Topics Catalogue

AI diplomacy is about the impact of AI on geopolitics, AI as a topic on the diplomatic agenda, and AI as a tool for diplomacy. On geopolitics, countries with advanced AI can exercise more military, economic, and societal power. AI is a topic on the diplomatic agenda wh...

Amarna diplomacy is widely perceived as an official diplomatic system. It is named after the contemporary name of the Egyptian locality Tal-Amarna, which served as the ancient capital city under the administration of Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BC. Most of th...

Ancient diplomacy refers to the diplomatic techniques and methods employed by ancient civilizations to uphold their relationships with other states or city-states. In the past, diplomacy frequently comprised conversations between kings, ambassadors, or other envoys fro...

Animals were frequent diplomatic gifts throughout history. Pandas, elephants, lions, falcons and horses have been used as symbols of goodwill between countries. An early example of ‘animal diplomacy’ could be traced back to the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907...

Bilateral diplomacy is a form of international relations between the two countries. The interactions can be through occasional or permanent diplomatic contact. Today’s diplomatic practices are a consequence of the globalization of diplomacy, including the revolution ...

Blockchain diplomacy was very fashionable to use at the peak of the blockchain hype. Blockchain technology is a decentralised and secure way to store, verify, and transfer data without intermediaries. The main uses of blockchain are to improve accountability, transpare...

In 2010, a group of Chinese and American bloggers conducted an online diplomatic mission to improve relations between the two countries. The ‘China-US Bloggers’ Summit’ brought together several prominent bloggers from both sides to initiate an open dialogue a...

Cable’ has an interesting epystemological life in diplomacy. The term “cable” originates from the use of telegraph cables for international communication. Howerver, ‘cable’ remains alive in diplomatic parlance till these very days when tel...

Chip or semiconductor diplomacy refers to the strategic use of semiconductor technology, production, and supply chains as a tool for diplomacy, geopolitical influence, and international relations. Chips are an essential processing part of any digital device. They are t...

Climate diplomacy refers to the use of diplomatic channels and strategies to address global climate change and its impact on international relations. It involves negotiating and implementing climate-related policies, treaties, and agreements at the international level,...

Consular diplomacy (affairs) is related to the protection of the state’s interests as well as the interests of its citizens and legal entities in the host country. It includes strengthening and developing relations between diaspora and the home country in the fields ...

The term ‘contemporary diplomacy’ describes the methods and tactics countries and other international groups use to promote their interests and carry out their foreign policy goals. The changes in diplomatic practice are influenced by a number of factors, s...

COVID-19 has brought the world to its knees. With almost every country and territory reporting cases of the coronavirus, the world is having to adapt to a new kind of normal. Online meetings have long been seen as a poor substitute for face-to-face ones. With the COVI...

Crypto diplomacy emerged with the increased prominence of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. It mainly relates to dealing with cryptocurrencies as a new topic on the diplomatic agenda. It involves the regulation of cryptocurrencies among international banks and ...

The term “cueinform diplomacy” refers to the “diplomatic system used between Near Eastern kingdoms from approximately 2500 to 500 BC; so named because it was based on the exchange of communications printed on tablets in cuneiform characters.” Th...

Cyber diplomacy refers mainly to international negotiations on cybersecurity. This involves building trust and confidence between countries, sharing information and best practices related to cybersecurity, and promoting international cooperation to address cyber threat...

Read the report of our Roundtable ‘The Potential of Virtual Reality for Peace Mediation‘ (5 November 2020) The 2020 Geneva Peace Week event ‘Building Trust in CyberMediation: A Collective Leadership Challenge?‘ Read our policy brief ‘Vir...

Today’s headlines often feature the word ‘cyber’, reporting on threats related to the virtual world: online child abuse, stolen credit cards and virtual identities, malware and viruses, botnets and denial-of-service attacks on corporate or government servers, cyb...

In Focus: Reporting from eCommerce week on Data and Development Described as the ‘oil’ of the 21st century, the potential of data to achieve breakthroughs in various industries and fields is significant. Diplomacy is no exception. Data and diplomacy have three maj...

Development diplomacy is the highest priority of international relations. This is mostly performed through multilateral activities on a global and regional level. Both within the activities of international organizations (UN and its specialized organizations) and throu...

You landed on the story of digital diplomacy. Welcome! This story is based on the research and teaching I have done about the digital transformation of diplomacy. It begins with a 4-minute video and then clarifies the terminological confusion regarding digital/cyber/te...

On the emergence of digital foreign policy you can consult: a research report, and conference summary from the conference held on 2nd March 2021. All countries (albeit with differences in emphasis depending on their circumstances and capabilities) recognise that digi...

