A Clash of Professional Cultures: The David Kelly Affair
"The Hutton inquiry therefore provides a uniquely well-documented and contemporary case study of both conditions mentioned above. This paper focuses both on the language and on the transgressions associated with each of the three professional cultures under investigation."
What is the Foreign Ministry?
This book examines why the ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) merits focused attention compared to other ministries. Its unique role in global diplomacy and national security makes it central to understanding a nation’s international standing. The discussion highlights the MFA’s organizational character and culture as key to addressing 21st-century challenges, offering insights into its evolving role in a complex world.
Horizon 2020
For good or worse, by 2020 we’ll know the answer to some issues of today. Time—like death—resolves and dissolves many a worry. We’ll also know, possibly, that there is no answer to some of them. Here are a few examples: We’ll know whether global warming and ocean acidification are for real or a case of scientists’ hysteria. Resources will have become patently scarce, or technological ingenuity will have shown its ability to overcome any obstacle.
Privatizing Diplomacy: The Way Forward
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains central to promoting national interests and conducting diplomacy, its core mission is increasingly sidetracked by operational and logistical duties. Hosting international events and managing routine services often consume time and resources that could be better spent on diplomacy. To stay effective, MFAs may need to partner with the private sector, delegating certain tasks while retaining strategic leadership.
Diplomatic Training around the World
There is much literature about diplomacy and foreign policy, yet so little—in global and comparative terms—about the way diplomats are recruited, taught and trained during their careers. This is even more surprising considering that diplomacy is, par excellence, the method employed by states to communicate and negotiate with each other. The need to learn and exchange experiences led to key meetings in Santiago and later Dubrovnik, ultimately inspiring a global study on diplomatic training.
Roma Rights Activists and the Political Establishment: Communication Problems and Barriers
"Open communication and interaction between political elites and civic society is considered one of the fundamental conditions of a representative, working democracy. Several aspects of this process deserve a close look: ethnic cultural differences, professional cultural differences including educational and language barriers, the culture of racism, and finally, the lack of interaction and of a common ground all affect the process of communication."
INTRA-EU DIPLOMACY A Conceptual Challenge
The European Union is reshaping traditional inter-state relations, prompting new approaches to diplomacy among its member states. Intra-EU diplomacy appears to differ significantly from diplomacy conducted beyond the Union, yet comprehensive research on these internal dynamics remains limited. This article seeks to identify emerging research questions surrounding these evolving diplomatic practices.
Diplomatic Services and Emerging Multidisciplinary Issues, such as Internet Governance
"Secret negotiations do not fit anymore into a modern democracy where voters want to exercise ultimate control over those who negotiate treaties. The increased interaction between governments and voters has made secret diplomacy increasingly difficult."
Multilateralism: Fading or changing?
For years, politicians, analysts, and diplomats have been concerned that multilateralism is either in jeopardy or effectively dead. The evolving global challenges to security and peace have led many countries to favor bilateral or small-group approaches, questioning whether the post-WWII frameworks can still govern today’s rapidly changing world.
Switzerland’s Agreements with the European Union: How to Manage Complex International Negotiations
Switzerland's foreign policy has historically focused on two key concerns: maintaining its neutral status and securing access to trade as a landlocked country. In recent dealings with the European Union, these concerns have merged, as Switzerland navigates maintaining sovereignty while fostering strong economic ties without pursuing full membership.
