On Tuesday 26 May the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) held a virtual roundtable on Michael Jordan and basketball’s global growth. The event was the capstone for the CISD project, ‘Basketball Diplomacy in Africa: An Oral History From SEED Project to the Basketball Africa League (BAL),’ an Information & Knowledge Exchange IKE Project funded by SOAS University of London. 

We came up with the idea as this spring’s coronavirus pandemic forced so many to self-isolate and quarantine at home, including the global sports ecosystem. Bereft of live action and new sports-centric content, many of us seized upon the recent Michael Jordan documentary, ‘The Last Dance,’ a 10-part series addressing the basketball player’s final season with the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s Chicago Bulls. Moreover, it was available on Netflix’s global streaming platform within 48-hours of each episode’s U.S. broadcast on sports network ESPN providing a level of global access. The series provided a unique opportunity to use the hook of a nearly simultaneous sports cultural experience (watching ‘The Last Dance’ episodes) to dig more deeply into how Michael Jordan, ‘The Last Dance,’ and Jordan Brand served as forces of globalization and how this has impacted understandings of sport diplomacy around the world.  

Jordan is an unlikely revolutionary, but one whose drive and ability to market his image and brand changed basketball, the NBA, and wider culture around the globe. One of the greatest players of all time, he racked up six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls, more than a dozen NBA All-Star appearances, numerous Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and two Olympic gold medals with Team USA (1984, 1992). Jordan’s role as part of the original United States’ Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games captured imaginations around the world and inspired generations of players and spectators, alongside his 15-season NBA career played a hugely significant role globalizing the league and driving boys and girls from all six continents to ‘Be Like Mike.’ 

More than 60 people from around the world joined hosts Lindsay and Simon for a fascinating conversation about Jordan’s role globalizing the game and its implications along the sports-diplomacy nexus. Alexander Wolff, a Contributing Editor at U.S. weekly Sports Illustrated and Author of The Audacity of Hoop, spoke of how Jordan helped the NBA market itself in China in the 1990s. Wolff, then a Sports Illustrated basketball writer, covered the rise of Jordan in Asia and articulated how Jordan, more than any other NBA player of his era, was a good fit for Chinese basketball fans and audience. ‘Grant Hill lacked the quality of a king,’ Wolf said, comparing the quietly spoken Duke alumni touted as the ‘next’ Micheal Jordan when he entered the NBA in 1994. ‘A star must have a regal temperament of a king,’ and thus why Jordan was in some ways so appealing. 

Sports Connect Africa Founder and CEO Cynthia Mumbo, a former Executive Committee member of the Kenyan Basketball Federation and basketball player, articulated Jordan’s appeal as a symbol for young Kenyans. She recalled watching Jordan’s plays on weekly television shows like ‘NBA Action,’ the only access point she and other Kenyans (and Africans) had to the NBA in the 1980s and early 1990s. ‘It’s amazing how a 30-minute show once-a-week had such a great influence,’ Mumbo said. Such mediatization made Jordan, and the NBA, more global. ‘Jordan’s influence was significant,’ she said. ‘There’s a direct road between him and [today’s] Basketball Africa League,’ the first pan-African professional sports league set to launch this year. Mumbo’s comments particularly resonated in light of the broader work of CISD’s Basketball Diplomacy in Africa project and newly released Oral History Archive exploring the place of the game on the African continent. 

Haresh Deol, Co-founder and Editor of Twentytwo13, is a longtime expert on southeast Asia’s sports scene. Deol pointed out the role of Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in opening up basketball to wider audiences. He noted how in Malaysia, a country with several religious, ethnic, and political divides, the sport was mostly played by the ethnic Chinese community. But the Bulls and Jordan’s brand helped to redefine many kids’ orientations as they sought to “Be Like Mike” and were drawn to the game. ‘It is thanks to icons like them [Jordan and the Bulls] that the status of the sport was raised to new heights,’ Deol said. 

If the person and persona of Jordan did much to globalize the game and the NBA, his reach was amplified exponentially as the world’s most marketed athlete of his time. Dr Jean Williams, Professor of Sports at University of Wolverhampton, noted how Jordan’s story is one of labor. ‘Michael Jordan owned his own labour, and therefore could endorse lucrative collaborations, such as Air Jordans with Nike,’ she said.

‘The Last Dance presents us with a tragedy. It is Shakespearean in its shape. We see the rise of a talented young man to become the leading star of his team, and an icon of the NBA as a franchise, promoting the sport of basketball worldwide, with scenes in France of the excitement generated by Jordan. Having risen to the height of his fame, and sporting excellence, the tragedy is that Jordan owns his own labour, but not the means of production that makes his talent so valuable.’  

