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DiploNews – Issue 406 – 2 November 2020

Diplo and the GIP at IGF 2020

◆ IGF 2020: The 15th Internet Governance Forum (2–17 Nov)

This year’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be held entirely online from 2 to 17 November. As usual, we will provide just-in-time reports from selected IGF sessions. Follow our dedicated IGF 2020 page for regular briefs and highlights. After the end of this annual meeting, we will be publishing a summary of IGF 2020.

Upcoming study opportunities

Applications open! Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

We are accepting applications for the 2021 online Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy and the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy with a specialisation in Internet Governance, run in cooperation with the University of Malta Department of International Relations.

During 16 to 20 months of online study, the programmes guide working diplomats, international relations professionals, and Internet policymakers through the theoretical and practical building blocks of diplomacy, with a focus on contemporary issues and challenges.

In response to the current global pandemic, the introductory workshop – traditionally offered in Malta – will be run online in 2021, eliminating the need for travel and reducing expenses for participants.

Scholarships covering 20%–50% of the Postgraduate Diploma fee are available for applicants from small and developing states. The programme starts on 25 January 2021.

For further information and to apply, please visit the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy webpage.

Apply now! February 2021 online diplomacy courses

Start the new year with one of our most popular online courses:

Courses start on 22 February 2021. Apply by 21 December 2020 for University of Malta accredited courses, and by 18 January 2021 for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses listed, or visit our courses webpage. Register now to reserve your place.

Need financial assistance? Scholarships are available.

Thanks to support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2021. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.

Sign up for our courses mailing list to stay informed about upcoming courses.

Upcoming events

◆ Register for WebDebate #43: ‘IGF+: What’s next?’ (3 Nov)

Discussions on a reform of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) are almost as old as the forum itself. What are the key areas of the IGF reform? Do suggestions relating to IGF+ put us on the right track? In an ideal world, what would the future of Internet governance look like? Register here.

◆ Geneva Peace Week panel: ‘Building Trust in Cybermediation: A Collective Leadership Challenge?’ (3 Nov)

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge of cybermediation activities. Given the global lockdown and widespread travel restrictions, many mediators and mediation support actors increasingly rely on digital technologies to keep up the communication with conflict parties and stakeholders. The panel, which includes Diplo’s Vladimir Radunović (Director, E-diplomacy and Cybersecurity Programmes), will explore how mediators can build trust in cybermediation by discussing past mediation experiences from an interdisciplinary perspective. DiploFoundation is a co-organiser of this event. More information here.

Main takeaways from our recent events

◆ Conference: The future of (multilateral) diplomacy?

During the ‘The future of (multilateral) diplomacy?’ conference we unveiled our research report The future of (multilateral) diplomacy and discussed the future of diplomacy in a high-level panel and five parallel discussion tracks (The future of the UN and multilateralism; Practice, protocol, and procedures; Focus on small and developing countries; Digital diplomacy and diplomacy by video conference; and Diplomatic training for new skills and tools). The research report, conference summary, and video recordings are now available.

◆ IG Briefing #69: Internet governance in October 2020

In our monthly briefing, we discussed the main Internet governance updates in October, including the governance of artificial intelligence, central bank digital currencies, and content policy discussions. The recording of the briefing will be available here.

◆ Right On #13: Human rights and the precarious condition of electoral democracy

Together with our guests, we discussed the different challenges to the democratic process within both long-established and transitional electorally democratic countries. The recording of the webinar will be available here.

Publications

DW Newsletter 45◆ Digital Watch Newsletter: Issue 54

The latest Digital Watch Newsletter, hot off the press, provides an analysis of salient October trends, including: the momentum gained by central bank digital currencies, the governance of advanced technologies, cyber norms, the US antitrust case against Google, and much more! Get your free copy here.

◆ Research report: The future of (multilateral) diplomacy?

The report, conducted with the support of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, covers a broad range of topics related to the future of diplomatic practice in light of COVID-19. It focuses on multilateral diplomacy, and in particular: (a) the responses from the UN system, and (b) the shifts in diplomatic practices. The aim was to understand current shifts, to highlight associated challenges, and to point to possible adaptations in the mid and long-term practice of (multilateral) diplomacy. Read it here.

Diplo team at external events

◆ ASEF webinar: Public Diplomacy & Discourse in the Age of Algorithms (6 Nov.)

The fourth episode of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Public Diplomacy Training Webinar Series will tackle the sociopolitical and ethical issues surrounding Internet algorithms and their implications for public life. Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Director, DiploFoundation; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP)) will be moderating the webinar. More information here.

Don’t miss…

◆ The McKay Interview with Jovan Kurbalija

In this audio interview, Prof. Jovan Kurbalija talks about artificial intelligence, Diplo’s humAInism project, ethics, nature, and governance. Listen to it here.

◆ Deutschlandfunk podcast: Weltretter unter Druck (World saver under pressure)

In the podcast, Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (from minute 45) speaks about digital issues and the future of the United Nations. Listen to it here (in German).

◆ Interview with Jovan Kurbalija: The Internet governance series

In the video interview for the Geneva Solutions platform and the Fondation pour Genève, Jovan Kurbalija talks about Internet governance in international Geneva. Watch it here:

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◆ Diplomacy&Commerce article: ‘Vladimir Radunović, DiploFoundation: Cyberspace is essentially very vulnerable’

In this article, Vladimir Radunović speaks about cybersecurity: cyber attacks and vulnerabilities; the Internet of Things; cybersecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic; and how, in today’s world, ‘cybersecurity’ is becoming more and more just ‘security’. Read it here.

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