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Yes, in principle a virtual embassy can be created. The point is what would it bring? Only if the use of the ‘virtual structure’ provides for a different way of doing business, does it deserve separate and managerial or political
attention?
- If the ‘virtual embassy’ is located in a neighbouring country, an e-mail link is a significant but merely technical improvement over snail mail and phone. The ‘non-resident’ ambassador located in the neighbouring country would still be the linchpin between the FO of the host country and HQ, albeit through the existing indirect route. He would have to establish the personal links to the FO, he would have to evaluate and interpret any situation and develop policy recommendations – and take the political responsibility. Because there ‘virtual’ character is merely technical one, I would not call this a ‘virtual embassy’, but still a de-localised – if technically up-to-date – embassy.
- If the ‘virtual embassy’ is at Headquarters, then it is but a fancy name for an existing structure of Regional Director, and his Desk Officers.
The key element is the independent role of resident ambassador. He may physically located in the country of accreditation or elsewhere - but never at HQ, for it would create conflicts in the chain of command.
Several routine functions of an embassy could be grouped in a ‘virtual embassy’. The number of consular personnel tends to be poorly
matched to needs, so this regrouping
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approach could foster specialisation and efficiency gains, as well as provide for better living conditions for the staff. This would be akin to companies locating the worldwide answering service to a 0800 number in one single country – including HQ.
Candidates for such regrouping could be:
- Material evaluation of visa;
- Many of the consular aspects (registration of births and deaths, marriages, matriculation, absentee vote, pension entitlements etc.);
- Answer to inquiries about the country (tourism, visa information, business contacts etc.).
- Press, information and news.
What I would find more interesting, in the concept of ‘virtual embassy group’, in accordance with the astronautical principle that a group of small satellites flying in synchronous fashion can be just as good as a big one (like Hubble). We could have a ‘regional ambassador’ – a senior person – having right of command, co-ordination and guidance over a group of junior ambassadors in capitals within the region, in order to get in synchrone fashion many perspectives on regional issues - say on a regional conflict. He could even shift personnel depending to needs.
This kind of leadership, in my view, is more usefully exercised within the region that from HQ.
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