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This research programme examines the latest trends in diplomacy and explores best practices. The programme contributes to innovative thinking around diplomatic skills and training for a new generation of diplomats.
Mediation in violent conflict
The connection between climate change and human rights is getting considerable attention, as well as the need to continually address the adverse consequences of climate change in relation with States’ human rights obligations. Calls to strengthen the bases of human rights framework to better tackle the limitations of the mainstream sustainable development discourse have increased and the recentering of human rights principles at the core of climate action is a part of the 2023 First Global Stocktake (GST) on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. As member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2022-2024, there is a unique opportunity for the UAE to use its National Human Rights Institution to spread the culture and knowledge on human rights and climate change, as well as embrace a human rights approach in facilitating the negotiations and helping the least developed countries and small island developing states in their efforts to identify climate change rights and responsibilities.
Gulf Economic Diversification Gets Real with Artificial Intelligence - This Insight delves into some of the defining developments in the Gulf’s AI-driven agenda, where data is viewed as the new oil. It does so by, first, highlighting global trends that are influencing the Gulf governments’ strategies, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia; second, showcasing how these governments are preparing long-term plans to use AI as an economic stimulus to upgrade workforce efficiency and enhance government’s delivery mechanisms; and third, underscoring the Gulf’s connect with some of the Asian countries that are leading the tech revolution. It also offers some recommendations to maintain the momentum and up the ante.
UAE a Primary Stakeholder in the Sahel
The AGDA Women in Diplomacy Index maps the percentage of women ambassadors representing the top 40 economies in 2022 and addresses the question of which types of posts these women are appointed to. The report is an annual index to be published by AGDA, allowing us to monitor progression over time and give MFAs a way to benchmark themselves against their peers. Our hope is that by publishing this data it will encourage MFAs to share best practices with each other on how to achieve a growth in the numbers of female ambassadors.
The Reflection discusses how the Women’s Pavilion curated by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier cements and institutionalizes gender equality and women empowerment as important pillars in the global human rights and development agenda. By challenging stereotypes and shifting mindsets, the Women’s Pavilion commits to accelerating gender equality practices because when women thrive, humanity thrives.
This Insight explores the scope, within the existing legal framework of the Charter for a wider interpretation of the word ‘security’. It examines some of the political and practical challenges that would need to be confronted in this context, including those relating to Security Council working methods. It suggests a process, such as a Declaration to be adopted by a global Summit meeting of Leaders, for clarifying a wider meaning of security. It also suggests that in such a context, UN members should agree on some clearer thresholds for the work of the Security Council including clarifying that any wider meaning of security would be utilized only in serious emergencies. Some ideas are explored regarding Security Council decision-making in the context of a global emergency threatening the security of humanity.
This Reflection discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed what at first glance seems a paradox: on the one hand the pandemic is a truly global phenomenon affecting all countries in the world, and on the other hand it has resulted in increased competition between countries and national, rather than global, policy responses to what is a global phenomenon. A closer look, however, reveals a different picture. First, the countries of the world are not equally affected, and second, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a great deal of cooperation between nations. It has also revealed the need for more international cooperation in the field of public health, in other words health diplomacy.
The AGDA Women in Diplomacy Index maps the percentage of women ambassadors representing the top 40 economies in 2021 and addresses the question of which types of posts these women are appointed to. The report is an annual index to be published by AGDA, allowing us to monitor progression over time and give MFAs a way to benchmark themselves against their peers. Our hope is that by publishing this data it will encourage MFAs to share best practices with each other on how to achieve a growth in the numbers of female ambassadors.
In the first reflection of the Expo Diplomacy Series, Amb. Emilio Cassinello shares his experience from being part of the Universal Exposition of Seville 1992. He summarizes some basic facts that can be used as a yardstick for Dubai 2020. Amb. Cassinello gives in this reflection some lessons for Dubai 2020. The author feels that Dubai 2020 – almost 30 years later – will successfully display the ambition of being a global cultural platform, consciously striving to reflect humanity’s concerns, and moving towards a better world.
The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) used the pandemic as an opportunity to ascertain how the foreign ministries, diplomats and the craft of diplomacy coped with these new realities. It invited serving and retired diplomats from Asia, Europe, Africa, and America to share their experiences in dealing with this first-of-its-kind crisis. Their expert views – lessons, forecasts and best practices – is part of this compendium. The AGDA hopes that this will serve as a value addition to the pedagogy of diplomacy and enhance the knowledge of young diplomats around the world.
Analysing the pros and cons of digital diplomacy, this AGDA Reflection points outs that while telecommuting has been the biggest change, online platforms are not well suited to conduct multilateral diplomacy. It stresses that human factor and physical proximity will remain essential for efficient diplomacy.
In this AGDA Reflection, the author observes that the widespread damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has brought out the best humanitarian and innovative instincts in diplomats. He also reflects on the potential for this crisis to become a turning point in how the international community tackles wider challenges such as climate change, economic diversification and poverty.
In this AGDA Reflection, Ambassador Abushahab observes that the Covid-19 crisis has revealed the advantages of conducting diplomatic meetings online but at the same time it has reinforced the value of in-person meetings. He notes that one consequence of the crisis may be that diplomats will be better placed to harness the complementarity between both types of meetings.
In this AGDA Reflection, Ambassador Al Ulama recounts the challenges she encountered in taking up her new posting in Berlin during the Covid-19 pandemic. She emphasises how, despite the complications, it provided an opportunity for leadership, solidarity, networking and reinvention.
