People
Jovan Kurbalija
Executive Director, Diplo
Dr Jovan Kurbalija is the Executive Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP). He was a member of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (2004‒2005), special advisor to the Chairman of the UN Internet Governance Forum (2006‒2010), and a member of the High Level Multistakeholder Committee for NETmundial (2013‒2014). In 2018-2019, he served as co-Executive Director of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation.
A former diplomat, Jovan has a professional and academic background in international law, diplomacy, and information technology. He has been a pioneer in the field of cyber diplomacy since 1992 when he established the Unit for Information Technology and Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Malta, and later, DiploFoundation.
Since 1997, Jovan’s research and articles on cyber diplomacy have shaped research and policy discussion on the impact of the Internet on diplomacy and international relations. His book, An Introduction to Internet Governance, has been translated into 9 languages and is used as a textbook for academic courses worldwide. He lectures on e-diplomacy and Internet governance in academic and training institutions in many countries, including Austria (Diplomatic Academy of Vienna), Belgium (College of Europe), Switzerland (University of St Gallen), Malta (University of Malta), and the United States (University of Southern California).
His publishes regular articles on DiploFoundation’s blog, and the Huffington Post.
Related events
Diplo director addresses Presidents of Parliaments of small European states
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation, addressed the Sixth Conference of the Presidents of the Parliaments of Small European States, which was held in Malta on 6-7 October 2011. Dr Kurbalija discuss...
Diplo director speaks at College of Europe's int'l conference
Dr Jovan Kurbalija spoke on capacity building for e-diplomacy at the International Conference on Challenges Facing the 21st Century Diplomat at the College of Europe in Bruges on 25-26 October 2011. His presentation...
[Webinar] The future architecture of global Internet governance
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Diplo director and one of the world's leading IG experts, will address the issues related to the future architecture of Internet governance, during a webinar on Wednesday, 12th October, at 15:0...
Diplomatic reporting in the Internet era after WikiLeaks
Venue: GCSP (2nd Floor, WMO/OMM Building, Avenue de la Paix 7 Bis, Geneva; Online (if you would like to join us online, please register here) Panellists: Ambassador Victor Camilleri, Permanent Represe...
ICT policy and IG workshop in Addis Ababa
Over 60 representatives from governments, the business sector, civil society, regional organisations, and academia recently took part in two ICT Policy and Internet Governance workshops in Africa. The first, which to...
Diplo director at IGF prep meeting
Diplo director Jovan Kurbalija was in Brussels on 21 June to attend the preparatory meeting on the Internet Governance Forum, organised by the European Internet Foundation. He also had a series of meetings w...
Online Course on Humanitarian Diplomacy at the General Assembly of the Red Cross Movement 2012
Ambassador Chris Lamb and Dr Jovan Kurbalija presented a new online course on humanitarian diplomacy at the Speakers corner. In a 15-minute presentation, Ambassador Lamb spoke about the concept of humanitaria...
Ten Years of Cybercrime Convention in Geneva
Ten years have passed since the Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime was opened for signature in Budapest. To mark its 10th anniversary, an interactive discussion will be held on Thursday, 24th Novemb...
Internet governance (in Serbian/BCS) book launch
Jovan Kurbalija’s An Introduction to Internet Governance has just been published in Serbian (BCS). The presentation of the book, followed by a panel session on Internet governance challenges in the region, ...
[Webinar] The ten main Internet governance developments in 2011
We're looking back at 2011, a year filled with events and developments that have had a significant impact on Internet governance. Dr Jovan Kurbalija will go through the ten most significant ones during a special e...
Internet governance in 2012: What can we expect?
We are at the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a very eventful year in Internet governance. Can we expect a continuation of the main developments from 2011 or will the current situation catalyse the emergence of ...
[Webinar] Copyright infringement: from SOPA/PIPA to Megaupload
Dubbed the largest online protest in history, the SOPA/PIPA Strike managed to bring many websites to a halt as organisations worldwide showed their support in the protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Pro...
WikiLeaks and the Future of Diplomacy
Three different – at times convergent – perspectives on the way WikiLeaks has affected diplomacy emerged during the policy briefing on ‘WikiLeaks and the Future of Diplomacy’ held at GSCP, Geneva, and online, ...
E-diplomacy and e-governance seminars for government officials
Two seminars on e-diplomacy and e-governance were recently held in Belgrade and Podgorica for diplomats and government officials from Serbia and Montenegro. The seminars were organised and supported by the Vienna Dipl...
Vienna Launch of E-diplomacy Initiative
The launch of E-diplomacy Initiative of DiploFoundation was organised in cooperation with Vienna Diplomatic Academy. The May 25th 2010 launch was held at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy. Ambassador Hans Winkler, dire...
Geneva Launch of E-diplomacy Initiative
In front of a beautiful panoramic view of Geneva, the DiploFoundation E-diplomacy Initiative was launched at the World Meteorological Organization Building with over 60 diplomats from UN missions and other participant...
Washington DC E-diplomacy Initiative Launch
The Washington DC e-Diplomacy Initiative launch was held at the AT&T Innovation Center in Washington. The participants were welcomed by representatives of the core partners of the e-diplomacy initiative: ...
Brussels E-Diplomacy Initiative Launch
What's e-diplomacy? How can web tools help diplomats in their every day activities? What are the most recent developments in this field? And, at the end of the day, why should diplomats care about that. These are ...
New York Launch of E-diplomacy Initiative
The Third in a series of launching events of the E-diplomacy Initiative was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Organized by the Permanent Missions of Malta and Switzerland to the United Nations in pa...
Workshop on Internet Governance and E-diplomacy
The Council of Europe and DiploFoundation organised a discussion workshop on Internet governance and e-diplomacy for diplomats from Permanent Representations of member states to the Council of Europe and officials fro...
E-diplomacy Seminar at the College of Europe in Bruges
Professor Jovan Kurbalija delivered the compact seminar on e-diplomacy at the College of Europe in Bruges. The e-diplomacy seminar examined the impact of the Internet on modern diplomacy. The seminar started with a su...
ITU/Diplomatic Club Debate: ‘The Role of information and communication technologies in citizen protest movements’
Prof. Jovan Kurbalija participated in the panel debate: ‘The Role of information and communication technologies in citizen protest movements’. The panel debate was organised by the Geneva Diplomatic Club a...
Remote Participation - Opportunities and Challenges for Multilateral Diplomacy
Panel at the 2012 WSIS Forum: Thursday, 17 May 2012 (video) The Internet has entered conference rooms worldwide. Discussions are broadcast globally. Reporting is provided via social media. More and more people are eng...
Keynote address by Dr Jovan Kurbalija at the 10th Caribbean Ministerial Strategic Seminar (organised by the CTU)
The 10th Ministerial Strategic Seminar "The International ICT Agenda: Partnering for Regional Action" will focus on the need for the Caribbean to participate more actively in global discussions and within in...
Joint Australian-Egyptian Missions informal roundtable on information and cyber security issues
Jovan Kurbalija, Director of Diplo Foundation spoke at a Joint Australian-Egyptian Missions Informal Roundtable information and cyber security (Friday, 1 June 2012; from 10.00 to 11.30) at the Egyptian Mission to the ...
Rome E-diplomacy Day
A brief report from the E-diplomacy day in Rome is available here. Learn about social media and e-tools for diplomacy. Share your experiences. Connect with colleagues involved in e-diplomacy. ...
[Webinar] Mid-year review of Internet governance developments
We are at the end of the first six months of a very eventful year in Internet governance. What were the main developments, and what can we expect during the next six months? [Update] Scroll down to the section '...
International Forum on Diplomatic Training - 40th Meeting of Deans and Directors of Diplomatic Academies and Schools of International Affairs
At the 40th meeting of the IFDT in Baku, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija deliver the workshop: "eDiplomacy Training - Hype and Reality". The workshop focused on preparing young diplomats for the fast chang...
Workshop on Public Diplomacy: The Rise and Impact of e-Diplomacy Tools (College of Europe EEAS Training)
The workshop will be delivered by Dr. Jovan Kurbalija. The workshop will examine the impact of the Internet on public diplomacy. Discussions will be illustrated using the latest developments in e-diplomacy. The worksh...
Geneva E-diplomacy Day
DiploFoundation Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN - Geneva Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN - Geneva International Telecommunication Union ...
Second Rome E-diplomacy Day
DiploFoundation Embassy of Switzerland in Rome Embassy of Malta in Rome Embassy of Canada in Rome Istituto Diplomatico, Ministero degli Affari Esteri Lea...
Presentation by Dr Jovan Kurbalija at the Belgrade Seminar on 'Excellence in Diplomacy'
Dr. Jovan Kurbalija delivered presentation on diplomatic excellence in the Internet era at the 5th Seminar on "Excellence in Diplomacy - Young Leadership Diplomatis Seminar" held on 12-14 December 2012 in Belgrade, Se...
[Webinar] Internet governance forecast for 2013: Cloudy with sunny spells, windy at times
Last year ended in Dubai, with concern about the start of an Internet governance ice age. Was the outcome of the WCIT in Dubai the first sign of the digital cold war? Our upcoming webinar will reflect on the major dev...
[Webinar] Diplomacy in the prehistoric era
Webinar information: background document | summary | video recording: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm5kaeI72mc[/embedyt] Webinar announcement The series of monthly webinars will start with January...
Panel on "Diplomacy 2.0"
Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation spoke about an impact of the Internet on diplomacy, as part of a panel on 'Diplomacy 2.0' with Ambassador of the United States Laura E. Kennedy and Ambassador P...
Persuasion, the essence of diplomacy - a seminar
New: Consult the report from the seminar. The book Persuasion, the essence of diplomacy will be presented at a seminar organised by DiploFoundation and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies on 3 April 2013 (...
Arab Internet Governance Consultations
Dr Jovan Kurbalija delivered openning speech on capacity development for Internet Governance at the Arab Internet Governance Consultations. The event was attended by the the Arab decision makers in Internet governance...
[Webinar] Diplomacy and technology in the Roman Empire: a focus on the Byzantine period
[Update] This webinar is now over. Please read the digest or watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l_2p-vO3wE[/embedyt] Webinar Announcement We invite you to con...