Williams pointed out how Air Jordans were an aspirational product, another attractive point that drew so many around the world to the brand Jordan built. ‘Transcendence is the key message of Air Jordan’s, a product which achieves the brilliant marketing strategy of selling not leather or polymer or even shoes, but sells the concept of air, and by extension of transcending a given situation,’ she said. This helped open up basketball. ‘Clothing can popularise a sport beyond those who actively support and play,’ Williams said, another dimension of Jordan’s global impact.

The theme of marketability and image was the focus of remarks by brand management expert Luke Jarman, Founder and Director of Eudaiation. Timing and tastemakers helped enable Jordan and his #Jumpman brand to dominate and increase cultural reach beyond sport, Jarmon argued. ‘This has helped brands today,’ he said, and pointed to the sports-lifestyle cult that Jordan Brand has built, fusing sports with fashion such as its recent collaboration with French football club Paris Saint-Germain. ‘But today, will an athlete ever have the same impact globally that Jordan did,’ Jarman asked? 

That is an important question to consider when weighing the impact of a globally marketed athlete like Jordan and the sports-diplomacy nexus (based on the troika of Communication, Representation, and Negotiation that occurs in or around the court). It is no coincidence that esteemed Diplomatic Historian Walter LaFeber published ‘Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism’ in 1999 as Jordan enjoyed the first year of his full retirement. By then Jordan had become the personification of American globalization in an era of McDonald’s, Hollywood, Coca-Cola, and the U.S. Dream Team – nee the American ‘Dream’ something that is aspirational, and ephemeral to a point, but importantly has ‘global appeal’. 

Finally, Dr Robert Edelman, Professor of History at UC San Diego, assessed Jordan’s legacy in the historical context. ‘Jordan is a post Cold War athlete,’ he said. Edelman pointed out how in the Soviet Union, basketball was a multinational endeavor with the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia playing upon their strong basketball cultural heritage to assert their own role within the USSR.  And while Jordan, the Bulls, and the NBA have done so much over the years to globalize basketball, Edelman urged caution in evaluating their role. ‘Basketball still suffers globally because the Americans do not take the FIBA World Cup seriously,’ he said. ‘Only once they do will basketball become the world’s major team sport.’ 

The roundtable made clear the important role Jordan played as an informal arbiter of U.S. soft power through the cultural exchange facilitated by sports diplomacy. And Jordan’s notorious refusal to be political in any way enabled him to serve as a sort of blank slate upon which cultures around the world could project their own preferred values or visions of the United States through basketball and the basketball lifestyle brand that Jordan helped usher in through his various endorsement deals (fashion, music, food, sneakers). 

Catch the roundtable replay here. We also invite you to join us on Twitter where we’ll continue the conversation via #jumpmandiplomacy #sportsdiplomacy.

At the start of the roundtable, participants were asked to write one word that came to mind when thinking about Michael Jordan; these are the results.

We were selected to attend Estonia’s Annual Commemorative Conference for the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, an event centred around encouraging intercultural dialogue between individuals, organisations and states to find meaningful ways to build peace in the current age. We were kindly hosted by PeaceChild International, a UK based charity focusing on youth entrepreneurship, employability, sustainable development, and youth empowerment. It holds UN Economic and Social Consultative status and promotes the concept of youth-led development. Much of Peacechild’s work has explored the use of arts and culture in its work, something particularly resonant coming to Estonia, which prides itself on its incredible emphasis on the arts in its national identity. 

 To mark the 75th Anniversary of the UN, Secretary General Antonio Guterres launched global initiative #JoinUN75, calling all generations across the world to come together for a year of dialogue, in a time of unprecedented change in the geopolitical climate, in hopes of finding ways as a ‘human family’ to build a better future. The Estonian government collaborated with a number of organisations to host its own dialogue, and sought to find young people who could contribute, given Guterres’ emphasis on youth inclusion in future UN initiatives. As representatives who were either dual British or non-British, (Anahita as a British-Iranian, Toma as a French-Irish, Jean as Polish-French) we were invited to draw on our own experiences and insights to contribute to the conversation taking place. 

The #UN75 anniversary here in #Tallinn has officially begun with Ambassador Hatem Atallah making opening statements as well as @MFAestonia Jüri Seilenthal speaking on Estonia's international role and position in the #UN pic.twitter.com/XSBO92YIiD

— Toma Moran (@tomamrn) February 21, 2020

The conference took place the week after the recent CISD trip to Geneva and the United Nations. After a day apart to rest and prepare, the dream team reunited for round two of our diplomatic adventures. After some initial minor bumps, such as Toma missing the first flight to Estonia, and a very early flight that neither Jean nor Anahita were accustomed to, we finally all arrived in the old, beautiful (and very cold) town of Tallinn, and met our team for the week, David Woollcombe, Jonathan Hart, and Tom Powell. David is an author, playwright and filmmaker who is an expert in the field of youth participation in governance. As the founder and President of PeaceChild International, he co-organised the entire conference. 