In this AGDA Reflection, the UAE ambassador to Nigeria highlights the vital role that ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ has played during the COVID-19 crisis and how the UAE and Nigeria have maintained their cooperation during the pandemic. He also posits that there will be an increased use of ‘digital diplomacy’ even after the virus has been defeated.
Noting how swiftly Africa’s diplomatic system has adjusted to the new realities of conducting business, this AGDA Reflection stresses the flurry of virtual consultations among decision-makers to chart common ways forward. It also wonders how telecommuting, to which African international bureaucracies have resorted for the purpose of business continuity, will evolve going forward.
Converting the crisis into an opportunity, this AGDA Reflection highlights three main tasks that the embassy focused on and excelled in – offering consular assistance to stranded Emiratis; acquiring and chanelling much-needed medical relief; and fostering international collaboration, especially in the health sector.
Though the pandemic is a classic transnational crisis, necessitating a global and collaborative response, this AGDA Reflection argues that there has not been much evidence of a willingness to engage in international cooperation. Equally, however, it highlights India’s international outreach efforts and success in dealing with the crisis.
Detailing Rwanda’s national response, which was built upon regional and international initiatives, this AGDA Reflection also points out that COVID-19 has particularly altered the craft of diplomacy and the traditional role of an ambassador in several ways.
While online tools facilitated diplomatic engagement under lockdown, this AGDA Reflection stresses that it is no substitute for face-to-face interaction. It points out that the real-world is where we have chance encounters with important new contacts... Spontaneous conversation, rather than scheduled video calls, is where we might pick up interesting ideas and important information.
Answering the question – will the pandemic change diplomacy – this AGDA Reflection argues that foreign ministries and individual diplomats will have to learn a new skill set that entails not only framing messages in an appropriate way, but coordinating messaging across at least three dimensions: traditional diplomacy, official virtual diplomacy and unofficial virtual diplomacy.
Emphasising that diplomacy of the future will neither be traditional as it was nor just digital as it is, this AGDA Reflection by Amb. Ali Al Dhaheri suggests that the dynamics of sitting together in meetings need to be recreated in online forums. It also points out that the diplomatic protocols which are long-learnt and rooted in centuries of understanding need to be reconsidered now.
Highlighting the UAE’s message of inclusion even during a period of crisis, this AGDA Reflection points out several innovative measures undertaken by the embassy in Washington, including arranging Emiratis and Americans to share a meal via Zoom and discuss Ramadan practices and other cultural traditions.
This AGDA Working Paper explores diplomacy in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). By connecting theories of AI development, decision-making, and institutional adaptation, the working paper develops an analytical framework for examining the transformative impact of AI on diplomacy. The paper explores three interconnected questions: first, what exactly does AI mean, how does it work, and what forms does it take? Second, to what extent is AI capable of revolutionizing how policy-makers make decisions? And third, in what areas of diplomatic activity could AI make a difference, in what form, and with what kind of risks?
Underlining the strength of the United Nations Security Council, this AGDA Reflection sets out for the diplomats of small countries five practical suggestions. Based on his UNSC experience, Prof. Mahbubani’s tips are two-fold– one, how best to learn while being a part of the 15- member group; and two, how to leave an indelible mark, both for the country and as a diplomat, at the end of the two-year term.
The AGDA Gender and Diplomacy Diplograph maps the percentage of women ambassadors representing the countries of the G20 in 2018 and addresses the question of which types of posts these women are appointed to. The diplograph is the first in a series of annual Gender and Diplomacy Diplographs to be published by AGDA, allowing us to monitor progression over time and give MFAs a way to benchmark themselves against their peers. Our hope is that by publishing this data it will encourage MFAs to share best practices with each other on how to achieve a growth in the numbers of female ambassadors.
This AGDA Insight addresses the scope and nature of ‘big data’ – large amounts of structured or unstructured open source data – pertaining to diplomacy and international affairs. It discusses big data’s impact on public diplomacy, country analysis, policy making and humanitarian aid, and creates a platform for further thinking on how big data is transforming diplomatic practices.
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) unveiled a report titled ‘United Networks: Can Technology Help the UN Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century? The document enlists a set of 20 recommendations to the UN Secretary-General on managing the shift to a hyperconnected world without compromising the values upon which the institution was founded.
In this AGDA Reflection, Sultan Al Qassemi describes the contribution that Emirati art has made to the UAE’s cultural diplomacy and soft power.
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) has for the first time collaborated with Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD) to translate one of their most recent case studies, Crisis in Dominion, into Arabic.
This AGDA Reflection highlights some key lessons from Baroness Catherine Ashton’s experience of negotiations and identifies the importance of understanding who needs to be involved in the negotiation, how to manage the process, and what outcomes you want.
In this AGDA reflection, Ambassador Yasser Elnaggar highlights some key lessons from his experience in the diplomatic field, from taking calculated risks to staying true to yourself.
This AGDA Reflection discusses the ten habits of effective diplomats, from seeking knowledge and pursuing collaboration to showing good judgment and being humble.
This AGDA Reflection looks at what diplomats throughout history have seen as the essential elements of the craft, from patience and courage, to tact and creativity. Drawing on this, it sets out how the AGDA will aim to develop Capable, Influential and Ethical diplomats, ready for the challenges of the 21st century.
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