E-diplomacy Compact Seminar at College of Europe
Dr Jovan Kurbalija delivered the concept seminar on e-diplomacy. The seminar examined the impact of the Internet on modern diplomacy and international relations. The Seminar used the EU’s study “Towards a ...
[Webinar] From Clay to Digital Tablets What can we learn from the Ancient Diplomacy?
Webinar information: background document | video recording: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyH40kh2B4M[/embedyt] Webinar announcement As a follow-up to the January webinar, which dealt with the very...
[Webinar] What can Twitter diplomacy learn from Ancient Greek diplomacy?
[Update] This webinar is now over. Here you can read a digest, or you can watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fysFgmc8pw[/embedyt] Pre-Webinar Announcement Aft...
[Webinar] E-participation
This Diplo webinar took place on Tuesday, 21 May at 15h00 (CET) and examined the role of social media, remote participation and open government / open data initiatives, on International Organizations and Development...
E-participation Day: towards a more open UN?
The E-participation Day was part of the Geneva E-diplomacy Platform and built on the first Geneva E-diplomacy Day (16 November 2012) and the Online Learning Day (17 April 2013). The event was held at the WMO, Gen...
[Webinar] Renaissance Diplomacy and the Reformation
[Update] This webinar is now over. Please read the digest or watch the recording of the webinar. We invite you to continue our walk along the timeline of the evolution of diplomacy and technology. In May, o...
Next phase in the Malta - Mexico - Switzerland online diplomatic training cooperation
Malta, Switzerland, and Mexico renewed their MoU on cooperation in online diplomatic training. In a very successful cooperation implemented by the Instituto Matias Romero (Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Dipl...
[Webinar] Wikipedia for Diplomats
[Update] Read the digest or watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt]https://youtu.be/YmdIdpa1-hU[/embedyt] WIKIPEDIA: A TOOL FOR INFORMATION GATHERING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY? The webinar on 21 June 2013 (13.00...
[Webinar] The invention of the telegraph and the golden age in the history of diplomacy (after the 1814-15 Congress of Vienna)
Join us for the next webinar on ‘Evolution of diplomacy and technology’ with Dr. Jovan Kurbalija on Friday, June 28, 2013 at 15:00 CET (13GMT). The webinar will address two decisive developments in technology (...
E-Diplomacy at Montenegro Summer School for Young Diplomats
"E-Diplomacy: Between Tradition and Innovations" session was delivered by DiploFoundation lecturers within the 6th Montenegro Summer School for Young Diplomats “Gavro Vukovic” A two-hours sess...
[Webinar-2013] Diplomacy and the invention of telephony and wireless communication
[Update] Please read the digest or watch the recording of the webinar. Webinar Announcement The telephone facilitated close contact among heads of state, including various ‘red lines’for urgent communic...
[Webinar] Radio broadcasting and public diplomacy
[Update] Please read the background material or watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfDfPUP0p2E[/embedyt] Webinar Announcement The previous breakthrough in wireless...
[Webinar] Protocol and e-politeness for the Internet era
The webinar, delivered by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, addressed new routines and practices of good behaviour in the Internet world. You can consult the video-recording from the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watc...
Panel on Cybersecurity at the Belgrade Security Forum
Jovan Kurbalija and Vladimir Radunovic participated in a very successful panel on cybersecurity at the Belgrade Security Forum (20 September 2013). The cybersecurity panel addressed three main aspects of cybersecur...
Diplo's programme during 8th Internet Governance Forum
The 8th Internet Governance Forum is taking place in Bali, Indonesia, at the end of October. DiploFoundation is participating through workshops and other activities. Full programme details are available below. DiploF...
[Webinar] TV broadcasting and the impact of the CNN effect on diplomacy
Here you can read a digest of the webinar. Webinar announcement In this next webinar Dr Jovan Kurbalija will shed light on yet another technological device that has had a strong impact on internatio...
[Webinar] Global Internet politics after IGF 2013 in Bali: developments and outcomes
The pace of Internet politics has accelerated. New developments continued to unfold as the 8th IGF convened last week. Join us Thursday, 31st October, for a just-in-time webinar on the outcomes of IGF 2013. [Update...
Launch of the CD Pacific in Vanuatu
Strengthening Voices of Pacific Islands States in Geneva-based multilateral organisations Visiting the Pacific region last week, Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter confirmed Switzerland’s determ...
Swiss Diplomacy in the 21st Century - Foraus Seminar 2013
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation, participated in an eDiplomacy panel at the annual Foraus Seminar with Ambassador Alexandre Fasel, Swiss Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, and Matthias Lufke...
[Webinar] Diplomacy and information gathering in the 'post-Snowden' era
[Update] Here you can read a digest, or you can watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_2e9tRq7-A[/embedyt] The webinar discussed the use of search engines, Wik...
Diplo @ African Internet/ICT Week
At the African Internet/ICT Week (4-6 December 2013) Diplo - as the partner organisation - delivered an awareness-building session on Internet governance and e-diplomacy for ministers and ambassadors of African countr...
[Webinar] Public 'enters' diplomatic rooms worldwide via social media
[Update] Here you can watch the recording of the webinar: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwB4upwI0To[/embedyt] Webinar Announcement The webinar will survey the current developments and analyse im...
Training on e-diplomacy for the European External Action Service
Dr Jovan Kurbalija delivered the session 'Latest Developments in e-Diplomacy' at the European External Action Service (EEAS) at the course on 'Public Diplomacy & Relations with the Media'. The course was ...
[Webinar] Internet governance in 2014: Between change and continuity
It's an eventful year ahead for Internet governance and digital politics. The upcoming São Paolo meeting, several ICANN activities, and the election of ITU's new leadership are a few of the events geared to shape pol...
[Webinar] Evolution of Diplomacy and Technology
This year is a year of two major anniversaries in diplomacy: in 1814 the Vienna Congress - one of the most successful multilateral negotiatons in history - started, and in 1914 the First World War - one of the major f...
[Webinar] Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance (February 2014)
The Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance will take place on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to get a regular 'zoomed-out' update of the major global IG developments, join us for the first webin...
Session on Cybersurveillance: Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights
Join us at the session on cybersurveillance at the Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights with Assange Julian | Chopin Olivier | Garzón Baltasar | Kurbalija Jovan | Plenel Edwy | Sommaruga...
[Webinar] Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance (March 2014)
The Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to get a regular 'zoomed-out' update of the major global IG and digital politics developments, join us onli...
[Briefing #3] Internet governance in March 2014
The Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to get a regular 'zoomed-out' update of the major global IG and digital politics developments, join us onli...
[Webinar] From clay to digital tablets: What can we learn from the ancient diplomacy?
Diplo's advanced webinar on evolution of diplomacy and technology will focus on the Ancient World. We will start with the emergence of writing, one of the most important communication technologies in the history of ma...
[Webinar] What can we learn from Ancient Greek diplomacy?
After dealing with the early days of diplomacy and diplomacy of the Ancient World, we move now to diplomacy in Ancient Greece. To the Ancient Greeks we owe the term ‘diplomacy’ (folded in two). We...
Official Launch of the Geneva Internet Platform
Reshaping Digital Governance: Why Geneva Matters -- More than 50% of global IG is conducted in Geneva. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the main IG umbrella body, is based in Geneva. Telecommunication issues are...
Diplomatic reporting in the Internet era Event
Close to 100 international meetings, negotiations, and discussions are held every working day in Geneva, attended by diplomats, experts and representatives of civil society, and business people who must report back to...
[Webinar] Outcomes of NETmundial
All eyes are set on the NETmundial meeting, which takes place this week in São Paolo, Brazil. The meeting is expected to agree on a set of common principles and values, and a roadmap for the future evolution of IG. O...
[Briefing #5] Internet governance in May 2014
The Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance takes place on the first Tuesday of every month. If you would like to get a regular 'zoomed-out' update of the major global IG and digital policies developments, join us on...
The role of governments in Internet governance
2014 will be a pivotal year, as the future of the Internet and Internet governance is at a crossroads. Major conferences are taking place in 2014 and 2015, providing opportunities to review and improve existing Intern...
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies: technical, monetary, policy and development context
The discussion on Bitcoins and digital currencies, including security and privacy issues, is quickly gaining ground. But what are digital currencies, and how do they work? What is the value of this ‘digital money’...
Internet as a critical resource for Pacific island states
A roundtable organised in the framework of the Capacity Development Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy for Pacific Island States (CD Pacific), run by DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform, an initiative of...
From Telegraph to Twitter
The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) hosted a luncheon seminar entitled ´From the Telegraph to Twitter: Is There a Lesson for the Internet Era from the Telegraph and the Outbreak of the First World War?´, in partnersh...
[Webinar] Renaissance diplomacy, invention of printing press and early 'social media'
We invite you to continue our walk along timeline of Evolution of diplomacy and technology. In May, our next stop is Renaissance diplomacy and the impact of the invention of the printing press on diplomacy in the Refo...
Asia in the Eyes of Europe, Europe in the eyes of Asia
DiploFoundation, in cooperation with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) invite you to participate at...
Development and humanitarian challenges for small island developing states
2014 is the UN International Year of Small Island Developing States. On 1-4 September, Samoa will host the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Humanitarian issues, disaster recovery, and trad...
MIKTA Diplomacy: New dynamism or more of the same?
Follow-up event on 24 April 2015: MIKTA diplomacy - current developments and vision for the future MIKTA countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia) and DiploFoundation convened a ...
[Webinar] Evidence and measurement in IG: What sort of data and numbers are we talking about?
The October IG webinar will focus on 'Evidence and measurement in IG: What sort of data and numbers are we talking about?'. The theme is the third of the preparatory events for the Geneva Internet Conference, a proces...
DiploFoundation at 9th Internet Governance Forum
DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) will be actively engaged at the 9th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) with the theme Connecting continents for enhanced multistakeholder Internet governance. Join u...
[Webinar] The invention of the telegraph and the golden age in the history of diplomacy
We invite you to continue our walk along the timeline of the evolution of diplomacy and technology. After the overview of Renaissance diplomacy and the invention of the printing press, our next stop is the period when...
