Celebrating 3 Years of Blogging: Reflections and Milestones

 
Today is the third anniversary of my blog. As I mentioned in the second-anniversary blog post, it has been a roller-coaster ride with tremendous ups and a few downs.
 
Three years does not seem a lot of time, but many things have changed, for better or worse. I started the blog in September 2020, when the world was closed due to the pandemic. However, significant efforts were made to find a vaccine, thus allowing the world to reopen slowly, even after a series of surges generated by new variants of the virus.
 
For a few years, the world, especially the great powers, has slowly turned economic, financial, data, and people exchanges into geopolitical weapons. To learn more, check out the great work The Power Atlas: Seven battlegrounds of a networked world. Some scholars state that a new era of deglobalization is moving forward as more countries build barriers to the free flow of trade, data, services, and people. The securitization of the economy, particularly semiconductors, critical minerals, and digital technology, is impacting the whole planet.
 
The disruption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the exponential race to launch the system that could be the winner has turned the world upside down. There is not a day when a new large language model is not released that supposedly will outperform all others. Students and teachers struggle to find the right approach to using AI, while many workers feel that machine learning will take their jobs and livelihoods. Even though many have asked to pause the development of AI, the race is growing exponentially while governments, societies, and people are trying to make sense of it and find the best approaches to regulate it.
 
An interesting turn is the great concern of AI´s ethics. I clearly understand the worries about making AI work ethically. However, that level of concern about ethical behavior is not shown when talking about humans, governments, and organizations. Why do we not ask for ethical regulations of politicians and governments? Is fighting discrimination in the real world easier than in the digital realm?
 
Three years ago, zoom diplomacy, vaccine diplomacy, and AI diplomacy were brand new terms. Today, even after the reopening of the world, most of the meetings worldwide are being held online, saving money and time but missing the human connection. Digital nomads have turned the globe into their offices, and many people have yet to return, if they ever do, to an office building.
 
Nowadays, diplomacy might be living its fifth evolutionary tipping point, with the confrontation between traditional views of sovereignty and innovative forms of global governance (Neumann, 2020). The big problem is that time is running out, particularly regarding climate change. Just read the headlines this summer regarding the scorching temperatures worldwide.
 
In terms of public diplomacy, the changes in the last years have been difficult to adjust. The transformation of Twitter into something else impacts the digital strategies of many countries, especially for basic accounts. Closing the door of data for research purposes is making it more challenging to listen and engage with audiences. The arrival of deep fakes, like Pope Francis wearing a puffer white jacket, is affecting the credibility of social media, reducing opportunities for governments to engage with foreign audiences. Disinformation is breaking havoc and helping radical views of people, politicians, and governments, making it more difficult to find common ground and collaborations.
 
Regarding consular diplomacy, the pandemic pushed it into the forefront of every ministry of foreign affairs. Foreign ministers and public servants at home, ambassadors, diplomats, and consular officers overseas all work together to help stranded citizens abroad while countries close their borders. Many MFAs are still struggling to meet the demand for documentary services, as the backlog of visas, passports, and other consular documents has not been solved. 
 
Lately, there has been a growing amount of research on consular diplomacy, but the field has not yet matured. Many studies have identified consular services as a prime target for using AI systems to manage them.
 
Despite the challenges that humanity confronts today, blogging has been a great experience that has opened the door to things I would not have thought of. Here are some of the milestones that I have achieved in the last three years of having my blog: 

• Publishing my article Beyond Traditional Boundaries: The Origins and Features of the Public-Consular Diplomacy of Mexico in the Journal of Public Diplomacy.  
• Teaching has been an extraordinary experience, full of challenges and rewards.
• Connecting with scholars and practitioners from around the world, some of whom I now call friends, has been extremely rewarding, allowing me to expand my ideas. 
• Writing has not been easy, especially if you do it in another language, but it has pushed me to think deeply about the influence of languages in the world, diplomacy, and my own life. I even got Writer´s block!
• Learning has been amazing, from pedagogical techniques to the intricacies of academic publishing, blogging, SEO strategies, and lately, everything about AI.
• Reading a substantial number of articles, books, studies, blogs, and even tweets to write about current events and apply new teaching pedagogies. 
• Experimenting with new artificial intelligence applications. See below for one example. 
• Participating and presenting at various international conventions. 
• Sharing ideas, bibliography, resources, and some of Mexico´s key experiences.

