Diplomacy and governance
Innovation in Diplomacy Project
Globalisation and regionalisation are presenting ever more complex challenges to the management of international policy. This is reflected in a growing diversification in the structures and processes of diplomacy. From being viewed primarily as a manifestation of purely state-based activities, there is a growing interest in the linkages between governmental and non-governmental actors in the pursuit of policy goals. At the national level, this is clearly manifested in the preoccupation amongst foreign ministries and their diplomatic services with change and reform. However, change agendas have become much more complex than they were even twenty years ago when the main concern was with intra-bureaucratic relations and the diffusion of the conduct of diplomacy amongst a growing number of `domestic’ government departments. In the 21st century, there is a growing emphasis on the diffusion of diplomacy at the societal level. Hence the emphasis on the perceived need to re-think and strengthen public diplomacy strategies and the relationship between diplomats and the representatives of civil society.
The aims of the project are
- to examine the academic debate that has developed regarding the nature of diplomacy, its origins, contemporary functions and where its boundaries are drawn in an increasingly complex global arena.
- to investigate patterns of adaptation by the traditional agents of diplomacy in the form of foreign ministries and their diplomatic services.
- to explore the role of non-state diplomatic actors in the form of the civil society organisations, particularly non-governmental organisations, and the business community.
The project currently embraces the following areas:
- Worlds Apart? Exploring the interface between governance and diplomacy.’ This is a multinational project involving the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Canada and the Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy, Australia. The aim of the project is to investigate the adaptation of diplomatic structures and processes in the management of global governance. [Funded by the Centre for International Governance Innovation.]
- Innovative representation in a changing diplomatic environment.’ An examination of the changing nature of diplomatic representation, how it is defined and executed in contemporary world politics. In addition to experiments with new structures for diplomatic networks, attention is given to the growing involvement of business and NGOs in specific areas of diplomacy. [Funded by the British Academy.]
- Change and innovation in diplomacy: the Canadian and UK experiences.’ An investigation of change agendas in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK). [Funded by the Government of Canada and the Foundation for Canadian Studies in the UK.]
- Bilateral representation in the European Union.’ The project is concerned with the function, structures and process of bilateral diplomatic representation between EU member states. [Joint project with the Institute for European Integration Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna.]
Activities
The Innovation in Diplomacy Project engages with partners in the following activities:
- Hosting seminars, workshops and conferences on specific aspects of diplomacy.
- Cooperating in developing collaborative research projects.
- Seeking research funding for collaborative projects on aspects of change and diplomacy.
- Linking academic expertise in this area with the needs of policy practitioners in both the public and private sectors.
Partners
The following organisations are linked to the Innovation in Diplomacy Project:
- Centre for International Governance and Innovation, Waterloo, Canada
- DiploFoundation, Geneva, Switzerland
- Diplomacy Dialogue, Geneva, Switzerland
- Netherlands Institute of International Relations `Clingendael’, The Hague, The Netherlands
- Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies, Oxford, UK
- Institute for European Integration Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna
Contact
Professor Dave Allen Direct line: +44 (0)1509 222983 |
 |