The diplomacy of small states is a subset of diplomacy. It is sufficiently identifiable to warrant an examination on its own. At the same time, it also helps to provide an insight into the broader themes, objectives, and methods of diplomacy in general. Small states f...

New: Consult a report from the webinar ‘Will AI take over diplomatic reporting?’   Information is the lifeblood of the diplomatic services with diplomats, like veins and arteries, reporting from their posts back to their home countries. These diplomati...

The term “Dubrovnik diplomacy” refers to the diplomatic traditions and procedures that emerged in the Republic of Dubrovnik (now Dubrovnik, Croatia) during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Despite being surrounded by larger and more powerful governments, Du...

Technology has significantly transformed the world’s economy. The ability to make data flow worldwide, and the digitisation of information have enabled digital business models and spurred the growth of e-commerce. Digitalisation of Trade On the one hand, digitisatio...

Economic diplomacy is the use of government recourses to promote the growth of a country’s economy by increasing trade, promoting investments, collaboration on bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and etc. It can also mean the use of the economy to promot...

Education diplomacy aims to utilize diplomatic skills and cooperate with both public and private sectors, educators and educational institutions, individuals and organizations, with an agenda of promoting education all over the Globe as a basic human right, accessible ...

There are two aspects of energy diplomacy. One is the provision of energy resources and positioning of the country concerning energy security and international partners.  On the other hand, it can be used as an instrument of foreign agenda, by influencing governments ...

EU diplomacy is the joint foreign and security policy of its member states. It is designed to resolve conflicts and foster international understanding, is based on diplomacy and respect of international rules. Trade, humanitarian assistance, and development cooperation...

Facebook diplomacy was coined in 2011 ​​during the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings in the Middle East. Social media platforms were used to mobilise protestors and coordinate protests. It was the main channel of communication that bypassed central gove...

In December 2019, Zoom reported 10 million daily users. Three months later, the number of Zoom’s daily participants jumped to more than 300 million. The COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically altered our daily routines, shifting our day-to-day activities from offline to ...

Gumboot diplomacy is a term used to describe a type of cultural diplomacy that emerged in the mid-20th century in South Africa. It involves the use of traditional African dance, particularly gumboot dancing, as a way to communicate and build relationships across cultur...

Health diplomacy is a form of diplomacy that focuses on protecting the health and well-being of populations across national borders. It involves using health-related issues to build relationships, foster cooperation, and promote peace and stability between nations. Hea...

‘The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.’ This quote from Winston Churchill could be a tweet about the interplay between diplomacy and technology. This page will, by revisiting the history of diplomacy, try to find guidelines for the...

Honorary consuls are typically local citizens of the host country with careers outside of official diplomacy. They promote economic, cultural, and educational ties between the two countries. Honorary consuls help people from the sending country with consular matters, ...

Humanitarian diplomacy strives to mobilize public and governmental support and resources for humanitarian operations and programs, as well as to establish effective partnerships for responding to vulnerable people’s needs. It is the process of influencing decisio...

ICT diplomacy was used in the 1990s when the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) concept described digital technologies and transformations. It involved using technology to enhance communication, collaboration, and cooperation in various areas such as trade,...

Instagram diplomacy was coined to refer to the diplomatic use of Instagram, mainly in public diplomacy. As the young population shifted from Facebook to Instagram as the main communication channel, diplomatic services adjusted to this shift. They also had to adjust the...

An Internet search on the topic of intercultural communication or cross-cultural communication yields over three million results. In recent years practitioners in a wide variety of fields — scientific cooperation, academic research, business, management, education, h...

The characteristic of International life is a variety of actors. International organisations, multinational corporations, international non-governmental organizations, and individuals, in addition to the states and their institutions, take part. With increasing global ...

Internet diplomacy was used frequently in the late 1990s and early 2000s to describe the impact of the internet on diplomacy. It was mainly related to using websites for communication and email for exchanges. The term Internet diplomacy lost prominence with the emergen...

Internet governance, also referred to as digital policy, deals with the policy issues associated with digital technology. Diplo has been providing capacity development support to digital policy practitioners for almost 20 years. This includes online and blended course...

It has often been said that language is not only an instrument of communication, but the very essence of diplomacy. Diplomats engage in negotiations, persuasion, presentation, and communication, all of which necessitate language skills for the effective conduct of dipl...

The term “medieval diplomacy” describes the diplomatic methods and tactics practiced in Europe between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries. It was a time when monarchs held the bulk of the political authority, and diplomacy was crucial in reshaping Europe...

What is the Metaverse?   Metaverse diplomacy in 2023: Predictions and Trends Is the current drop in the overall interest for the metaverse temporary or longer t...