 
I am optimistic that the next three years will be better than the last, maybe just because we are reaching a breaking point. But also because people worldwide want a better future for themselves and their children.
 
Neumann, I. B (2020). Diplomatic tense: A social evolutionary perspective on diplomacy. Manchester Univesity Press.
 
Experimenting with AI 
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Below is a list created by generative AI about the significant milestones of diplomacy in the last three years. Do you agree with the results?
 
Prompt: You are a professor of diplomatic studies. Identify the major changes in the practice of diplomacy that have occurred since January 2020, giving a brief description and using bullets. Please be specific and concise.
 
Bing.chat (creative mode) response:
Some of the major changes in the practice of diplomacy that have occurred since January 2020 are:

• The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its global impact, which challenged the multilateral cooperation and coordination, as well as the health and humanitarian response of the UN and other international organizations.
• The rise of tensions and conflicts in various regions, such as the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, which required diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation and promote dialogue and peace. Some examples are the Iran nuclear deal, the Libya civil war, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, and the India-China border standoff.
• The shift in the U.S. foreign policy under the Biden administration, which signaled a return to multilateralism and engagement with allies and partners, as well as a renewed commitment to human rights, democracy, and climate action.
• The emergence of new issues and challenges that require global cooperation and innovation, such as cyber security, digital diplomacy, artificial intelligence, and space exploration.

 
Bard by Google: 
Sure, here are the major changes in the practice of diplomacy that have occurred since January 2020:

• The rise of virtual diplomacy: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced diplomats to conduct much of their work online, through video conferencing and other virtual platforms. This has led to a new normal for diplomacy, with many experts predicting that virtual diplomacy will continue to be an important tool even after the pandemic is over.
• The increasing importance of soft power: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have turned to soft power, such as cultural diplomacy and educational exchanges, to maintain their influence abroad. This is because soft power is seen as a more effective way to build relationships and cooperation in the long term.
• The growing role of non-state actors: Non-state actors, such as international organizations, businesses, and civil society groups, are playing an increasingly important role in diplomacy. This is because they often have more expertise and resources than governments, and they can be more nimble and flexible in responding to challenges.
• The need for more inclusive diplomacy: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more inclusive diplomacy that takes into account the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. This includes women, youth, and marginalized groups.
• The challenges of cyber diplomacy: The rise of cyberwarfare and other forms of cyber threats has created new challenges for diplomacy. Governments are now grappling with how to deter and respond to these threats in a way that does not escalate tensions.

These are just some of the major changes that have occurred in the practice of diplomacy since January 2020. It remains to be seen how these changes will shape diplomacy in the years to come
 
Perplexity
Major changes in the practice of diplomacy since January 2020 include:

• Diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: The pandemic has affected the way diplomacy is conducted, with many meetings and negotiations taking place virtually
• Diplomatic transformation: The Trump administration's attacks on U.S. diplomacy and decades of neglect have led to a need for a renewal of diplomatic capacity, with a focus on reinventing diplomacy for a new era 
• U.S.-China relations: The relationship between the U.S. and China has become increasingly tense, with China asserting itself more aggressively and the U.S. taking a more confrontational approach
• Emerging issues in economic diplomacy: Economic diplomacy has become more important, with countries using development aid, multilateral institutions, economic sanctions, and trade barriers to achieve their goals

 
Overall, the changing nature of diplomacy in the 21st century requires sustained attention and adaptation to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.


DISCLAIMER: All views expressed on this blog are that of the author and do not represent the opinions of any other authority, agency, organization, employer or company.

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