David Woollcombe, President of @PeaceChild makes his opening statement on the worrying direction many governments around the world seem to be moving in while reflecting on around past achievements and those that lie ahead. #ReinventUN pic.twitter.com/k3zU72fjxE

— Toma Moran (@tomamrn) February 21, 2020

Jonathan works for UNICEF UK, having played an incredible part in leading the Rights Respecting School Award programme. As a teacher, and a founding member of  HRE4ALL (Human Rights for all) alongside his work as a member of the Human Rights working group for Oxfam’s OSW (Our Shared World), he and David offered invaluable and inspiring expertise on stage, but also to us as we got to know each other. Tom, also part of our dream team for the week, is an extremely talented singer and musician, who has built a huge part of the cultural aspect of such events, and also in collaboration with PeaceChild, organising beautiful performances and collaborative musical events to bring communities together, offering a constructive and unique space to discuss all the crucial issues of the event. 

Jean and Anahita spoke on the ‘Peacebuilding and Intercultural Dialogue’ panel, the first of the conference, alongside some brilliant individuals, including Ambassador Hatem Atallah of Tunisia, Anis Boufrika of WeLoveSousse, and Liis Paloots of the IOM. Excited, but also very nervous, we stepped up to start the first of the series of panel discussions for the conference. Our panel sought to explore the desire to achieve peace, and the means for enabling the UN to be a more effective peace-builder / peace-keeper. The range of speakers meant that we all drew on different but worthwhile points for consideration, that cross cut a number of crucial issues. 

Anahita Ghanbari Parsa

For me (Anahita), being the first speaker was definitely a daunting start –  jumping straight into the deep end, but having Jean by my side was not only reassuring, but a great experience to be able to dive in together and share the moment with one of my closest friends. In my speech, I highlighted that whilst institutions such as the UN, have taken incredible strides in building peace, there is an issue of representation and accessibility that must be recognised to establish more effective work. I centred around this to discuss the role of women, people of colour, and youth being able to access and participate in diplomacy, advocacy and activist spaces, to in turn shape peacebuilding efforts on both a local and global scale. I drew on my own experiences as a young woman of colour navigating these spaces, but also my research since my undergraduate, which has explored this issue. 

Women have long been central to not only peacemaking, but also armed conflict, despite the traditional discourse that tends to paint women as simply victims. The reality of women’s participation is very different, and this shows the importance of not only acknowledging these nuances, but also the need for the active inclusion and visibility of women in conflict resolution and international security, for a more representative and accurate approach to peacebuilding. 

I also discussed the need for the UN to address its colonial history in order to create better peace-building mechanisms for the future. Much of our modern system has been built through practices that have significantly disadvantaged and excluded people of colour, and without stepping back to address and act on this reality, we risk falling into the danger of policies that have sometimes been manipulated to hinder rather than encourage the independent development of growing states. 

I ended by drawing on the issue of youth representation, pointing out that as a 21 year old student speaking on the panel, I was not of the same experience as the more notable and practiced speakers present. The opportunity, however, to attend the conference, and to also actively participate, was not only an incredibly worthwhile learning experience, but also shifted the nature of the dialogue taking place, as we found an intergenerational discussion also take place – which is crucial to better understanding the realities of the world today, including extremely timely issues such as climate change, its impacts on the present, but also the future- and the world’s future generation of adults. The conference itself was a brilliant example of what I suggested in practice – the room was full of figures from ages 19 through to 70, from all over the world, and a great number of inspiring women who all engaged in a very fruitful debate throughout the entire conference. This made for an inclusive, representative and meaningful conversation – something that should be replicated and reflected in the UN’s wider practices and other institutions/spaces for advocacy and diplomacy. 

Jean Kostrzewski

I (Jean) was speaking on the same panel as Anahita, and I talked about the three core values of multilateralism: inclusion, consultation and solidarity. Given the various uncertainties and strong tensions in the ruthless environment of today’s world politics I highlighted the fact that these values can be easily drowned in the rapacious pursuit of individual interests. Based on my modest but insightful experience as a 23 years old Masters student engaged with international security and migration issues, I gave my own interpretation of what are the three main values of multilateralism and how they can be better applied nowadays. 

When it comes to inclusion, as the son of two Polish political refugees who fled to France while Poland was still under Soviet domination, I expressed my sincere gratitude to France for being my adoptive and secure motherland, where I was born and raised as a proud “third culture kid” able to have access to the same social opportunities as other French citizens. These days there is a great need to perceive inclusion less as a matter of political correctness and privilege for a select few but more as a right and key to growth.

The second value: consultation was exemplified through my involvement in campaigning about arms control and global disarmament. As a Polish-French dual citizen speaking at a peacebuilding panel in Estonia I spoke about possible ways to purposefully engage with countries such as Russia. Without ignoring the Russian transgressions or tense relationship between the Russian Federation and other Baltic states, I then emphasised the importance of maintaining dialogue particularly in a context of conflict in order to prevent further escalation. The value of this paramount dialogue cannot be depreciated by countries such as Poland, Estonia or Russia who have deeply interconnected security concerns.