Education Diplomacy Day
Education diplomacy is the cross-disciplinary, transnational sharing of theories, ideas, and concepts that advance education. [Update] Please check the photo gallery from the Education Diplomacy Day in Geneva. Pres...
Jurisdiction in the Internet era
Jurisdiction is one of the most controversial issues in the Internet governance debate: under what conditions can a court in a given country decide on an Internet-related dispute. Join us for a discussion on questions...
PRAU Roundtable on Cyber Security
A Roundtable on Cybersecurity was hosted by the Policy Research and Analysis Unit of the South African Deparment of International Relations and Cooperation. It gathered diplomats, security officials, and academics fro...
The Impact of the Internet on Modern Diplomacy
The evening panel discussion (18.00-20.00) was hosted by the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa. Panellists included: Anriettee Esterhuysen (Association for Progressive Communication), William Masongo (South Afr...
New Trends in Diplomatic Practice - Cyber Security as a New Area of Peace and Security
South Africa is hosting the 41st Annual Meeting of the Internatonal Forum on Diplomatic Training between 23 and 26 September 2014. The meeting is focusing on emerging practices and new trends in diplomatic training wo...
[Webinar-2014] Diplomacy and the invention of telephony and wireless communication
After our overview of the telegraph's impact on diplomacy, our next webinar will focus on the invention of the telephone and wireless communication. The telephone facilitated close contact among heads of state, inc...
Torino Symposium: The Evolution of the Internet Governance Ecosystem
The Global Network of Interdisciplinary Internet & Society Research Centers are hosting an academic symposium on The Evolution of the Internet Governance Ecosystem as part of an ongoing Network of Centers (NoC) e...
Privacy and Surveillance: An Update
After the public denunciation of the widespread surveillance of our online activities, heated discussion have taken place from the UN general assembly to the Council of Europe parliamemtary assembly through the NetMun...
Transparency and Human Rights in the Digital Age
'What do we mean by transparency? Why does transparency matter for protecting and respecting rights online?', 'Transparency reporting by governments and companies - the current state of play and what’s missing' and ...
Round table on Open Innovation in the Proprietary World
The MAPPING consortium, in collaboration with DiploFoundation as a consortium member, is holding a round table on Open Innovation in the Proprietary World. Join stakeholders in a reflection on the impact of the curren...
[Webinar] Internet governance in January 2015
Which Internet governance developments took place in January? How are they shaping future developments, and what can we expect in February? Every first Tuesday of the month, the Geneva Briefing on Internet Governance ...
Cybersecurity: a Strategic View
The Geneva Internet Platform, in co-operation with Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN, DCAF, DiploFoundation, ICT4Peace, and other partners, is organising a series of events throughout 2015, entitled Geneva Cybers...
Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution in the Internet Era: Governance and Good Practices
Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution in the Internet Era: Governance and Good Practices is the theme of a discussion organised by the University of Geneva, the Geneva Internet Platform, and the Geneva Center for Intern...
Digital Diplomacy Day - Malta
The Internet poses a wide range of challenges for modern diplomacy, including: How to protect national cybersecurity? How to govern the Internet on the global level? Which social media tools are useful for diplomats? ...
MIKTA diplomacy – current developments and vision for the future
As a follow up on the first MIKTA event in Geneva, MIKTA diplomacy: New dynamism or more of the same?, this seminar will generate input to preparations for the Ministerial MIKTA meeting to be held in Seoul in May 2015...
Diplo at CONNECTing the Dots conference
DiploFoundation will participate at UNESCO's CONNECTing the Dots conference, which is taking place on 3-4 March in Paris. The event's aim is to discuss the first draft of the UNESCO Internet Study, Keystones to Foster...
Fighting cybercrime through closer international cooperation
The Geneva Internet Platform is organising the second Cybersecurity Day, on 30 March, in which participants can learn how cybercrime is committed, combated, and prevented. Together with experts, engineers, and diploma...
Diplo director on lecture tour in Asia
The Internet poses a wide range of challenges for modern diplomacy, including: How to protect national cybersecurity? How to govern the Internet on the global level? How to keep up with the content policy dynamics? Th...
Geneva Internet Platform: Successful start and future developments
After the first year of activities, the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) has become one of the reference points in global digital policy. A growing demand for information, knowledge and dialogue on global digital policy...
Diplo director at NY lecture on 'Digital magna carta'
On the heels of the Congressional decision on net neutrality, the discussion around Internet governance is moving into a decisive phase. Many have suggested the adoption of a new 'digital social contract', with Tim Be...
The Internet as a global public resource
The international conference on the Internet as a Global Public Resource (in Malta, 29-30 April) is initiating a research and policy project aimed at discussing the future developments on the topic. Scroll down for up...
The way forward for the WSIS+10 review process
A luncheon event on 'The way forward for the WSIS+10 review process' is being organised on Thursday, 28th May, in Geneva, in co-operation between ICC-BASIS, Global Partners Digital, the Center for Democracy & Tech...
Vienna Cyber Diplomacy Day
New! Report | Photos Vienna Cyber Diplomacy Day is organised in the framework of the Joint Swiss-Serbian Chairmanships of the OSCE (2014-2015). Join us for a dynamic discussion of cyber-challenges for modern diplomacy...
Asia Cyber Diplomacy Workshop
How should diplomats respond to today's cyber challenges? What topics are on the international digital agenda? What is the interplay between international, regional, and national digital policy processes? Asia Cybe...
Public lecture on Internet governance in Bangkok
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, director of DiploFoundation, and head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will give a public lecture on Internet Governance in Bangkok on 31 August. The lecture will look at the legal and policy chall...
Navigating through the Complex Field of Digital Politics. GIP Digital Watch Launch
The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), an initiative of the Swiss authorities operated by Diplo Foundation, in partnership with the Internet Society is launching the GIP Digital Watch, an online observatory of di...
Just-in-time course 2015: A survival guide for radio-frequency diplomacy
From daily use of Wi-Fi devices to global management of satellite orbits, radio frequencies are an important enabler of economic and social development. Between 2 and 27 November, more than a thousand technical expert...
Digital Policy at the Start of 2016. A view from Indonesia
Update: Gallery of photos from the event Tuesday, 19 January 2016 (09.00 – 13.00 WIB) Ministry of Communication and Information Technology - Jakarta Organised by: Indonesian Ministry of Communicati...
ISOC – GIP Digital Watch Webinar
Digital policy and technological challenges in 2016 What to expect? Tuesday 9 February 2016, 13.00 CET Organised by: Geneva Internet Platform and Internet Society [Update] View the photo...
Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe - The Role of International Geneva
On the occasion of the visit of the College of Europe professors and students to International Geneva, the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) and the College of Europe (CoE), with the support of the Republic and Canton of...
Fundamental Science and Society
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the prestigious 'Rencontres de Moriond', the Ministry for science and technology of Vietnam, the Popular Committee of the Provice of Binh Dinh, the 'Rencontres du Vietnam' an...
DiploFoundation and Digital Watch on EuroDIG 2016
The European Dialogue on Internet Governance is an open platform for informal and inclusive discussions on public policy issues related to Internet Governance across Europe and integrates issues from national Internet...
DiploFoundation & Geneva Internet Platform at WSIS Forum 2016
Another busy WSIS Forum week is ahead of us in Geneva. DiploFoundation and Geneva Internet Platform will organise the follow activities and events around the WSIS Forum 2016. We invite you to join us. You can also fol...
Engaging digital actors - fostering effective digital policy - monitoring digital governance
DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform will host a session on digital policies during the WSIS Forum. The session will dissect the complex picture of Internet governance and discuss avenues for navigating th...
Ensuring Civil Society's Voice is Heard in ICANN
The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) and ICANN invite you to an open discussion about the opportunities to strengthen civil society's contributions and participation in ICANN. There are many opportunities for civil soci...
WebDebate: Is the diplomatic service still needed?
The era of connectivity brings about many challenges for diplomacy. How relevant is the diplomatic service? What changes can we expect to see in diplomatic training? Although diplomacy is still robust, some changes m...
WebDebate: Why and how to teach negotiations?
Our September WebDebate focuses on the questions of why and how to teach negotiations. Some would argue that negotiation skills cannot be taught and are only acquired through practice. While it is true that any skill ...
Five years of teaching humanitarian diplomacy
DiploFoundation, in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is celebrating five years of teaching Humanitarian Diplomacy. Join us for an event on what humanitarian diplom...
[WebDebate]: What are the key skills for the next generation of diplomats?
Our October WebDebate focuses on the key skills that the next generation of diplomats needs in order to succeed in a changing world. While there seems to be a core and timeless skill-set for diplomats, an increasingly...
Delhi Digital Diplomacy Day
The Delhi Digital Diplomacy Day addressed the impact of the Internet on diplomacy in three main fields: the environment in which diplomacy is conducted; the emergence of new topics on diplomatic agendas (including Int...
Diplo at Asian Forum on Global Governance
Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform participated at the 2016 Asian Forum on Global Governance, on 16-25 October, in New Delhi, India. Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet ...
Towards a secure cyberspace via regional cooperation
The role of regional organisations in the operationalisation of the UN GGE recommendations on cybersecurity Wednesday, 30 November 2016, 13h00-15h00 CET Geneva, Palais des Nations, Room IX A luncheon event org...
Why is Internet governance important?
Foraus - the Swiss think tank on foreign policy - is organising a lecture with Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Founding Director of DiploFoundation, on Switzerland's role and approach to Internet governance. Why is Internet go...
Diplo director at World Internet Conference in Wuzhen
How can the Internet’s public policy development be promoted, and how can innovation in global cooperation be fostered? These are the themes which will be discussed by Diplo director Dr Jovan Kurbalija and other gov...
Diplo and the GIP at COBISS 2016 Conference
DiploFoundation director Geneva Internet Platform head and DiploFoundation director Dr Jovan Kurbalija will be present at COBISS 2016. His presentation, on 22 November, will tackle 'How to keep libraries in the digita...
