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A journey in time: 20 years of Internet and diplomacy
Published on 20 August 2020
Updated on 05 April 2024
Updated on 05 April 2024
If you’ve recognised the sound in the audio file above, you are old enough to remember the birth of the Internet as we know it.
In 2000, the two of us wrote a book titled the Internet Guide for Diplomats. At the time, it was the only book to explain the opportunities and changes that the Internet revolution was bringing to diplomacy.
Our idea was simple. We wanted to provide a practical handbook for diplomats to make the best use of what was a new powerful tool. IT literacy among diplomats was almost non-existent. The changes that the Internet brought to the diplomatic professional life took place too quickly to be metabolised. Therefore, there was a need for training in new skills and new tools. The powerful new tool was now at the diplomat’s complete disposal.
It was also a time when a limited number of organisations and institutions – both local and global – had a fully functional website. E-mail was not yet part of diplomats’ daily routine.
Fast forward by 20 years
Today, every organisation (and ministry) has its communication strategy that relies heavily on the Internet and social media. Limitations in the use of videos, due to bandwidth limitations, have been overcome thanks to fast broadband and new devices which have made it easy to produce and broadcast videos.
How many of the concepts that we covered two decades ago in our book are still valid today? While the technology and telecommunications landscapes have changed a lot, some principles are still part of today’s challenges.
Over time, data replaced information in the digital lingo, but issues of data or information management and governance remain very similar. For example, what we referred to back then as ‘how to evaluate information’ is what we are tackling today as data science. Handling misinformation has evolved into dealing with fake news. The question ‘who governs the Internet?’ is still relevant and has received no valid answer. Internet governance is still one of the issues that the international community has been heavily discussing, without being able to find sufficient common ground.
Among diplomats, tech-literacy and knowledge of all things digital has certainly improved. Yet, the developments in technology and communications are evolving very quickly. Diplomatic expertise in social media and digital marketing, two essential elements for effective public communication, still need improvement. New skills for chairing online meetings or using artificial intelligence (AI) for diplomatic reporting are needed more and more.
Diplomatic training in these specific areas, therefore, need to be developed, and programmes of diplomatic training institutions need to be adjusted to the current needs. Reassuringly, the use of hypertext, Internet conferencing, discussion groups, and cognitive maps – already present 20 years ago – still provide the most solid basis for online learning.
Ahead of us, the pendulum between continuity and change will keep its rhythmic swing. We will see continuity through the core functions of diplomacy – a tool for the peaceful solution of conflicts and for the promotion of national interests. We will also see many changes triggered by new tools (from AI to augmented reality) for negotiations and other diplomatic activities. Are we ready?
Jovan and Stefano would like to hear from you.
Watch the interview with further reflections on these topics, and flip through the book Internet Guide for Diplomats. Post a comment below (or send an e-mail) on how you see the interplay between the Internet and diplomacy evolving ahead of us.
More resources
- Visit our portals dedicated to e-diplomacy and ConfTech Lab for our latest research.
- Apply for our Master’s in Contemporary Diplomacy (now, completely online!) which focuses on the future of diplomacy.
- Take a short course and sharpen your thinking on e-diplomacy, negotiations, and online meetings.
- For more information, and to share suggestions on how to advance the discussion on the future of diplomacy, drop us a line.
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Good Work
Internet has changed the way diplomacy works. As a student of International Relations, and owner of (keenlydigital.com) Digital Marketing Agency, I cannot agree more. The analysis is spot on.
It was good to hear about…
It was good to hear about the early days by someone who was an active part of it. Having to think about the impact of internet on diplomacy in its initial days was critical. I am pretty sure you might have received some interesting feedback from diplomats during those days.
Interesting read, thanks for sharing.
Nick
Miguel Alcaine
I have visited many sites and read many blogs about this but I have not found such helpful informative information anywhere. I will always visit your site if you have more informative information like this. Thanks
on diplomacy and IG
Thank you Miguel for your reflections. It would be interesting to reflect further with you and colleagues from Latin America on regional dynamics in this interplay between digital technology and diplomacy.
Twenty interesting and challenging years and more to come
I recognize the concepts that you both put forward and their evolution. The Internet Governance (IG) concept is still fuzzy as it represents a fight between sovereignty and human beings and within them. The fusion of a cloud (along with fog collections) and a router, evolving organically may give a “precise” graphic of IG.
I remember advocating to include ethic concepts in WSIS (even we discussed true along the lines UNESCO has discussed it before, but it was not included).
In my years as diplomat, sticking to principles, going to etymology for meanings (e.g. Governance which was not used at WSIS negotiation times) and looking for accumulated Knowledge in different settings with Internet were my daily tools.
Congratulations to both and keep the good work.
Miguel Alcaine