Finally I advocated for a conception of international solidarity that is more accessible than we might think, by referring to the Parisian refugee camps close to my parents’ house, where through charity work I provided humanitarian assistance to refugees from all ages coming from numerous countries facing drastic political instabilities where their survival was often at risk. In the words of Antonio Guterres,: “As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for inhumanity and social friction?”

I concluded my statement by pointing out how the UN can become more successful in its multilateral peacebuilding efforts by suggesting few structural adjustments in the UN strategic  budgeting system. I indicated the strong and potentially detrimental asymmetry between a colossal peacekeeping budget contrasting with a much less significant peacebuilding fund requiring urgently more investment so the UN can more effectively address the direct source of all the world’s humanitarian disasters, instead of being doomed to deal with their consequences. I also reiterated the fact that member states play a fundamentally crucial role in incentivising various UN agencies to reorient their programs to conflict priority. Peacebuilding operations can become more successful only if the relevant stakeholders and decision makers draw a clear distinction between political success and bureaucratic success, between crisis management and crisis prevention and finally between peacekeeping endeavours and peacebuilding endeavours.

Toma Moran

As for myself (Toma) I had to wait a little longer before my time to speak came. I spoke on the panel covering digitalisation and human rights. Luckily I was able to draw inspiration from the previous speeches of my fellow colleagues Anahita and Jean while also drawing from the immense diversity in opinions of previous panelists. This topic was particularly interesting for me as I believe that having grown up in the digital age I have a good grasp of the challenges and issues that lie ahead for us as human rights advocates but also just as humans. This was my first point, digitalisation is not a process or a nice academic term qualifying some distant problem that might affect us in the future, it is the world we live in now and the world we as young speakers grew up in. We grew up in interconnectivity, social media and communications platforms like MySpace and MSN Messenger were our entertainment and socialising platforms for our friends as well as for total strangers sharing interest in music, films and video games. I believe that this has a major impact on the way we perceive the world as young people of the digital age. Our distinctions of nation, religion, boundaries, sexuality, gender and race have been challenged continuously because of our access to information and online dialogue.

“How does this relate to human rights?” you might ask. Well this brings me to the crux of my argument. As young people of the digital age, our direct exposure (videos, tweets, testimonies) has meant that the awareness of global human rights issues is huge and has led in some cases to more accountability regarding those issues. There is another side to this discussion however which is how the digital age has changed the face of human rights and should be considered as one of the main problematics for international institutions. 

Where the digital age has created perhaps more global awareness it has also brought a series of new potential means for human rights abuse and violations. We have already witnessed some of these taking place however I expressed my concern with the limited action taking towards encouraging the international community to respect fundamental human rights. Governments around the world have more tools at their disposal to conduct mass surveillance in order to eliminate opposition and dissent, a key component of democracy. Furthermore, the substantial personal information that we willingly share online is accessible to governments and corporations through various means and we know now through whistleblowing that states are not being transparent about the use of this information. I mentioned how young people and colleagues of mine face the threat of imprisonment or worse toture because of the things they post online, perhaps even things that were not written by them. I brought up many more examples of how the digital age and human rights are intertwined with common challenges and that perhaps the old age of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights means that it no longer addresses the full scope of human rights in the digital age. The declaration signed by all members of the United Nations was originally drafted in 1948 which for many young people seems like a very long time ago. I suggested the possibility of drafting a UDHR 2.0 as a reference to the technology which liberates and constrains us at the same time.  The idea behind this is by no means to rewrite or erase the original but rather to update it, give it a new look and include the future generations based on the lessons given by the previous. 

The Workshops

The workshops took place over the next two days, and were extremely informative. They followed a ‘World Cafe’ format, something we were all unfamiliar with, but I (Anahita) found that it built a brilliantly engaging space, as every person shared ideas.  

Regarding my workshop (Toma) on digitalisation on human rights, I was interested in the discussion led by two young local leaders who spoke to us about Estonia’s approach to the digital age. We spoke on topics such as e-voting (of which Estonia is the first EU country to use) and the challenges this process presents. We also spoke of the dangers online access presents to young people around the world and how the possibility of filtering the type of content young people have access to online may be necessary. I found the workshops useful and interesting given they involved young students and future leaders of Estonia and hearing the ideas they had regarding new technologies and the challenges they present in their country. 

The other workshop about migration attended by Anahita and Jean was also very insightful. During this workshop we benefited from the guidance and expertise of Liis Paloots from the IOM. This was an  engaged debate between one team representing migrants and refugees while the other team represented political leaders and state officials. Each team had to assess and voice out its own vision and most urgent priorities concerning the rights of migrants and potential for more successful social integration by the host country, and this led to a very lively cross-examining debate between both groups.  We really enjoyed this enriching collective brainstorming, aiming at solving the most complex issues such as the management of the refugee crisis.