Diplo director at international trademarks conference
DiploFoundation director Dr Jovan Kurbalija will be addressing a panel on the IANA transition in the context of business innovation and commercial interests such as intellectual property rights. The event, Digital Wor...
2nd Geneva Engage Awards
There is a need to foster effective links between International Geneva and communities worldwide that are affected by the policies discussed in Geneva. The Geneva Engage Awards are awarded every year to actors that ha...
UNOG Executive Briefing on Digital Policy
In 2017 Geneva will host series of major digital policy events of relevance for the future digital developments worldwide. To assist Permanent Missions and international organisations based in Geneva in preparing ...
Diplo at Knowledge for Development: Global Partnership Conference 2017
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will be speaking at the Knowledge for Development: Global Partnership Conference 2017 conference, during the panel on 'A ...
Roundtable on Data Diplomacy: Mapping the Field
Today, data science and big data have become common concepts, yet very little is known about the ways in which diplomacy could adjust to the emerging data-driven era. Diplo is organising a brainstorming event on&...
Shaping our digital future in Europe: Diplomatic, economic, and security perspectives on digital transformation
The traditional annual event with College of Europe students and professors will focus on the challenges that Europe faces with digital transformation. A panel of experts, together with students and professors, will a...
Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the data-driven era
The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs organises a brown bag lunch on data diplomacy on 2 May 2017. Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the data-driven era 2 May 2017, 12:30-14:00 CEST S...
Science in Perspective talk: Internet and Trust
The Internet relies on so many layers of trust that one is sometimes surprised that the Internet actually works. In the Internet architecture, all parts of the networking infrastructure have to trust each other in ord...
Diplo director at Polish-Swiss Innovation Day
What is the relevance of digitalisation, and how can we shape a successful digital ecosystem which provides competitive advantages for the future? These will be the themes of the Polish-Swiss Innovation Day, an event ...
Diplo & GIP at WSIS Forum 2017
DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform will be actively engaged at WSIS Forum 2017. Join us for the following events and sessions, visit us at the booth, and read our just-in-time session reports and newslet...
Partnership for a secure cyberspace
The conference "Partnership for a secure cyberspace" is organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of Republic of Serbia, Microsoft, and the Dipl...
Digital policies and trends: Build-up to the Internet Governance Forum
The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) and Internet Society Switzerland invite civil society to an open discussion about the opportunities to strengthen civil society's contributions and participation in the Internet Gove...
Preventing cyber conflicts: Do we need a cyber treaty?
In early 2017, Microsoft’s president Brad Smith called for a Digital Geneva Convention ‘to implement international rules to protect the civilian use of the Internet’. M...
[WebDebate] Should we take ‘new diplomacies’ seriously?
Our September WebDebate will focus on questions surrounding the so-called ‘new diplomacies’. Terms such as digital diplomacy, health diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, and education diplomacy, among others, highl...
Brown Bag Lunch on 15th September: How can Lac Leman area become a European Bay Area?
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will be speaking at the next IR Brown Bag Lunch at CERN, Charpak Room, Room F, Building 60-6-015, on 15 September at 12:30 CET...
Crisis code: Humanitarian protection in the digital age
New: Wrap-up video : [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX2rgAGtHZU[/embedyt] Conference photos - Swiss Touch photos - Panel 2, full video - with Jovan Kurbalija: [embedyt] https://ww...
Digital policy in global governance: Issues and challenges discussed in Geneva
(Scroll down for the announcement in English) Qu’attendre du Groupe d'experts gouvernementaux des Nations-Unies sur le développement des TICs dans le contexte de la sécurité internationale ? Quels résult...
Briefing for the Permanent Representatives of NY Missions on current trends in digital policy & the interplay between New York and Geneva - 2017
The briefing will be delivered by the Head of the Geneva Internet Platform and Director of DiploFoundation, Dr Jovan Kurbalija, and will tackle the most important developments in the digital policy of relevance to the...
Governing the Future of the Internet
The Internet is a great human enabler. It has provided countless opportunities to communicate, share and create. Families keep in touch via WhatsApp groups. Grandmothers chat with their grandchildren who are far away ...
The future of diplomacy: Between continuity and change
In November 2017, we celebrate 15 years of DiploFoundation and 25 years of research and training on Internet and diplomacy with a conference on The Future of Diplomacy: Between Continuity and Change. To mark this mile...
Geneva Digital Talks: What can Geneva offer in Global Digital Governance?
The launch event of the Geneva Digital Talks (GDT), organised by the Canton of Geneva, will take place on 12 October 2017, 18:00 - 21.00 in Geneva, Switzerland. The aim of the GDT is to contribute towards finding inc...
How can technological solutions advance cybersecurity?
Organised as part of the Geneva Digital Talks series, the event 'How can technological solutions advance cybersecurity?' will be held on 3 November 2017, from 10:00 - 16:30 CET, at the WMO building (De Mello conf...
Where and how to protect legal interests in the digital era
Organised as part of the Geneva Digital Talks event series, the session 'Where and how to protect legal interests in the digital era. Jurisdiction and dispute resolution in Inter...
3rd Geneva Engage Awards
The work done by the United Nations, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and other institutions in Geneva has a global impact. Supported by the Canton of Geneva, the Geneva Engage Awards celeb...
Diplo director at ITAPA 2017
The 2017 Information Technologies and Public Administration (ITAPA) international congress is a two-day event held under the auspices of of top government representatives and IT business companies in Slovakia. Diplo D...
Seminar: Diplomatic immunities in the digital era
Does a diplomat’s data enjoy the same protection as his printed archive? What about the protection of diplomatic communication via the Internet? These will be the main underlying questions discussed by DiploFoundati...
Diplo & the GIP at the 12th Internet Governance Forum
DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform will be actively engaged at the 12th Internet Governance Forum, in Geneva and online. Join us for workshops and sessions, and stay tuned for just-in-time session report...
Diplo at Geneva, new cybersecurity hub?
Diplo is participating in the Geneva International Public Debate on 'Geneva, new cybersecurity hub?', held on 15 December 2017, in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of ...
Launch of Data Diplomacy: Updating Diplomacy to the Big Data Era
Join us for a discussion on the potential of big data for diplomacy, on 8 February, from 10:00 - 13:00 CET, in Geneva. DiploFoundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland will present a new report ...
Diplo at State of the Net Conference
[Update] You can livestream the full conference agenda, including all the keynotes and panels. Diplo will participate in the 14th Annual State of the Net Conference, to be held on 29 January 2018, in Washington D.C.,...
Diplo & GIP at Big data, big problems? Challenges and opportunities in the context of data ownership, privacy and protection
DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform will participate in the event 'Big Data, Big Problems? Challenges and Opportunities in the context of Data Ownership, Privacy and Protection', taking place on 24 Januar...
High-Level Roundtable on Diplomacy in the Digital Age: Revolution or Evolution?
[Update] Scroll down for a report from the event Dr Jovan Kurbalija will deliver a keynote address at the High-Level Roundtable on Digital Diplomacy, hosted by the European Centre for Government Transformation, on 5-...
Diplo director addresses New America roundtable in Washington
The year 2018 represents a tipping point for the Internet and its governance. The approach of wait and see in the digital sphere is no longer sustainable and needs an intervention by stakeholders. In this timely ro...
Briefing for the Permanent Representatives of NY Missions on current trends in digital policy & the interplay between New York and Geneva - 2018
The briefing will be delivered by the Head of the Geneva Internet Platform and Director of DiploFoundation, Dr Jovan Kurbalija, and will tackle the most important developments in digital policy of relevance to the UN-...
Disrupting development through science, technology and innovation
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Founding Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will participate in the 'Disrupting development through science, technology and innovation' event, taking...
Geneva Internet L@w Summer School 2018
Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will deliver a lecture on the Geneva Internet governance landscape, at the 2018 edition of the Geneva Internet L@w Summer Scho...
Hello, World: The Rise of Tech Diplomacy
How do countries interact with the Internet industry in the Bay area? What methods do they use in these interactions, to achieve their goals and promote the interests of their industry and citizens? A report looking i...
Lunch dialogue: Digitalisation and international law
The Geneva Internet Platform will host a lunch dialogue on Digitalisation and international law, on Monday, 16th April, between 12:30 and 14:30, at the WMO Building, 7bis, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva. The dialogue will ...
Diplo & GIP at RightsCon Toronto 2018
[Update] A report from DiploFoundation and the Geneva Internet Platform's session, 'The elephant in the room: The funding dimension of capacity development' is available [Update] See photos from the sessions Dipl...
Invest in Cybersecurity workshop
This workshop, organised by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) – Investment Promotion, will explore the opportunities for Switzerland as a strong and innovative cybersecurity location. The aim of the workshop is t...
Diplo & GIP at Geneva Cybersecurity Law & Policy Conference
Prof. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation and head of the Geneva Internet Platform, will participate in the Geneva Cybersecurity Law & Policy Conference, which will be held on 21 June 2018, in Geneva. Pro...
[WebDebate] #CyberMediation: New skills and tools for mediation
Cybermediation is a new field of research and practice which explores how digital technology is impacting the role of mediation in the prevention and resolution of violent conflict, how digital tools can be used by pe...
‘2018: A Tipping Point for the Internet’ - public discussion by Jovan Kurbalija
Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Director of DiploFoundation and Head of Geneva Internet Platform) will be holding a public discussion 2018: A Tipping Point for the Internet in Jakarta on Internet governance, digital policy and...
International seminar on digital diplomacy - Beyond social media
The International Seminar on Digital Diplomacy, a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, UN Global Pulse and DiploFoundation, is a seminar that will discuss the environment...
The Battle for the Global Internet
The next six months could be an inflection point for the way the internet functions at home and around the world. Join New America, DiploFoundation, and ISOC-DC at noon on Thursday, 27th September to discuss what the...
The UN World Data Forum 2018
The UN World Data Forum takes place in Dubai from 22 to 24 October. Building on the recommendation of the 'A World That Counts' report (2014), the UN Statistical Commission agreed on holding a United Nations Worl...
Digital technology: An unprecedented opportunity for the prevention of trafficking
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bern, in co-operation with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is organising: Digital technology: An unprecedented opportunity for the prevention of t...
