Decoding Global Diplomacy – 5th Lab Virtual Sessions

Session 1: Getting the basics right: Understanding the Internet from a technical and governance perspective
September 29, 2016

It is hard to imagine the world without the Internet. People all over the world use it to make decisions, get knowledge on something, express an opinion, engage with others, etc. Yet, many of us take its power for granted because like other universal concepts, it is too broad and too complex to understand it.

In this context, the objective of this session was to gain an understanding on the underlying technologies and structures that make the Internet work and connect us.

Please view the first Virtual Session online.

Session 2: New forms and players in diplomacy - two case studies
October 6, 2016

Case 1: New Forms and Players in Diplomacy – The Role of Syrian Civil Society: Syrian civil society is using advancements in mobile tech, multi-media, and communications technology to influence diplomacy and decision-makers. New digital tools, including mobile recording, group messaging, and immersive tech, allow Syrians on the ground to capture, share, and disseminate information to decision-makers. Independent Diplomat Founder and Executive Director outlined how Syrian civil society, with ID’s support, uses tech and their influence to shape international policy-making.

Case 2: Diplohack: Networks and collaborations are becoming increasingly important; the world is changing, so is diplomacy. The rapid evolution of new technology in the 21st century offers both challenges and great opportunities. To meet these challenges DiploHack combined the specific know-how and skill sets of diplomats, social entrepreneurs, tech developers and designers, along with that of journalists, academics, NGOs and businesses to ‘hack’ traditional diplomatic problems in startup style groups.

Session 3: New Actors of Digital Diplomacy: How is IT changing the dialogue between state and non-state actors?
October 12, 2016

It is not new that in fast changing world dynamics, diplomacy has always evolved as a governmental response to international and domestic changes. However, the digital revolution has enabled a more intense and multilayered dialogue between state and non-state actors. If this represented a chance to review the classical geopolitical discourse by reinventing collective answers to policy-making, it also posed new questions to the public debate and revealed the complexities inherent to the relationship between nation states, private sector, civil society organizations, and individuals. In this context, the main objective of this session was to develop a scenario in which opportunities for more democratized policy-making may be drawn.

This virtual session was organized in collaboration with Polis 180.