Workshop sessions at #UN75 #Estonia with the @UNmigration group exploring the experience of the migrant vs the state in regular and irregular #migration and issues of #integration and #legalrights @JoinUN75 pic.twitter.com/OZR6RZyQIZ

— anahita zahra parsa (she/her) (@anahita_parsa) February 22, 2020

I (Anahita) would definitely say that another great part of the trip for us was meeting everyone else at the event, especially Basil Golikov, manager and organiser of the conference, without whom we would not have had such an incredible week,  the Tunisian delegation – Ambassador Hatem Atallah of Tunisia, Anis Boufrika of the WeLoveSousse Organisation, and Ouafe Belgacem, CEO and Founder of the Culture Funding Watch, along with H.E. Herman Quarles van Ufford, Advisor to the USG of the United Nations, whose opening speech started off the week with a positive, optimistic and uplifting sense amongst everyone. From the moment Toma and I realised that they were also very set on watching the Man U match like us, (which led to a very funny night out exploring the Old Town for a bar that was airing it live), to sharing cheese straw recipes with Jonathan, smuggling snacks into the discussions,  and debating everything in and between Brexit, to whether my injured foot would survive the end of the week, it was genuinely a pleasure to get to know everyone at the conference. We have stayed in touch and look forward to the next opportunity for us to all meet again- I guess the conference in many ways, on the small and large scale, achieved exactly what it had hoped- meaningful bonds across cultures and communities that would continue to come together to share ideas and make the world better, far beyond the four walls of the conference venue.

Mr Herman Quarles van Ufford of @UN discussing @antonioguterres’ important initiative on directly involving #youth in conversations and action for #growth #development and #humanrights and presenting the #UNSDG “What if?” Video #Estonia #UN75 pic.twitter.com/fQoawehNKn

— anahita zahra parsa (she/her) (@anahita_parsa) February 21, 2020

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The month of February is an exciting one for students at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy. After months of preparation by the student committee and several information meetings, the time has finally come for everyone to embark on the week long trip to Geneva, Switzerland for CISD’s annual trip to the United Nations headquarters. 

The anticipation was high as students arrived, and we huddled on to the train, just in time. The journey was very straightforward and of course our coordination amongst multiple group chats helped make sure everyone found their way. Our second train from Paris to Geneva was particularly entertaining as we came across a famous French magician, Roland, who genuinely blew our minds and brought Anahita to tears. 

Magician: Roland Barthelemy

Anahita enroute to Geneva

We finally arrived in Geneva- a little drained, but very much ready for the week ahead. 

First day of the @SOAS @soas_cisd #ISDStudyTour to @UNGeneva, with sessions on #ClimateChange, #SDGs, #Multilateralisn, and #HumanRights. For info on our programmes and tours see: https://t.co/lTOariynoj pic.twitter.com/BUyklILxJU

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) February 10, 2020

Monday morning started off with information sessions regarding the UN with focus on its Geneva location. This was followed by a particularly engaging session on Sustainable Development Goals, and the work of the United Nations in ensuring development goals are met amidst the climate crisis and shifting socio-economic contexts. We were equally as engaged in the UN cafeteria’s lunch choices and the range of pasta on offer. Our particular interest for the Geneva study tour was definitely being given the opportunity to hear first-hand what the various UN agencies do, and how they operate within such a huge international institution. For me (Toma) the most interesting speaker of the trip was coming up in the afternoon, considering his field work experience prior to coming to the UN. 

Our final formal session today with Christophe Peschoux @UNHumanRights discussing #HumanRights mechanisms and implementation. The session is chaired by @SOAS @soas_cisd student Hira Rahman #ISDStudyTour. See you at the reception pic.twitter.com/Rh8GPY4jPv

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) February 10, 2020

Christophe Peschoux who works for the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights spoke to us about the various objectives of the OHCHR, its function but also the mechanisms that have been put in place in recent years to try to hold states accountable for Human Rights violations worldwide, such as the Universal Periodic Review. Something in particular I appreciated about him as a speaker was his vast experience in the field of Human Rights, working in many different positions all over the world and his willingness to speak on this and give insight into the difference between UN work and his past jobs.

CISD Students Sharon Martins and Marcelle Brown

Following this presentation one of the most anticipated events was coming up, the CISD reception in the delegates’ restaurant. During this event, thanks to the organising committee, we had the opportunity to meet directly with various diplomats and representatives from state missions and NGOs. We both had to make our way upstairs first with some of the other members of the committee in order to begin preparation for the delegates’ arrival- which came quite quickly. As the first delegates began to arrive, students began to make their way, overcoming the initial timidity which naturally comes as an aspiring diplomat in these spaces, and began engaging with delegates. The picturesque view from the balcony was fascinating and so naturally, many were busy taking portraits and selfies for some well-earned social media updates, but as the room began to fill up with guests, everyone made their way inside. 