The impact of AI on diplomacy and international relations 2018
The event served as a platform to launch and discuss Diplo’s report on ‘Mapping the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence’, followed by three panels of experts, which deepened the discussion on...
Science fiction meets policy | Policy meets science fiction
What can sci-fi teach us about digital politics and its future? What was once considered science fiction is becoming a reality at an accelerated pace. What can sci-fi teach us about the future of digital politics? ...
Commonwealth Peoples Forum, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
As part of this event, Diplo held a discussion panel aimed at decision makers likely to be involved in Internet Governance issues from countries with limited financial and human resources. The discussion helped par...
Panel Discussion with MEDAC Alumni
During their annual study visit to Geneva, students of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC) attended a meeting organized by the Geneva Center for Security Policy in cooperation with MEDAC alumni...
Meeting of Global Knowledge 3 International Advisory Board
On May 10 – 11, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija attended the meeting of Global Knowledge 3 International Advisory Board. The International Advisory Board met to discuss the content architecture of the Global Knowledge 3 e...
CEI Dubrovnik Diplomatic Forum “Lifelong Learning and Diplomacy”
On May 15-16, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija attended the CEI Dubrovnik Diplomatic Forum “Lifelong Learning and Diplomacy.” This meeting was organised by the Croatian Diplomatic Academy as part of the Central European ...
*Le Bicorne et la Plume* book presentation
Thursday, 18th November 2010, Bern, Switzerland: Le Bicorne et la Plume, a book about Swiss diplomats as writers, was presented to Ambassador Georges Martin, Head of Political Secretariat of the Swiss Department of Fo...
Closing Session of the IGCBP2008 in Second Life
Students in the fourth generation of the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme have gathered on Thursday, 3 July, for a virtual closing ceremony at Diplomacy Island in Second Life. To enable participatio...
Persuasion, the Essence of Diplomacy –Farewell Symposium for Prof. Kappeler
Diplo and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies held a Farewell Symposium for Professor Dietrich Kappeler, retiring from his 50-year career as a practitioner and teacher of diplomacy, on 12 February, 200...
10 Years of Diplomatic Training – Publication Launch
The Commonwealth Secretariat hosted the launch of Diplo’s new publication *Strengthening Voices of Small and Developing Countries – 10 Years of Diplomatic Training*, on June 1, 2009, in London. The publication...
Can the United Nations be Taught?
Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation, was an invited panellist at the presentation of a publication from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna: "Can the United Nations be Taught?" The book compiles contribution...
Diplo Among “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics” for 2009
On October 22, at the World e-Democracy Forum award ceremony in the French National Assembly, DiploFoundation received a prestigious award for its capacity development in Internet governance. Other laureates for 2...
humAInism and Artificial Intelligence
A discussion about artificial intelligence and the future of humanism through the prism of philosophy, politics, linguistics, arts, and technology. On Friday, 20th December, from 17.00 to 19.00h CET, at the Centre ...
How is water protected during armed conflicts?
The Geneva Water Hub’s Platform for International Water Law and DiploFoundation are pleased to invite you to, 'How is water protected during armed conflicts?'. This event is organised within the framework of the Dis...
Lecture: Humanism and Artificial intelligence – HumAInism
On Friday, November 22, in hall 62, from 13-15h, at the School of Electrical Engineering, Dr Jovan Kurbalija, director of DiploFoundation will hold a guest lecture “Humanism and Artificial intelligence – HumAInism...
Round-table on current practices and trends in the use of e-learning platforms
What are the current and potential uses of e-learning platforms? How can learning be made more coherent and co-ordinated? The round-table discussion is being organised by the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) of the United...
Cyber-diplomacy web discussion: Applicability of international law to cyberspace
DiploFoundation is pleased to invite you to the cyber-diplomacy web discussion Applicability of international law to cyberspace: Do we know the rules of the road? This webinar is the second in a series of cyber-diplo...
Quarterly briefing: Reviewing digital policy developments & what to expect
Recent headlines in digital policy showed that private companies continue to face pressure from governments, while the tech industry continues to push the boundaries with technology. Internet disruptions were at their...
CyberMediation conference
[Update] Read the press release for this event. Technological developments impact all aspects of society. Similarly, they impact the practice of diplomacy. Mediation, the process whereby a third party assis...
Comment désamorcer les discours de guerre (How to defuse war talks)
The Club suisse de la presse will hold a debate on 'How to defuse war talks' on 20 September at the Château de Penthes in Geneva. The event is part of the 22e Fête de la Presse & de la Communication. Jovan Kurbal...
Unpacking the High-Level Panel’s Report: Contributions from Geneva
[Update] The event report, including the participants' recommendations, is now available. One of the main mandates of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, launched in July 2018, was...
Digital (and) Diplomacy: How to deal with digital aspects of foreign policy
Digital issues shape our future and the future of each country; they are no longer niche issues. Key conversations on the governance of digital issues take place at the international level, with profound geopolitical ...
'Geneva Day' at the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos
'Geneva Day' at the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos will take place on 21 January 2020. Jovan Kurbalija, director of DiploFoundation, will be moderating the Panel : How to govern Digital Interdependence. The Annua...
Data 2025 - Conference
*UPDATE: The Data 2025 - Conference has been postponed to a later date - to be announced. The Data 2025 - Conference will take place on 19 March from 09:00 - 10:30 (CET). Jovan Kurbalija, founding director of Diplo...
How to organise and run online meetings during COVID-19 times
In the last couple of years, the popularity of virtual meetings has hit new records in response to calls to reduce air travel and utilise climate-friendly conferencing. Moreover, as we discuss in further detail below,...
Could COVID-19 disrupt the Internet?
The pressure on the Internet infrastructure is increasing, with the shift of our professional and daily reality from the physical to the online space. On Tuesday, 24 March at 13:00 UTC (14:00 CET) we will discuss the ...
Technology and human rights in times of crisis
As our life shifts online and our daily functioning becomes increasingly dependent on technology, our online rights become all the more relevant. During a crisis, access to networks and timely information through medi...
How to ensure the functional continuity of global diplomacy in time of crisis
In times of crisis, global cooperation is essential. Yet, COVID-19 has grounded global diplomacy with the cancellation of meetings and negotiations. In our next live discussion on COVID-19, on Thursday, 2nd April ...
Geneva Talks: Charting International Collaboration in the Digital Age
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) in a time of turmoil and uncertainty. After the Second World War, countries across the World have signed the UN Charter in San Francisco in agreement t...
Online discussion: Navigating Geneva’s digital policy landscape
Most Geneva-based institutions and organisations are now tackling digital aspects as part of their work. The Geneva digital policy landscape has therefore become richer and more diverse. How can we navigate this lands...
[WebDebate] Permanent missions at global diplomatic hubs: More or less relevant in 2020?
[Update] The digest and recording of this WebDebate is now available. Our July WebDebate explores the role and work of permanent missions in diplomatic hubs such as New York, Geneva, and Vienna. As we are getting c...
[WebDebate] The UN at 75: Evolution or revolution?
[Update] The digest and recording of this WebDebate are now available. This year is the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, and we are marking the occasion with a Webdebate on the past and the future of the org...
Round table on The Future of Internet Governance in Geneva
[Update] The recording of the live stream is available below. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkkWpgACBfw&start=537[/embedyt] With the launch of the report "Internet Governance in International Geneva"...
IGF Italia - La “Carta dei diritti di Internet' e il report 'The Age of Interdependence' principi e sfide
IGF Italia will host the session La “Carta dei diritti di Internet' e il report 'The Age of Interdependence' principi e sfide (The 'Internet Rights Charter' and the report 'The Age of Interdependence' prin...
Data Privacy and Protection in International Law
[Update] The recording of this event is now available. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1k1CogsS5M[/embedyt] The eSeminar Data Privacy and Protection in International Law, organised by the Centre for ...
Digital Security and Economic Recovery
[Update] The recording of this event is now available. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vKvGgKq3Bs[/embedyt] The online high-level event ‘Digital Security and Economic Recovery: Boosting Confidence and P...
Data 2025 V.2.0 - Conference
The conference, organised by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in collaboration with C4DT (EPFL), will discuss what data is, based on technical and economic realities. It will start wit...
International Water Law and Transboundary Cooperation
[Update] Registrations are now closed. The Platform for International Water Law of the Geneva Water Hub (GWH) and DiploFoundation are pleased to invite you to the webinar on “International Water Law and Transbou...
#MeetingTomorrow: Digital Geneva 2040
Geneva has been at the center stage of the global debate on internet governance ever since the invention of the World Wide Web at CERN in 1989. Today, the city hosts a wide range of international organizations, academ...
Harnessing the Power of Culture in Mediation, Conflict Prevention, and Resolution – Virtual conference
Harnessing the Power of Culture in Mediation, Conflict Prevention, and Resolution – Virtual conference 17–18 January 2021 The virtual conference will seek to bring insights into the role of culture in confl...
Masterclass on History of Diplomacy and Technology
A masterclass with Jovan Kurbalija The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward. Winston Churchill The series Diplomacy and Technology: A historical journey is a set of open monthly Zoom discuss...
CENSURE – Twitter et Facebook font la loi. Mais de quel droit?
CENSORSHIP – Twitter and Facebook make the law. But by what right? Thursday, 28th January, 12:15 CET [UPDATE] The event recording is available here. By censoring or excluding the (now former) president of the Un...
6th Geneva Engage Awards
6th Geneva Engage Awards Thursday, 18th February 2021 13:00–14:00 CET (12:00–13:00 UTC) The 6th Geneva Engage Awards will be held on Thursday, 18th February 2021! Find out all the details and register here...
[Webinar] Yellow Day and Green Diplomacy
[Update] The event recording is now available. Yellow Day and Green Diplomacy Movements of sand and dust across continents: Scientific insights and policy implications A just-in-time discussion Thursday, 11th Fe...
Prehistory: The birth of diplomacy and early ‘technologies’ [A historical journey #2]
Update Missed the event? The summary and recording are now available! A Masterclass with Jovan Kurbalija Thursday, 25th February 13:00 UTC (08:00 EST | 14:00 CET | 21:00 CST) When did diplomatic practice...
