DiploNews – Issue 190 – 1 October 2011
Study opportunities
Application deadline extended: 2012 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy
Due to high interest, we have extended the application deadline for our Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy, offered through the University of Malta. This blended learning programme offers a valuable opportunity for diplomats and other international relations professionals to continue studies without leaving work. Apply by 17 October 2011. For more information and to apply please see the course webpage.
Autumn courses in Diplomacy
Places remain in two of our autumn courses:
These Diplo Certificate Courses start the week of 10 October 2011. Apply as soon as possible to reserve your place. For further information and to apply, click on the titles of the courses above, or visit our courses website.
for the Republic of Suriname to Indonesia (December 2008)
Online learning: perceptions and connections
Discussion continues around the study on perceptions of online learning in the USA tweeted by Diplo senior faculty member Stefano Baldi a couple of weeks ago. Diplo’s community members reacted with critical comments, pointing out what’s missing in the study and suggesting that the study focuses on the perception of online learning by those who do not have direct experience in online learning (but make decisions). They also explained that the study is based on a false comparison between online and face-to-face training. In the highly interactive world with social media and mobile applications, the line between the two spaces is blurring.
A new posting on our e-diplomacy blog shares a short report on how Diplo course participants connect to the Internet, based on a survey we conducted last June. An important part of Diplo’s approach has always been to include participants from developing countries in our learning programmes. The results of this survey show that although reliable Internet access is not the major division it once was, it is still an important issue for many people. Join the discussion on our e-diplomacy blog.
Books on Diplomacy in October
As we know that diplomats have little time to fit reading and study into their schedules, we hope that a monthly review of new publications may assist in choosing some of the most relevant.
Kishan S Rana. 21st Century Diplomacy: A Practioner’s Guide. 2011, Continuum.
This new book by Diplo senior faculty member Kishan Rana looks at the new kinds of challenges resulting from interdependence among states and globalisation which have had a determining impact of the conduct of diplomacy. Diplomacy has become multifaceted, pluri-directional, volatile, and intensive, due to the increased complexity in terms of actors, dialogue subjects, modes of communication, and plurality of objectives. This unique text examines all such factors to provide a definitive guide to diplomacy as it is practiced today. You can read more on Diplo’s website or order the book through Amazon.com
Alexandra Délano. Mexico and its Diaspora in the United States: Policies of Emigration since 1848. 2011, Cambridge University Press.
This new study by Diplo associate Alexandra Délano looks at changes in the Mexican government's policies toward the 30 million Mexican migrants living in the USA over the last two decades. These changes highlight the importance of the Mexican diaspora in both countries given its size, its economic power, and its growing political participation across borders. This work examines how the Mexican government's assessment of the possibilities and consequences of implementing certain emigration policies from 1848 to 2010 has been tied to changes in the bilateral relationship, which remains a key factor in Mexico's current development of strategies and policies in relation to migrants in the United States. Understanding this dynamic gives an insight into the stated and unstated objectives of Mexico's recent activism in defending migrants' rights and engaging the diaspora, the continuing linkage between Mexican migration policies and shifts in the US-Mexico relationship, and the limits and possibilities for expanding shared mechanisms for the management of migration within the NAFTA framework. Read more about the book on the publisher’s website or order it via Amazon.com
Ilan Kelman. Disaster Diplomacy: How Disasters Affect Peace and Conflict. 2011, Routledge.
In this book, Ilan Kelman asks how disaster-related activities, from prevention to emergency response, can bring enemy countries together. The book has an analytical focus on explaining success, failures, and limitations. Findings suggest that disaster diplomacy is not a decisive factor in conflict resolution but can provide a positive push to existing conflict resolution efforts in the short term. Using disaster diplomacy as a framework for qualitative analysis allows a novel focus on the topic of diplomacy and its impact on peace and conflict and might provoke new initiatives towards using disaster diplomacy to foster productive relationships. More information on the book is available from the publisher’s website.
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