#ISDStudyTour's second session now starting with the @ICRC. Pleasure to have Nick Hawton and Shahrokh Shakerian speaking. Chaired by @SOAS @soas_cisd student @AmShrlockHolmes pic.twitter.com/GTj8NoWPb2

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) February 11, 2020

Throughout the week, watching fellow students chair the formal sessions was brilliant, as they held their own and spurred on particularly thoughtful and insightful question and answer sessions. I (Anahita) was starting to feel the nerves in anticipation of the session I would be chairing, hosting two speakers from the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 

A pleasure to chair @ZeinaHilal_ZH and @andafilip of @IPUparliament yesterday @UNGeneva as part of @soas_cisd study tour for a very interesting and engaging discussion on the work of the IPU, #gender and #democracy Thank you! pic.twitter.com/W8ZOwg8uTh

— anahita zahra parsa (she/her) (@anahita_parsa) February 13, 2020

Wednesday was a particularly busy day for the both of us- I started off chairing the IPU session. In my opinion, this was arguably one of the best sessions of the week, as the speakers, Zeina Hilal and Anda Filip, set off with a brilliant discussion on the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its role in ensuring democratic practice, and achieving gender equity cross governments and their initiatives. The questions from the students covered a number of especially engaging and important issues- from the role of the IPU in bettering and highlighting LGBTQ+ representation amongst various governments, to the realities of achieving meaningful change in different cultural and social contexts as an external organisation. I have spent my academic career researching and writing on the issues of gender within international relations, particularly in regards to international security and diplomatic practice, and so it was an honour to be able to chair this session, and engage with both Zeina and Anda in debate over our shared passions for this issue. It stirred my excitement for what could possibly be ahead beyond graduating from CISD. 

Discussion on #disarmament so far with very insightful points of discussion by @FinaudMarc @RenataDwan @UN_Valovaya @DanPlesch Delighted to be chaired by H.E. Mrs Zhanar Aitzhanova of Khazakstan pic.twitter.com/Rf5XDmihpq

— SCRAPweapons (@SCRAPweapons) February 12, 2020

We then both headed over to begin co-ordinating what was a highlight of the week for us- the SCRAP Weapons panel event. With a team of student volunteers, we ushered in students, academics and diplomats into the room having greeted them with a pretty satisfying range of baguettes and drinks to choose from. Once everyone was full and ready to listen, our panel event began. It as a brilliant range of speakers, from our very own Dr Dan Plesch, to renowned Marc Finaud of the GCSP, who had also previously spoken at SCRAP’s panel event at the Conference of State Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty in August, and had supported Anahita in her very first experience speaking at a formal panel event. They were joined by Renata Dwan of UNIDIR, and Mrs Tatiana Valynova, UN Director General in Geneva, and the discussion was chaired by Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhanova of Kazakhstan.

CISD Student Shruti Punia on the SCRAP Weapons Panel

 It was also a really special opportunity to cheer on our fellow students Zahraa and Shruti who offered the opening and closing statements brilliantly. The event drew a range of diplomats from a number of states, and this was particularly reaffirming of the work SCRAP hopes to achieve working alongside missions in pushing for disarmament. As Dwan highlighted, it was also great to see a panel with a range of speakers- primarily women- offering a more representative and fruitful discourse on the challenges of arms control ahead of the NPT conference coming up this year. 

CISD Student Zahraa Kapasi on the SCRAP Weapons panel

After a celebration of the event’s success, we had hit the halfway point of the week. There were more interesting sessions with UN agencies and, a little more downtime than the first, hectic half of the week. On Thursday night, Anahita pulled together everyone on the course to relive one of her passions- karaoke. At Jame’s Pub, a Thai-Irish bar, the entire of CISD bonded over some snacks, and a lot of chart toppers. CISD Student Support Officer Matthew Poulton’s freestyle, ‘Straight Outta CISD’ was most definitely the best bit of the evening and a great way for everyone to bring the week to a close. 

The next morning, we all miraculously made it on time to the morning’s first session. I (Toma) instead attended a meeting at the Irish mission, returning for another very warm welcome to myself and other CISD students to meet with the mission’s delegates to discuss Ireland’s bid for the security council in 2021 as well as the various humanitarian and human rights issues Ireland was trying to focus on. We also discussed possible collaboration between SCRAP and Ireland’s disarmament team for the upcoming NPT revcon where Ireland will be leading the New Agenda coalition. Having the opportunity to meet and discuss with diplomats in this wway really is a privilege and happening for the second time in a row, I really can’t thank the mission enough especially Jean, Michael, Declan and Jamie.