Ancient Diplomacy: What can it teach us? [A historical journey #3]
Missed the event? Watch the recording, read the summary and find some additional resources here. As a follow-up to the February webinar, which dealt with the very early days of diplomacy, our March webinar will foc...
5th 'Road to Bern via Geneva' dialogue: On data and Tech4Good
5th 'Road to Bern via Geneva' dialogue: On data and Tech4Good Thursday, 25th March 2021, 14:00 CET The the 5th session of the Road to Bern via Geneva dialogues: The implementation and monitoring of the sustainabl...
Ancient Greek diplomacy: Politics, new tools, and negotiation [A historical journey #4]
Watch the recording Listen to the podcast Masterclass with Jovan Kurbalija After dealing with the early days of diplomacy and the diplomacy of the ancient world, we move to ancient Greek diplomacy. To the ancient...
1st International Online Conference on Digital Transformation in Culture and Education
1st International Online Conference on Digital Transformation in Culture and Education 14–16 April 2021 This conference is an excellent forum for digital librarians, researchers, and practitioners to present...
Digital (and) Diplomacy: What Are We Actually Talking About?
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7GRyx5qYGs[/embedyt] Digital (and) Diplomacy: What Are We Actually Talking About? Tuesday, 7th September 12:00–14:00 UTC (14:00–16:00 CEST) When we talk abou...
Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) Tour
The 'AI and IoT Tour' will explore Geneva's contribution to AI and IoT. The 'AI and IoT Tour' is part of 12 Tours to Navigate Geneva, a monthly series of discussions organised by the Geneva Internet Platform which n...
The telegraph: How it changed diplomacy [A historical journey #7]
Join us in our next journey through the history of diplomacy and technology. In our August webinar, we will discuss two decisive developments: the invention of the telegraph and the Vienna Congress of 1814/15. LATE...
ARIN/CTU Caribbean Internet Public Policy Forum
Update: Did you miss this event? The recording is now available: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t013naQYhQI&start=9051[/embedyt] ARIN/CTU Caribbean Internet Public Policy Forum 18–19 May 2021 The ...
Data Tour | 12 Tours to Navigate Digital Geneva
Every month the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) navigates International Geneva through a specific lens: that of a given digital policy issue. Each month we connect the dots on the many initiatives, organisations and p...
Global Media Forum session: Innovation by disruption? How COVID-19 is changing diplomacy
Innovation by disruption? How COVID-19 is changing diplomacy Development and Peace Foundation (sef:) at the DW Global Media Forum 2021 Monday, 14th June, 13:45–14:15 CEST The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in...
Telephone diplomacy: Dialling the ‘red line’ [A historical journey #8]
Thursday, 30th September | 12:00 UTC (08:00 EDT | 14:00 CEST | 20:00 CST) In our September episode of History of Diplomacy and Technology, we will talk about diplomacy and the invention of the telephone and wireless...
Radio and TV broadcasting: Diplomacy going live [A historical journey #9]
Friday, 29th October | 12:00 UTC (08:00 EDT | 14:00 CEST | 20:00 CST). In the October episode of History of Diplomacy and Technology, we will analyse the beginning of radio and TV broadcasting and how they influ...
Geneva Legal and Governance Tour
Digital governance is the invisible thread that unites the digital ecosystem. Today, discussions are intensifying around issues regarding the UN envoy on technology, the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF),...
2021 International Standards Summit for People, Planet and Prosperity
At the international, European, and national levels, standardisation represents an example of a consolidated and efficient multistakeholder forum as it gathers, through its organisations, all the components of our com...
[Webinar] Insights on the 9th meeting of the parties to the convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes
Event date: Monday, 8 November 2021 12:30–13:30 (CET) The Geneva Water Hub, through its Platform for International Water Law, in partnership with DiploFoundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Protect...
IGF 2021 Introductory Sessions
This year, between 6 and 11 December, Poland will host the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2021). In preparation for the annual event, the IGF is organising a series of introductory sessions on 2-3 November and Dipl...
#Diplomacy: Internet and social media [A historical journey #10]
In the November episode of our History of Diplomacy and Technology series, we will analyse the impact the internet and social media have on diplomacy. Diplomats use the internet for meetings, sharing information,...
Digital standards, China, and geopolitics: What is at stake?
Event date: Tuesday, 14th December, 13:00–14:00 CET Our world is made up of standards, sets of rules that tell us how to do something. They exist in every field, including healthcare, aerospace, construction, measu...
Technology for Development
The Delegation of the European Union to the UN in Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN in Geneva (currently holding the Presidency of the Counci...
Making Sense of Data and Digital Diplomacy: ICDD 2021
The International Conference on Digital Diplomacy (ICDD) is a conference initiated by Indonesia as a follow-up to the Regional Conference on Digital Diplomacy (RCDD) that aims to further promote and broaden the exc...
Learning from the past, looking to the future [A historical journey #11]
We’ve come to the end of our adventure! During our History of Diplomacy and Technology journey, we’ve learnt that the past, present, and future are intertwined. As a matter of fact, in physics and philosophy – t...
Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform at IGF 2021
Date: 6–10 December A number of Diplo and Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) team members will participate in sessions of the 2021 Internet Governance Forum (IGF). IGF 2021, which is hosted by the Government of Polan...
Promoting Integral Human Development and Peace in the Digital Age
The hybrid conference is organised by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Vatican COVID-19 Commission, with the support of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and in collaboration with Diplo, t...
International digital standards: Stepping up the engagement of stakeholders from the ARIN region
Event date: 22 February 2022, 15:00–16:00 UTC, online This event is addressed to stakeholders in the ARIN service region (national and regional standard development organisations, governmental entities, industry, t...
Official Geneva presentation of special UNDP report on human security
Event date: 17 March 2022, 14:00–15:15 CET The event, organised by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Geneva office, will serve as Geneva's official presentatio...
AI as a Tool for Diplomacy and Mediation
Date: Tuesday, 17th May (11:30–13:00 UTC | 13:30–15:00 CEST) Place: Geneva and online Registration: 1. Online participation (join via Zoom) 2. Participation in situ (IHEID - Petal 5 - Conference ...
International regulation on the net: A necessity, but what about possibilities?
International regulation on the net: A necessity, but what about possibilities? Cyber Polygon 2021 Friday, 9th July, 15:20–15:50 CEST (13:20–13:50 UTC) The internet is borderless, data flow is enormous, ...
Renaissance diplomacy: Compromise as a solution to conflict [A historical journey #6]
Event summary | Recording | Podcast | Resources Join us in our next journey through the history of diplomacy and technology. In June, we will look at Renaissance diplomacy, and the impact the invention of the printin...
Science Diplomacy Week 2022 Opening Ceremony
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[caption id="attachment_138271" align="alignright" width="380"] 2022 AI Policy Summit[/caption] RegHorizon and ETH Zurich’s Center for Law and Economics have partnered since 2019 to create an unbiased platform fo...
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What do flags and artificial intelligence (AI) have in common? Patterns. When you take a closer look at flags, it’s easy to notice certain colours, shapes, and symbols that create patterns. AI also detects patterns...
How Afghanistan changed 30 flags in 102 years
Afghanistan’s Independence Day (19 August) came only days after the Taliban seized control of capital Kabul. The entire world focused on the unfolding of events as the country fell into turmoil, following the flash ...
What is the future of a cyber detente after Biden and Putin’s Geneva summit?
A cyber detente between Russia and the USA started in Geneva with the easing of tensions and kick off of bilateral cybersecurity consultations. Biden and Putin built on the dynamism of successful outcomes in cyber p...
Cyber détente in Geneva: Can Biden and Putin ease cyber tensions?
Despite the recent cyberattacks on SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline, and the meat producer JBS, there is plenty of room for optimism for a cyber deal at the upcoming summit in Geneva between US President Joe Biden an...
25 years of digital (and) diplomacy: Evolution or revolution?
Recently, I felt nostalgic and nervous as I was about to revisit my paper from 1996 on digital and diplomacy. Nostalgic of the time when ICTs were pushing new frontiers and carrying a utopian promise of a better world...
The rights of future generations: What are our responsibilities?
The UN Secretary-General opened a discussion the rights of future generations with his report 'Our Common Agenda' launched on the 10th September 2021. This text aims to map the main questions and dilemmas on the right...
Can an empty chair save COP26?
Next week, heads of state, diplomats, and scientists from all corners of the globe will descend on Glasgow for the COP26, where they'll negotiate the next crucial steps in the worsening climate crisis. However, one im...
10 lessons from 10 years of teaching digital diplomacy at the College of Europe
In 2011, I taught my first course on digital diplomacy at the College of Europe. Since then – except for 2020 due to pandemic lockdowns –I’ve spent two days in Bruges every fall to introduce and discuss three as...
How can Mediterranean wisdom shape our digital future?
Prepared on the occasion of the inaugural Day of the Mediterranean (28 November) Today, as we revisit many fundamentals of society and discuss the future of humanity, many historical roads lead to the greater Mediter...
5 reasons and 5 concerns for the IGF Leadership Panel
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has reached a critical turning point. As the reform discussions mature, it is time to take the next steps. To remain the ‘same’ in terms of its mission, IGF must change in terms...
10 Digital Governance and Diplomacy Trends for 2022
Cette publication est disponible aussi en français. In 2022, ten trends will accelerate across three main areas of interplay between digital governance and diplomacy: digital geopolitics and geoeconomics, ne...
10 tendances en matière de diplomatie et de gouvernance numériques pour 2022
En 2022, dix tendances vont s'accélérer dans trois grands domaines d'interaction entre le numérique et la diplomatie : la géopolitique et la géoéconomie numérique, les nouveaux sujets numériques dans les agend...
The Ukraine crisis may shape the future of the internet
On 28 February, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov requested that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) cut Russia’s access to the infrastructure of the global internet. This...
Will science diplomacy survive?
Science diplomacy will very likely survive, but in a different form. Diplomats will continue to negotiate scientific collaboration, as they do in other areas of diplomacy such as food, health, and trade. However, scie...
