 2019
Blog post
The event ‘CyberMediation: The impact of digital technologies on the prevention and resolution of violent conflicts’ took place at the Palais des Nations within the context of the Geneva Peace Week. The moderator, Dr David Lanz (Co-Head of the swissp...
20 Dec 2018
Blog post
In May 2017, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark appointed the World's first 'tech ambassador' to Silicon Valley.
The decision was quickly criticised in Denmark for providing a unnecessarily prominent platform for direc...
2 May 2018
Blog post
The telephone facilitated close contact among heads of state, including various‘red lines’ forurgentcommunication.Some diplomatic issues – security, privacy, neutrality – that were raised in the inte...
1 Oct 2014
Event
The Congress of Vienna laid the foundation for modern diplomacy – including the introduction of diplomatic precedent and diplomatic ranks. The period between the Congress of Vienna and World War I was often described as a golden age of diplomac...
26 Aug 2014
Event
Renaissance diplomacy developed between Italian city-states. Relationships between these states were influenced by two key elements: no hegemonic power and a strong interest in cooperating and solving problems through peaceful means.
In the Renaissa...
4 Jun 2014
Event
We invite you to continue our walk along timeline of Evolution in technology and diplomacy. Our next stop is Renaissance diplomacy and the impact of the invention of the printing press on diplomacy in the Reformation period.
Renaissance dipl...
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With regard to diplomatic practice, Byzantium took the first step towards establishing an apparatus for managing foreign relations, some sort of early Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Without the power and the control of the old ...
29 Apr 2014
Event
The eastern part of the Empire did not have the privilege of ruling the whole Mediterranean. After the collapse of Rome, Byzantium continued the tradition of the Roman Empire, constantly attempting to restore its glory. Without the power and the co...
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To the Ancient Greeks we owe the term ‘diplomacy’ (folded in two). We will start our discussion through the role of the orator and the first examples of the principle of extra-territoriality.
Ancient Greek diplomacy was probably the most...
25 Mar 2014
Event
Writing triggered a more sophisticated way of communication both within and between ancient societies.
During this webinar, we will navigate through the rich diplomatic heritage of Babylon, Sumeria, Egypt, the Hittite Empire, India, Persia, and Ch...
5 Mar 2014
Event
Background document for the Advanced Diplomatic Webinar (5 March 2014 at 14.00 GMT)
Prepared by Dr Jovan Kurbalija
As a follow-up to the January webinar, which dealt with the very early days of diplomacy, in February we will focus on the ...
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Background document for the Advanced Diplomatic Webinar (25th February 2014 at 14.00 GMT)
Prepared by Dr Jovan Kurbalija
As a follow-up to the January webinar, which dealt with the very early days of diplomacy, in February we will focus on th...
Basic page
Webinar Announcement
Information gathering has been a core diplomatic activity throughout history. While in the past the main challenge was to gather information, today, the main challenge is to manage, validate, and analyse that information. The ab...
29 Nov 2013
Event
Part of the Advanced Diplomatic Webinars series.
Webinar recording
Dr Jovan Kurbalija began the October advanced webinar'TV broadcasting and the impact of the CNN effect on diplomacy‘by updating us on the outcome of 8th Internet Gov...
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Part of the Advanced Diplomatic Webinars series.
Webinar recording
Webinar summary text
What can Twitter diplomacy learn from Ancient Greek diplomacy?
In short, full transparency and openness is not an optimal environment for successf...
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