By lunchtime, most of the students had gone for a final venture by the lake and into town to do some exploring, souvenir shopping and one final taste of the Geneva famous cheese fondue. Satisfied, tired, a little sad to say goodbye, but most definitely positive, we all gathered at Cornavin station to head home to London, after what was a great week of bonding amongst the students, and delving into the many possibilities of life after CISD.

You can view more pictures from the Study Tour here.

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Earlier this month, I had the honour of representing SCRAP and CISD at the Youth Conference for Securing Our Common Future. The conference was hosted both at the UN Headquarters in New York and on board the Peaceboat moored in the Hudson River. Peaceboat was started by a group of Japanese students as a response to the continued threat of nuclear war and is committed to providing a student voice for disarmament. This conference was taking place because the UN Secretary General has made clear in his agenda for disarmament that he is encouraging youth and student level leadership. I believe this is an opportunity for SCRAP as a student-run organisation to provide this.

Before heading to the Peaceboat, I had a chance to hear country representatives speak on their efforts to peruse disarmament. Amongst others, Guatemala voiced their disappointment that nations were pulling out of disarmament treaties and Yemen called for the international community to implement regulations on the trade of light weapons. There is certainly support in the international community that support what we are trying to achieve with the SCRAP project.

The conference then split the Secretary General’s agenda for disarmament into three sections: nuclear, small arms / light weapons and ‘killer robots’. There were speakers on these sections representing governments such as Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, as well as UN Office for Disarmament Affairs officials and other NGO representatives working at local and international levels. In meeting these experts and the other conference attendees, it was brilliant to see how many young people from around the world care and want their respective states to act on these issues. At SCRAP we can bring all these areas together and provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas. We are advocating for comprehensive global weapons governance that addresses all these areas and provides a space for youth-led policy formulation.

The SCRAP coalition provides a space for these engaged young people to campaign across the board rather than in information silos. I made the argument that at SCRAP we see all these three areas as equally important and this is why we continue to push the case for general and complete disarmament through our treaty. SCRAP students have already played a key role in the development of the draft treaty, design of the website and building links with other NGOs such as Oxfam International. Dan Plesch, the director of SCRAP, has said that these ideas have been taken out of a purely academic context is the enthusiasm and determination of our student body drawn from some fifty countries. If these ideas are to become reality one day, the campaigning work of SCRAP student representatives will be key in making decision-makers listen.

You can find out more about the CISD’s research on disarmament here on the SCRAPWeapons website.

Whether the IOC or FIFA like it or not, sport and politics are inextricably linked. Once governing bodies comprehend this fact, the next stage should address how to utilise the universal language of sport for the betterment of humanity. Reassuringly, the recognition of this modern form of diplomacy is increasing exponentially among nation states and supranational organisations. This was proven on October 19^th 2009 when the IOC were granted observer member status by the UN General Assembly. The meteoric rise of social media has also facilitated this intercultural dialogue to be shared in an instant. This blog articulates my journey from simply enjoying sport as a pastime to appreciating the discipline as more than just a game.

This journey began as an undergraduate at Canterbury Christ Church University where I studied English and Sport & Exercise Science. It was there my interest on the sociological impact of sport truly commenced. Along with sociology, I grew an interest on sport’s global reach in the field of business. This led me to pursue an MBA in Sports Management at the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) in Spain. Topics in this diverse course ranged from sports marketing, law and event planning. My dissertation “How has sport been used as a political tool in international relations since the 20th Century and its role in present society?” became the precursor for my research focus at SOAS. The reasons I embarked on the International Studies and Diplomacy Degree in CISD were plentiful but the fundamental aspiration was to advance my knowledge and understanding of ‘Sport Diplomacy’. This has been central to my studies during the year, with my MA dissertation ‘Can Qatar follow Australia by maximising sport diplomacy to achieve their foreign and domestic objectives?’ being my intellectual focus, under the guidance of Dr J Simon Rofe.

The ISD programme provided the unique opportunity to study my two fields of interest in one speciality module, “Sport and Diplomacy: More than a Game”. The course was run by the excellent tutelage of Stuart MacDonald, Jose Gigante and Lindsay Krasnoff. Along with conventional teaching methods, the module provided an online platform on Moodle that embodied the emphasis of digital diplomacy’s rising influence on foreign affairs. This platform was used to facilitate post-classroom discussions of the topics covered during the lectures and seminars, respectively. The SOAS staff members were accompanied by knowledgeable guest speakers who imparted their expertise on a weekly basis. Domestic and international speakers shared a diverse background in sports coaching, business, academia and history. These speakers included the Associate Vice President of the NBA, Kent Christian, the General Manager at the Premier League Charitable Fund, Ruth Shaw and long-standing sociological academic, Dr. Dikaia Chatziefstathiou. The latter a former lecturer of mine at Canterbury Christ Church University who has spent her academic career researching the history and impact of sport on society, particularly through the Olympic movement.

