Tech driving diplomacy
Challenging new trends visible in international relations and 4th Industrial Revolution
THE evolving world with its ever-changing dynamic will reshape the meaning of life and its true essence when most of the things that we have come to accept as fact face serious re-imagining.
One such facet of human existence that will succumb to the dictates of these fast and relentless world changes as brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution is the age-old practice of diplomacy.
Like all other endeavours of life, diplomacy cannot escape the grip of this coming technological era. Countries will soon have to recalibrate or face being dragged kicking and screaming into the new horizon of technology-driven diplomacy.
Herewith are few trends that will punctuate diplomacy in the not so distant future.
The world is experiencing a seismic shift in many areas of human existence and one such great driver of change is the fast and innovating ICT sector that is revolutionising the human experience.
Diplomacy is faced with a serious challenge to adopt and embrace these changes that will redefine its existence. Linked with the growth and development of science and technology is the emergence of social media that has a far-reaching impact in the manner in which the world operates.
Communication via social media has overtaken the print and written communication mediums and will soon render them obsolete. Their immediacy and broad reach is a marvel to behold.
For example, there are about 52 million South Africans who own mobile phones and there are 27 million South Africans who are on WhatsApp. There are also 19 million South Africans on Facebook, nine million on Twitter and six million on LinkedIn.
The presence of the Square Kilometre Array telescope, if properly harnessed, will bring greater dividends for greater technological innovation that will revolutionise areas and fields of study such as medicine, science, robotics, etc.
The nexus between technological innovation and diplomacy will need to be re-negotiated and harnessed. The government must find ways and new means to interact with technological hubs such as Silicon Valley or the Bay Area, for example.
The idea of establishing a Technology Diplomat to be stationed in these areas is not that far off given the amount of economic activity in Silicon Valley whose net value surpasses that of many governments.
Silicon Valley accredited its first Tech Ambassador from Denmark in 2017. Denmark has identified digitisation and technological development as part of its Foreign Affairs strategic thrust. France has appointed an ambassador for Cyber-diplomacy.
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (Nedo) is located at Silicon Valley where many governments interact and use its services in the realm of technology. Nedo is the initiative of the government of Japan.
Technology and human rights can coexist in a sustainable and cordial manner with one agenda to create a new world.
Public diplomacy must become an aggressive tool that will promote the art of diplomacy in the public space in a continuous and sustained manner. Public education about diplomacy is seriously lacking as evidenced by the many South Africans who get arrested in foreign countries owing to ignorance about the basic laws of most of those countries.
The many cases of teachers who have been arrested in China using study visas instead of work permits illustrate this challenge.
Information sessions must be held at schools and universities to create greater awareness of diplomacy. In fact, a number of universities must be targeted where satellite offices of public diplomacy will be situated.
The number of foreign students in South African universities attests to the need to supply these students with an assortment of consular services that could be offered in partnership with their respective embassies.
Cultural diplomacy is one area that has hitherto been neglected in South African diplomacy.
Our earlier exports included Marriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masikela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Caiphus Semenya and Bessie Head, to name a few.
Many countries use their art and culture to advance their international relations. America uses her movies that are spread all over the world to set a tone for the spread of its ideas and domination. India is fast catching up with its Bollywood movies.
Countries will have to recalibrate into a new horizon of diplomacy Thami Ka Plaatjie POLICY REVIEW PANELLIST