Migration was always a part of human history. Societies as we know them are a mix of people whose predecessors came from other locations. There is a variety of reasons, types, and forms of migration. We move in search of better economic opportunities, some of us to stu...

Latest: Time to Reflect – Multilateralism Day We can define multilateral diplomacy as the cooperation of three or more countries that work toward a common goal. It has developed alongside bilateral diplomacy mainly through congresses and conferences. Modern mul...

Online diplomacy refers to the use of digital technologies and the internet to conduct diplomatic activities, such as negotiation, communication, and information exchange, between governments, international organizations, and other actors in the international system. ...

Ottoman diplomacy refers to the diplomatic practices, policies, and institutions of the Ottoman Empire, which existed from the late 13th century until its dissolution in 1922. The empire, which spanned three continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa) at its height, develope...

Pandas are one of the most recognisable emblems of China, and a source of ‘soft power. Panda diplomacy refers to the practice of the Chinese government gifting or loaning giant pandas to other countries as a symbol of friendship, goodwill, or to strengthen diplom...

There is no agreed definition of public diplomacy. Fitzpatrick identified 150 definitional statements of public diplomacy.[1]  All of them can be situated between the wide and narrow definitions of public diplomacy. The wide definition treats it as an expression of so...

Quantum diplomacy is a new term that came into fashion with the growth of quantum technology. This concept is still relatively new and is being explored by researchers in various fields, including international relations, physics, and computer science. On conceptual le...

Real-time diplomacy refers to the use of technology and communication tools to enable diplomats and other foreign policy actors to respond quickly and effectively to rapidly evolving situations around the world. Real-time diplomacy involves using information and commun...

Renaissance diplomacy is the term used to describe the diplomatic methods and strategies used by European powers during the Renaissance, spanning from the 14th to the 17th century. Italy became a major hub of trade and culture during this time, and the Italian city-sta...

Diplomats seeking to analyse political rhetoric can benefit from knowledge of the terms and techniques of classical rhetoric as well as techniques frequently used in modern political speech. Silva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric provided by Dr Gideon Burton of Brig...

There are approximately 1 billion people around the world, or 15% of the world’s population, who experience some form of disability.  There are several factors that contribute to the increase of this number, including: human conflicts, destruction due to natura...

Satellite diplomacy cuts across all three aspects of diplomacy. Satellites are part of reshaping geopolitical environment through the space race. Advancements in satellite technologies shape better security and economic position of countries. Satellites are also topic ...

Read publication on Science Diplomacy Capacity Development: Reflections on Diplo’s 2021 online course and the road ahead Watch the recording from the science diplomacy webinar Science diplomacy has the potential to help us address some of the most pressing cha...

Semiconductor or chip diplomacy refers to the strategic use of semiconductor technology, production, and supply chains as a tool for diplomacy, geopolitical influence, and international relations. Chips are an essential processing part of any digital device. They are t...

The United Arab Emirates has launched the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission to Mars. Luxembourg has its own space programme. A few hundreds satellites, owned by the private company SpaceX, are in Earth orbit providing the internet in a few dozen countries around t...

Sports diplomacy is the use of sport to realize policy goals. Sports and sportspeople are important tools in promoting agendas and helping encourage positive social-cultural changes. Star athletes are ambassadors of the modern age and are often utilized to advocate for...

Tech diplomacy is the practice of diplomacy engaging with the private tech sector on digital policy and emerging technology issues. Denmark introduced the term Tech diplomacy in 2017 when they appointed the first tech ambassador based in the Bay Area with the main task...

The technique of conducting diplomatic relations and talks by telegrams or other quick means of communication is known as ‘telegraph diplomacy’. The phrase first appeared in the 19th century, when the telegraph was invented and quickly replaced other long-distance ...

The term ‘telephone diplomacy’ describes the use of telephone calls between leaders or diplomats of several nations to conduct diplomatic negotiations, cover significant global problems, or settle disputes. It is a method of diplomatic communication that enables le...

Twitter diplomacy refers to the use of the social media platform Twitter by government officials, diplomats, and other high-level individuals for public diplomacy and conduct of diplomatic communicaiton. Some examples of Twitter diplomacy include announcements of polic...

Venetian diplomacy is the term used to describe the diplomatic methods and tactics used by the Republic of Venice in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Era. Venice was a maritime power with considerable economic and political sway across the Mediterranean and beyond....

Virtual diplomacy was used when the term ‘virtual’ was popular. It was related mainly to non-material characteristics of digital communication. As a part of this trend, there were also virtual embassies, typically as early websites. Generally speaking, R...

Water diplomacy concerns water-related challenges and conflicts through negotiation, cooperation, and collaboration among various stakeholders, including nations, organizations, and communities. Water diplomacy aims to resolve or reduce disagreements and conflicts over...