Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Disruptive Innovation 2021: These 15 big ideas are most likely to change the world (ZDNet)The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives in 2021 (The New York Times)Why a dawn of technological... Continue Reading →
Social Media & Life in the Risk Society
In his book ‘Risk Society’, German Sociologist Ulrich Beck proposes a theory of reflexive modernity. Unlike other sociologists, Beck is far removed from the utopian vision of modernization as the continuous progress of industry and human thought. Namely he is concerned with the role of scientific knowledge in society. In Beck’s mind, scientific and industrial... Continue Reading →
Monday’s #MustRead List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Auschwitz survivor, 92, takes over @Israel for Holocaust Remembrance Day (Times of Israel) Satellite boom attracts technology giants (BBC News)A network of Twitter bots has attacked the Belgian government's Huawei 5G... Continue Reading →
The Iran Deal is already being negotiated on Twitter
Digital platforms are now increasingly used for diplomatic signaling. MFAs and diplomats often use Twitter to comment on crises, address other nations’ policies and even criticize state action. They do so knowing full well that their Twitter accounts are monitored by their peers, and influential social media users such as journalists and blogger. Already in... Continue Reading →
Monday’s #MustRead List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- State Department says Biden to ensure U.S. technology does not support China's 'malign activities' (Reuters)Beyond the digital cold war: Technology and the future of US-African engagement under Biden (Mail and Guardian)... Continue Reading →
National Memories and Holocaust Remembrance
January 27th marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Notably, this day carries little significance in Israel. There are no national ceremonies or moments of silence to commemorate the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Israel has a dual relationship with the Holocaust. On the one hand, the Holocaust is commonsensical to Israelis. For... Continue Reading →
Monday’s #MustRead List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Davos Agenda: What you need to know about technology (World Economic Forum)The Technology 202: Tech experts overwhelmingly approve of Trump suspensions from social media (The Washington Post)China's Foreign Policy Weapons: Technology,... Continue Reading →
Biden Goes Viral; But Not Among Diplomats
On January 20th, as President Joe Biden took the Oath of Office, he also gained control of the @POTUS Twitter account (President of the United States), one of the most followed accounts on Twitter. Both his predecessors had amassed a vast following online with Donald Trump reaching some 90 million followers and Barack Obama 137... Continue Reading →
Monday’s #MustRead List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Facebook spent more on lobbying than any other Big Tech company in 2020 (CNBC)Google threatens to withdraw search engine from Australia (BBC News)UK must resist the itch to meddle with the... Continue Reading →
How Biden & Harris used Twitter to signal the world
Historically, the transition of power in one global empire necessitated extensive diplomatic efforts on the part of all other powers. A new Austrian emperor, for instance, would have to be studied carefully so as to ascertain his political mindset, his commitment to peace, his zeal for war and his willingness to maintain ties with old... Continue Reading →