Leadership is a crucial factor in diplomatic endeavors, and determining the necessary qualities for South Africa to safeguard its international interests is a question that has been contemplated since the late 1980s in research on foreign policy.
While Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki demonstrated assertive leadership on both African and global stages, their successor, Jacob Zuma, had a detrimental impact on the country’s international reputation. However, the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is seen as revitalizing South Africa’s global standing and reaffirming its role as a moral leader. This comes at a time when significant shifts in power dynamics are occurring among the world’s major nations.
The USAID’s closure: Soft power at a crossroads
The closure of USAID marks an important shift in U.S. foreign policy, potentially weakening American soft power and leaving a vacuum that rivals like China may exploit. As global diplomacy evolves, qu[...]
27 Feb, 2025
The winding road to understanding soft power
The post examines how shared beliefs and experiences shape society, alongside the continuous evolution of our social structures.[...]
22 Apr, 2024
‘Soft power’ is nothing more than influence
Is the term 'soft power' just a redundant buzzword in government and academic circles? Geoff R. Berridge examines its true meaning and how it's often misunderstood in the realm of international relati[...]
16 Nov, 2023
Gender equality in diplomacy: Chinese and other foreign ministries
We examine gender equality in diplomacy, focusing on Chinese and other foreign ministries, to understand the global landscape and propose strategies for progress. This analysis reveals significant dis[...]
21 May, 2023
A brief history of Yoga diplomacy
In 2014, Narendra Modi proposed an International Yoga Day at the United Nations, focusing on the holistic benefits of yoga beyond exercise, including addressing climate change. The diplomatic campaign[...]
22 Jun, 2022
Strategies of modern-day small states
Smaller states can leverage soft power, like Qatar did with Al Jazeera, and regional alliances to increase international relevance and influence. Crafty strategies can turn smallness into strength, en[...]
06 Jan, 2022
Where have all the health attachés gone?
The text discusses the declining presence of health attachés in embassies worldwide, expressing concerns about the lack of a clear career path for the position and the potential implications for glob[...]
14 Jul, 2020
Waking up to the ‘new normal’ or What does a post-COVID-19 world look like in small island developing states (SIDS)?
The text discusses the need for digital transformation in small island developing states (SIDS) post-COVID-19, touching on challenges like economic dependence, food security, healthcare, and digital p[...]
14 May, 2020
The first month of COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago
In the first month of COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago, the country faced significant changes and challenges. From the initial imported cases, the nation swiftly implemented travel restrictions, social[...]
24 Apr, 2020
Public diplomacy in the time of Corona
The message emphasizes the importance of governments improving their communication during the COVID-19 crisis, highlighting the need for accurate information and unity. It discusses the different appr[...]
06 Apr, 2020
The Psychology of Diplomacy
Diplomacy in modern times, as discussed in "The Psychology of Diplomacy," involves understanding emotions and human behavior alongside traditional skills such as empathy and negotiation. Diplomats tod[...]
29 Oct, 2018
Some thoughts on public diplomacy, social media, and data
The text discusses the integration of public diplomacy, social media, and data. It highlights the challenges faced by institutions, such as data retention, filter bubbles, and keeping track of data an[...]
06 Aug, 2018
Summit on Digital Diplomacy and Governance
17 Nov 22 - 19 Nov 22Malta and online
[WebDebate #49] Emojis in public diplomacy: Best practices and lessons learned
06 Jul 21 - 06 Jul 21online
February 2018 online courses
22 Feb 21 - online
February 2021 online courses
- Online
February 2019 online courses
- online
Public diplomacy lecture at the Serbian MFA
02 Mar 18 - Belgrade
The future of diplomacy: Between continuity and change
17 Nov 17 - 18 Nov 17Malta
Asia in the Eyes of Europe, Europe in the eyes of Asia
30 Nov 15 03 Jul 14 - WMO, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, Geneva
Asia-Europe Public Diplomacy training workshop
24 Aug 15 - 27 Aug 15Bangkok, Thailand
Workshop on Public Diplomacy: The Rise and Impact of e-Diplomacy Tools (College of Europe EEAS Training)
11 Oct 12 - Bruges, Belgium
Public Diplomacy Workshop, Cape Town
18 Sep 12 - 20 Sep 12Cape Town
Public Diplomacy Workshop, Pretoria
10 Sep 12 - 14 Sep 12Pretoria
2019
Humanitarian public diplomacy: International calls to action in the digital era
This dissertation examines IOs (IOs) as emerging stars in the constellation of diplomatic actors, as extra-state and supra-state entities that do not ... Read more
2019
The Diplomacy of Ancient Greece – A Short Introduction
Employed against a warlike background, the diplomatic methods of the ancient Greeks are thought by some to have been useless but by others to have bee... Read more
2018
Nation branding and the role of public diplomacy in assisting small island states in developing strong nation brands
The concept of applying branding principles and strategies to nation states has been around for decades. However, in recent years, the concept has occ... Read more
2015
Twitter and Diplomacy: How Social Networking is Changing Foreign Policy
The article discusses the impact of social networking, particularly Twitter, on foreign policy and diplomacy, highlighting how governments and leaders... Read more
2015
Twiplomacy Study 2015
The Twiplomacy Study 2015 analyzed the Twitter accounts of 669 heads of state and government, revealing that 86 percent have a presence on the platfor... Read more
2014
Public Diplomacy’s Branding Trap
In "Public Diplomacy's Branding Trap," the author warns against oversimplifying and relying too heavily on branding in public diplomacy efforts. They ... Read more
2014
Activities of the Department of Public Information: Strategic communications services
The Department of Public Information provides strategic communications services.... Read more
2014
Data-driven Public Diplomacy: Progress Towards Measuring the Impact of Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting Activities
The text discusses the progress made in measuring the impact of public diplomacy and international broadcasting activities.... Read more
2013
The United States and the Challenge of Public Diplomacy
The United States faces challenges in public diplomacy, influencing global perception, and understanding the perceptions of various audiences, necessi... Read more
2013
The Struggle for Soft Power in Asia: Public Diplomacy and Regional Competition
The article discusses the importance of soft power in Asia and the ongoing competition for influence through public diplomacy efforts.... Read more
2013
Public Diplomacy in the Middle East: A Comparative Analysis of the U.S. and Iran
The message provides a comparative analysis of public diplomacy strategies employed by the United States and Iran in the Middle East.... Read more
2013
European Public Diplomacy: Soft Power at Work
The text discusses the concept of European public diplomacy and its role in exerting soft power influence globally. It emphasizes the importance of en... Read more
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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.
Rare success of multilateral climate diplomacy at COP 28 on fossil fuel tra...