DiploNews – Issue 250 – 15 April 2014

Summer online courses

The summer is a great time to focus on professional development with our online courses starting the week of 21 July:

• Diplomatic Law: Privileges and Immunities
• Multilateral Diplomacy
• 21st Century Diplomacy
• Infrastructure and Critical Internet Resources

Apply by 19 May for University of Malta accredited courses and by 16 June for Diplo certificate courses. For further information or to apply, click on the titles of the courses above, or visit our courses website. Register now to reserve your place.

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

Applications open for 2014 Master in Contemporary Diplomacy

We are now accepting applications for the 2015 Master in Contemporary Diplomacy, and the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy with an Internet Governance specialisation. These unique postgraduate programmes, offered in cooperation with the University of Malta, include a 10-day residential workshop in Malta followed by 16–20 months of online learning. Please visit the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy webpage to read more and to apply. The programme starts on 2 February 2015. The deadline to apply for international applicants is 1 October 2014 and for Maltese applicants it is 15 November 2014.
 

After a successful GIP Launch – on the Way to NETmundial – key features of our Internet governance 'spring' 2014

The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) was inaugurated on Tuesday 8th April, with an engaging and dynamic discussion on global digital politics. It also included an Internet Governance (IG) Bazaar, featuring, among other things, the first BitCoin ATM. The GIP is an initiative of the Swiss authorities operated by DiploFoundation. It is the result of a two-year consultation process. For more information, see the report from the event, including the photo gallery and links to media coverage at this link.
 

Workshop in Geneva: Diplomatic reporting in the Internet era – NOW ENROLLING

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 their governments, organisations, or companies. The volume of person-hours and reporting is enormous. This workshop aims to increase the quality and efficiency of such reporting and help communities and individuals worldwide to follow Geneva-based meetings and negotiations.
 

Invitation to presentation of Peacetime Regime for State Activities in Cyberspace in Geneva

The Geneva Internet Platform and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence invite you to the presentation of a new publication: Peacetime Regime for State Activities in Cyberspace.Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, the publication covers the technical, legal, policy, and diplomacy aspects of state activities in cyberspace during peacetime. The evening will begin at 18.00 hrs with light refreshments and a glass of wine. At 18.30, Dr Katharina Ziolkowski, International and Operational Law Branch, Federal Ministry of Defence, Federal Republic of Germany (editor of the book) will present the book. Please register by 13 May 2014. For any further information, contact us at gip@diplomacy.edu. You can download the book as a PDF or an ePUB.
 

What's been happening in Diplo's blogosphere

By its nature, diplomacy cuts across cultures, bringing people from many different backgrounds together in the same room. In an interview with Sylvana Busuttil, coordinator of our annual 10-day residential workshop in Malta that marks the start of the Master in Contemporary Diplomacy, we take a look at how she creates a conducive environment for students of diplomacy.

Twitter use in Turkey dropped when a ban on the platform was introduced. This simple fact was obscured by the excitement and celebration that in the days immediately after the ban Twitter traffic increased as people found ways around the block. Pete Cranston takes a look at this, and more, in his post Twitter bans, Facebook drones, public or private networks: e-Diplomacy futures.

Remember, you too can have your say by commenting on these or any of our blog posts. And, if you’d like to be a guest blogger, let us know.
 

Discussing Internet governance

April’s Geneva briefing on Internet governance, hosted by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), provided a round-up of events and developments that took place in March, including the transitioning of IANA functions, revelation of confidential documents from the Clinton administration related to ICANN, and more contributions being made in preparation for NETmundial. The digest and webinar recording are available here.

Internet governance is at a cross-roads; there is an urgent need to address growing risks and vulnerabilities, Ambassador Alexandre Fasel said at the inauguration of the Geneva Internet Platform last week.  Other speakers at the launch shared similar concerns. Pete Cranston reports.

It is undeniable that the Internet and ICTs have dramatically changed our understanding of privacy, writes Yosr Jouini on Diplo’s IG community platform. In Privacy is your right and it's threatened. Spread the word, the author explains the concepts of privacy, surveillance and censorship in detail.

Follow more IG-related news and discussions on Diplo’s Internet governance channel, and on Diplo’s IG community blog roll.