The US is pursuing holistic digital diplomacy
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, US intelligence agencies were fundamentally reformed in order to address fragmentation and policy silos as major reasons for their failure to prevent these attacks. It is now the ...
Digital governance and diplomacy 2025: A cheat sheet
The year 2025 will be a landmark year for digital diplomacy and global governance. It is the year of wrapping up the UN cybersecurity OEWG and the negotiations on cybercrime at the Ad Hoc group. It's the year UN me...
Time to reflect: Multilateralism Day
24 April is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. This year, as multilateralism is in a profound crisis, it is definitely not a time for celebration. But it is not a time for desperation ei...
Why Elon Musk Twitter experiment could be a success - even if it fails?
Elon Musk could save social media whether he succeeds or fails in making Twitter an open space for responsible free speech. It is an enormous task, much more complex than Musk’s previous business successes with Tesl...
French diplomats strike: continuity and change between Richelieu and Macron
In France, a strike is not news. Diplomats going on strike? Now that is news. French diplomats' strike against the Quai d' Orsay reform signals existential concerns about diplomacy in France and beyond. Macron's diplo...
Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities in the Internet Era
Digitalisation impacts the following aspects of diplomatic privileges and immunities: 1. Inviolability of Hardware and Digital Assets The immunities accorded to the mission premises are endorsed in Article 22(1) of ...
Cyberattacked: Who do you call?
Who do you call when you are cyberattacked? Almost noone. You can read bout existing cybersecurity solutions and new developments by governments and businesses....
Why is Borrell’s speech historical?
UPDATE: Last week, Josep Borrell delivered one of the best and worst diplomatic speeches in the space of 3 days. Further down, you can find an analysis of the 10 October speech for the EEAS ambassadors. Her...
Can a chair remind us of the interests of future generations?
The Future Chair is a concept that should be used in diplomatic meetings and negotiations to remind us of the 'presence' of one missing actor: future generations. Frank Gehry's cardboard chair from 1972 is, so ...
Borrell delivered the best and worst diplomatic speech of 2022 in 3 days
I write this blog after receiving comments from many colleagues on my blog post 'Why is Borrell's speech historical' (speech from 10 the 10th of October). Last week, Josep Borell delivered one o...
What are the peace symbols of today?
We submitted the word 'peace' in a new AI system, called DALL-E 2 that can create images from a description in natural language, and received the visual response below. Image generated by DALL-E 2 for term 'pea...
Tracking the pulse of digital governance and diplomacy in 2023: A quarterly progress report
You can consult the main trends in digital governance and diplomacy for 2023....
WEF 2023: Is Davos becoming tech shy?
The World Economic Forum has always been enthusiastic about tech. Their concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has been driven by digitalisation. This year at the traditional pre-Davos press conference, digitalis...
Digital etiquette in 2023: Can AI make online communications more polite?
Digital etiquette will further evolve in 2023 with ChatGPT and AI-driven communication. Will AI be more polite than us? Can we reverse the trends of increased impoliteness and less critical debates online? Digital eti...
Dive deep into protecting submarine cables: How to make the internet safer?
Submarine cables are the backbone of the Internet and many other communication networks, connecting countries and continents around the world. As we rely increasingly on digital communication for business, financial a...
What is the true meaning of compromise?
‘Your account has been compromised.’ This was how I was informed that my Twitter account had been hacked and that somebody had started sending messages on my behalf. I changed the password and solved the problem, ...
How can ChatGPT help us rethink education?
The fast growth of AI and the recent use of ChatGPT highlighted the deep crisis of modern education. While mostly focusing on credits and numbers, education has been losing sight of critical and creative thinking for ...
Public perception of diplomacy and diplomats.... why diplomats write.....
Since we started “DeepDip” I was thinking about my first input. I even started drafting my “first blog” (it will come later on). But as usual events take direction of itsown. Last few days I have bee...
Plagiarism: Can 85% of Students be Wrong?
Yesterday, the Tribune de Geneve published on its cover page the news that 85% of university students in the United States are involved in plagiarism. (One should praise the US for facing and making this problem publi...
E-Diplomacy: Remembering to Forget?
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="314" caption="Amarna Letters - First Diplomatic Archieve"][/caption] Diplomatic services are obsessed with collecting and recording information. While intuitively we may thi...
Is the line between two dots always straight?
"Success drawing" reminded me of a question on my entrance exam to diplomatcy of the former Yugoslavia. A member of the examination board pushed a paper across the table and asked me to connect two dots diplomatically...
Internet Fraud in Diplomacy
The Indian Consulate General in Geneva published a notice in the International Herald Tribune (1 December2011) advising the public about a fraudulent website using the Consulate’s name. So far, diplomacy had been ge...
How can inflation protect human rights?
Hasan Elahi, an American academic, was stopped in September 2001 by an FBI agent who asked what he was doing on 12 September 2001. He was suspected of planning another terrorist attack or of some similar conspiracy. S...
Compromise and compromised
‘Your account has been compromised.’ This was how I was informed that my Twitter account had been hacked and that somebody had started sending messages on my behalf. I changed the password and solved the problem, ...
From Telegraph to the Internet: Spot the difference between St. Petesburg (1875) and London (2011)
How many things have changed between 1875 when the ITU held its historical telegraph conference in St. Petersburg and today, when, many participants are attending a cybersecurity conference in London. Not much. In 187...
Jua Kali - short explanation of Internet and its governance
Jua Kali is one of the first phrases I learnt in Kenya. Literally, it means 'under the sun', but is used in Kenya and East Africa to describe the informal economy. By what I understand from my Kenyan friends, jua kali...
Budapest is beautiful, Belgrade is attractive: Tips for visitors
Budapest is beautiful, Belgrade is attractive (Mary Murphy) I was asked by some of my Interne governance colleagues to give them tips about what to see and do while they’re in Belgrade for EuroDIG (30-31 May...
Twitter: Revolutionising reporting?
I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead (Mark Twain) Reports are the lifeline of diplomatic services, international organisations, and many other institutions. Thousands of re...
Déjà vu – 20 years later: the Euro and the Balkans
Exactly 20 years ago, on 9 December 1991, EU leaders at the Maastricht Summit made two historical decisions: to start introducing the Euro and to recognise the ex-Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia. On this sa...
More means – less meaning (Spilberg’s Tintin on Steroids) and vice versa (The Artist)
At the weekend I saw two movies: Spielberg’s adaptation of Tintin The Secret of the Unicorn and Michel Haznavicius's The Artist. Both movies are set in the1930s. Spielberg put Tintin on steroids. Tintin's wit and ch...
Who are diplomats' by Ivo Andric (diplomat and/or writer)
More than 50 years ago Ivo Andric tried to describe diplomats in his text "Who are Diplomats?" Is there a need to update Andric's ToR for diplomats? Here is an excerpt from the Andric's text: .............. Th...
When ‘sorry’ doesn’t hack it any more…
If you are among the 77 million Internet users whose personal data (including VISA-card information) were hacked from Sony’s server, you can expect to get a mega-style apology (see photo) from Sony officials. Yes, i...
What do FUNERAL, CRISIS and PUBLIC diplomacy have in common?
The photo above provides a clue, as does the EuroNews video clip. Some clarification of terminology (before you provide a response): Funeral diplomacy refers to “ad hoc summits” by world leaders on the occas...
Does the Subprime Crisis Hold Lessons for a MFA?
Some of the best managed entities in the business world – transnational financial institutions – have been caught wrong footed. Past dealing with the immediate consequences of their errors, banks are changing thei...
From a clenched fist (2011) to Guy Fawkes (2012)
One year ago, the global visual space was dominated by the image of a clenched fist, used as the main symbol of the Arab Spring. The clenched fist has long been used as a symbol of resistance. In the 1990s, it was use...
The Assange asylum case: five possible solutions and many probable consequences
Julian Assange has spent the last few months in the Ecuadorian embassy in London awaiting a decision about his request for diplomatic asylum, which Ecuador granted earlier this morning (16 August 2012). A few days ago...
Navigating Geneva
Geneva welcomes us back from holidays with nice, crispy weather. Kids are back in school. The UN's metabolism is accelerating after the summer lull. Every time I return to Geneva I start re-discovering new journeys th...
What do black swans, CERN, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Borges have in common?
Probably not a lot, except as part of a mental journey I took last Sunday while I was enjoying a beautiful day in Geneva. All of them are linked to Geneva and form part of the answer to questions we often ask ourselve...
Are we addicted to a policy hype cycle?
A few years ago, one of my colleagues proposed an empirical hypothesis about policy hype cycles. After he drew my attention to this hypothesis, I followed it more carefully and I find that there are supporting data fr...
How to detect lies online?
A study of 30,000 conference calls by American chief executives and chief financial officers found that frequent use of 'extreme positive emotion words' is indicative of what? a) Success b) Deception c) Uncertai...
Thinking outside the box: What do open data, the end of Communism and Good Friday have in common?
In the mid-1980s, I was in the middle of my studies at Belgrade University. It was a few years after the death of Tito. Change was in the making. The surface waters seemed calm, but underneath, the currents were ragin...
'Return' of emotions to diplomacy and international relations
Emotions have been left out of social theories for the last 40 years. They had no part to play in attempts to make scientific disciplines out of economics, sociology, and international relations. Emotions cannot be qu...
What’s today’s policy fashion? Is it cyber, e-, digital, or virtual?
FT journalist Maija Palmer wrote in her blog post on the CyberSecurity Conference in London: ‘Even its name (conference) is already out of date, as quaint as calling it the “information superhighway” these days....
Global forums in policy fashion: Without participation, there is no implementation
Global forums are becoming fashionable in global politics. They exist in Internet governance, migration, water governance, and urban management. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is discussing the possibility of org...
Virus diplomacy - Who owns what
Have you ever thought of owning your viruses? Well, we are not there yet, but countries may do just that. In 2007, the Indonesian government refused to share samples of the avian influenza virus A (H5N1) via internati...
Course in e-diplomacy
Here are background questions about e-diplomacy https://www.amplifypublicaffairs.net/socialmedia/quiz.html Link of original post...
Consular psychology: how to survive visa interview?
In front of the consular officers, we always seem to be weighed down with the 'presumption of guilt' trying to prove that we are not a criminal, or a terrorist... you name it and you have it (though, in my rich exper...
Bothered by the unusable on the World Usability Day?
Here is my small contribution for the World Usability Day. I stood in front of the door in the left photo. I tried to open it first by pulling the left side and then pushing. T Unusable door Here ...
Sound familiar .....
I have just come back from a two-week visit to South Africa. It's a fascinating country, quite apart from the usual 'safari' stuff! One of the many discoveries I made was 'click language'. My attempts to learn even th...
Slow knowledge: How slower can be faster?
I just returned from an excellent conference on the future of diplomacy organised by the College of Europe in Bruges. The conference, and my visit to the college in picturesque Bruges, inspired me to think about ‘sl...
Jailed for forecasting the weather incorrectly?
If a new law is adopted, South African independent weather forecasters who get it wrong could face imprisonment. Although, according to the Daily Telegraph article, the law has specific local context of reinforcing th...
Twitter is ONLY the medium (response to Aldo's post)
If I did not know Aldo, I would completely skip his text “The Medium is Twitter” as another – justified – warning about techno-hype. The more media pushes techno-hype, the more it triggers techno-pessimism (or...
Diplo's African Tour (April 2011)
In April, Diplo’s main focus was on Africa. Between 5 and 21 April, we delivered 5 workshops involving 150 participants from many African countries. Each workshop inspired participants to explore new policy options ...
Funeral Diplomacy in Prague and Pyongyang
In the span of a few days, there are two important funerals, as different as one can imagine. In Prague, many statesmen will came to pay their last tribute to one of the icons of democracy, Vaclav Havel. In Pyongyang,...
Shouting without Skype: Who will we blame when we break our toys?
Last evening, as I approached my apartment, I heard my wife shouting at my daughter: "I told you not to play with Skype". I entered as the peacemaker between warring factions and realised that there was a problem with...
Witnessing the birth of EU’s Digital Diplomacy
Last week in the Hague, at the Internet Freedom Conference, European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes outlined the elements for the EU’s digital diplomacy strategy for dealing with Internet policy issues.[1] ...
Practical lesson on e-diplomacy at Malta Airport
On Friday, many of us were at the airport leaving sunny Malta after an invigorating 38th International Forum on Diplomatic Training. Quite a few were in the long queue waiting to check in. Ambassador Winkler walked di...
How far is Davos from Porto Alegre?
So far and yet so near.... [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="257" caption="World Economic Forum - Davos"][/caption] Geographically speaking the distance between Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Davos, Switzerland...
Clikc here for intercultural communication....
Thanks largely to the Internet, the world has become a global village; cultures that were previously light years removed from our own are now literally next door. We are just a click away from 1.5 billion Internet use...
IGF in Tranisiton....
The 6th IGF starts at the UN Compound in Nairobi; lovely surroundings with a relaxed atmosphere. Even strict security checks are not as annoying as in other places. It is fascinating how the same rules (UN security) a...
A week of Alibi Diplomacy after UK's veto in Brussels
The end of the last week was marked by the UK’s veto of the deal agreed by everybody else in the EU family (23+3). To be left alone around the negotiation table is the worst that can happen to any country, short of ...
E-participation: Innovation in global policymaking
The Internet brings a new dynamic to international conferences and events. It brings new types of interaction and information sharing. With six years of experience in e-participation, the Internet Governance Forum (IG...
Prefixes: "e" - "virtual" - "cyber" - "digital"
The prefixes “e-,”, “cyber,” “virtual” and “digital” are used to describe various ICT/Internet developments. Their use originates in the 1990s and implied different social, economic, and political infl...
Why are diplomats reluctant tweeters?
The reason diplomats are usually reluctant to use Twitter can be found in the saying that "Diplomats think twice before saying nothing". They are even more cautious when it comes to writing. Tweets are just the opposi...
International law and diplomatic immunity (Strauss-Kahn case)
This text is hypothetical. The hypothesis is that Dominique Straus-Khan (DSK) tried to invoke diplomatic immunity. As we know, DSK has entered regular legal proceedings, good news for the international community in ma...
Personality type and social media: Is blog more ‘diplomacy’-friendly than twitter and facebook?
We have been transferring a considerable part of our social life to social media spaces and I wonder if we’ve taken the time to examine the relationship between our personality and social media? What is the ideal so...
The band must play till the Charpatia arrives
Whatever the policymakers do with the EU financial crisis, it seems to be too little too late. As a few countries slide into financial default, the rest of Europe is ‘praying and waiting’ to see what will time bri...
Poised between a cliché and an indiscretion
When it comes to the number of clichés attributed to it by foreigners, Switzerland is right up there at the top of the league table. Think Swiss, think chocolate or watches, or knives, or banks, or cuckoo clocks or...
The Ems, Kruger and Zimmerman leaked telegrams and WikiLeaks
While we are discussing the thousands of diplomatic telegrams revealed by WikiLeaks, it is important to review the leaking (intentional or otherwise) of a few other telegrams that have shaped diplomatic history. The E...
Origins of Zero: A fascinating story of science and spirituality across civilisations
Number zero is one of the greatest inventions in history, with a profound impact on the evolution of humanity including our digital era, which is shaped by ‘0’ and ‘1’. However, little is known about the histo...
Can sharks eat the Internet?
Were you aware of the fact that sharks chew through undersea cables that are an integral part of the internet’s physical infrastructure? Scientists are unsure why they do it, though they suspect that the electromagn...
Why might AI cause more 'lost in translation' worldwide?
This dilemma could be paradoxical as AI has been reducing 'lost in translation' via platforms such as Google Translate and Deep-L. We can read text or watch videos in foreign languages. AI translation platforms are be...
To foster human freedom and prosperity, Artificial Intelligence must be developed bottom-up!
The bottom-up development of AI is critical for our freedom and prosperity since it offers a way for citizens and communities to regain digital control. Otherwise, the AI future will be taken over by a handful of comp...
Why should we have the right to be imperfect?
Our imperfections define us as much as our perfections. Our right to be imperfect protects our core humanity. It is our refuge in the tech optimisation race, which we cannot win against machines. How to move from r...
View international organisations through their digital display window: A study on IO content and website management
Summary In the digital age where everyone searches online for information, international organisations (IOs) must learn to communicate better with their websites. Currently, only a few IO websites make important d...
Nine reasons to replace the Turing test with a 'flea market test' for AI
The Turing test is used to see if a machine (AI) can mimic humans. But as AI advances, the Turing test is not sufficient. We should use the flea market test to determine if AI can replace humans. ...
15 reasons to govern AI with 17 SDGs
Discover how SDGs can be used as AI guardrails. Learn why tech developers, CEOs and investors should follow the SDGs while creating AI platforms....
Exploring the power of AI: Diplomatic language as Turing test
Can AI decipher the complex layers and multifaceted meanings inherent in diplomatic language? The answer is in the power of AI in dealing with ambiguities, analogies, 'unsaid', and other characteristics of diplomatic ...
The History of Switzerland in Serbian
Links between Switzerland and the Balkans are numerous, starting with those that are easily visible. Every Christmas and Easter, thousands of cars with Swiss plates carry families to their home countries for the holid...
What can Socrates teach us about AI and prompting?
This text draws parallels between Socratic questioning and AI prompting, underscoring the value of critical thinking in AI interactions. It views AI prompting as a philosophical inquiry that draws on multiple discipli...
On the threshold of the AI Axial Age
We're at a turning point in history, facing an AI Era that echoes the transformative Axial Age. From ethics to identity, peace to prosperity, our choices today shape tomorrow's world. It's time for a collective call t...
Journey of Zero: How a simple number revolutionised the world from ancient India to our digital era
Discover the evolution of the number zero, tracing its origins from ancient India, its role in the Islamic Golden Age, to its significance in today's digital world. Join us in uncovering the fascinating journey of a n...
From the Parthenon to Patterns: Ancient Greek philosophy for the AI Era
Exploring the intersections of Ancient Greek philosophy and modern AI: Delve into the timeless insights of Socrates, Plato, and the Phaedrus dialogue as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital age....
Axial Age in China: Timeless reflections for AI era from Chinese philosophy
This text delves into the wisdom of thinkers like Shang Yang, Confucius, and Lao Tze, illustrating their relevance in today's AI landscape. Their teachings could inspire striking right balances among the major dilemma...
Ubuntu Ethos: African Insights for Ethical AI
As negotiations on AI governance unfold, Africa's participation is pivotal. The continent could contribute its Ubuntu etho-philosophy to the global shaping of AI rules. Ubuntu, deeply ingrained in African culture, cha...
Renaissance and Enlightenment: Canvas for AI Era
This text provides a critical analysis of the interplay between rationality and humanity, their evolution as fundamental pillars of modernity, and the challenges that AI brings to these pillars. AI technology, as the ...
The Ambassadors Reimagined: How Holbein's painting can inspire global AI negotiations?
The Ambassadors, Holbein's painting from 1533, has a strong symbolic meaning relevant to the AI era. Like in 16th century, we face a similar flux between the major promises of scientific progress and risks of conflict...
The Vienna Nexus: Five thinkers who coded the operating system of modernity
If you look for the source code of the operating system of modernity, you will end up in Vienna between the two world wars with five main thinkers: Ludwig Von Mises, Joseph Schumpeter, Friedrich Hayek, Sigmund Freud, ...
EspriTech de Genève: Nexus between technology and humanity
At our last stop of the summer journey 'Recycling ideas', we come to Geneva, a meeting place of technology and humanity for centuries. The city’s role is gaining new relevance as we find ourselves at a turning point...
What is the future of PDF on its 30th anniversary?
You can read more on the evolution of PDF format over the last 30 years. Will PDF remain relevant in the future? PDF is likely to be used whenever there is a need to preserve documents....
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18 Nov, 2022
A Day in the Life of an E-Diplomat
This study is built around a story about Ana Gabel, a fictitious diplomat. It provides a sequence of Ana’s activities during a busy working day and depicts several situations that use ICT/Internet in diplomatic acti...
23 Aug, 2006
Diplo: Effective and inclusive diplomacy
Diplo is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.
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