The core value I will take away from the module is the high calibre of volunteer and networking opportunities afforded to students on the MA programme. This invaluable experience provided first-hand exposure to the strenuous work of practitioners in the field of ‘Sport for Development’. Throughout the summer, I have been collaborating with Simon Lansley, the Founder and Chief Executive of Connect Sport. Numerous projects include writing articles for his website and promoting the work of NGOs associated with his network on Twitter. Moreover, as a volunteer at events, I was tasked with planning, reporting and setting up these exciting colloquiums. Notable gatherings hosted by our very own Dr Rofe and his peers included, “Debating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace” and “Sport Diplomatique”. The latter of which promoted Dr Rofe’s new book, Sport and diplomacy: Games within games. Various authors of the book were also present with the prescient issue being Japan and the upcoming Rugby World Cup and Olympic Games due to be held in the country. The venue of the university was also significantly symbolic due to its specialisation of both Oriental affairs and sport diplomacy.

Furthermore, SOAS’ affiliation with Beyond Sport culminated in networking functions that endorsed the potential of sport in sustainable social development. To my dismay as a life-long Arsenal fan, one of which was held in the new T*ttenham Hotspur Stadium. *Shudder* The Beyond Sport functions involved roundtable discussions with notable personnel ranging from parliamentarians such as Baroness Lola Young and Britain’s first openly transgender officer in the Armed Forces, Caroline Paige. In an age where discrimination and harassment have become the norm in sport, these esteemed individuals stimulated engaging conversations on sport’s growing responsibility to lead the way in societal change. Another unique networking opportunity involved a return to the T*ttenham Hotspur Stadium courtesy of Santander Universities. This Champions League Final Screening Event focused on leadership skills with Chelsea legends, Dennis Wise and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, both present as guest speakers (Fortunately, I was not alone in enemy territory).

The biggest event of the academic year involved the collaboration of Oxford University and SOAS in Oxford’s Rhodes House venue. The conference became the first of a series of colloquiums on Sport and Digital Diplomacy. The large distinguished gathering included representatives of governance around the world, the UN and former professional athletes. Another notable inclusion was Hassan Al Thawadi, the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. The organisation responsible for the logistical operations of the highly contentious 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As rapporteurs, volunteers were also required to publicise the conference on social media. These compiled notes were formed into a blog for Dr Rofe as a record for future colloquiums. Along with being another unique learning and networking experience, the event inspired my dissertation focus on Qatar’s growing relationship with sport.

The practical and networking experience I’ve garnered throughout the academic year has exceeded my expectations. These invaluable opportunities would not have been feasible without the tireless endeavours of Dr Rofe, the department’s ‘Sport and Diplomacy’ team and finally, the university’s outgoing director, Baroness Valerie Amos. If you love sport and you believe it’s more than just a game, then enrolling on this course is the first step for an exciting new journey.

The ball’s in your court.

Mark Bekiet

“If you really think that the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money.” — Guy McPherson

In June, CISD students on the Global Energy and Climate Policy programme participated in an incredible and very pertinent study tour: according to the BBC, June was the hottest month on record, a record that will no doubt be broken sooner than we’d like! Students spent three days in Brussels and two days in Paris meeting energy industry representatives, politicians, government agencies and NGOs. Without the hard work and invaluable knowledge of Dr Harald Heubaum and Felicia Jackson, the study tour would not have had such insightful depth or breadth of meetings.

The week began with a series of meetings with representatives from a range of energy associations, including Ocean Energy Europe, Eurelectric, Solar Power Europe, The Alliance for Rural Electrification, Wind Europe and Eurogas, who shared insights into their policy work in Brussels and gave their views on the roles they saw their technologies playing in the low-carbon energy transition.

We also met with representatives of the European Commission who discussed how the work of DG CLIMA and DG ENER contributed towards meeting the EU’s 2030 decarbonisation targets. Our visit to the heart of Europe was topped off by an informal meeting with Alexandra Phillips, South East England MEP for the Green Party, who shared her inspirational thoughts on what we needed to do to avert the climate emergency and ensure a just transition.

I accepted my 1st group in the European Parliament today

Fab bunch of engaged global energy & climate change students from @SOAS

Was really impressed by the standard of their qs around the radical shift that needs to happen in the next 10 years to avert the climate crisis pic.twitter.com/nY9l5y4ULW

— Alexandra Phillips (@alexforeurope) June 5, 2019

After making the short hop to Paris, we  had a series of fascinating meetings with experts at the OECD, the IEA and UN Environment. Through conversations  with high profile leaders, we gained insight into the work these organisations are doing to provide policy makers with the evidence they need to take action on the climate and our environment. We were struck by the quality of the meetings and we hope they were equally struck by the insight we brought as budding energy and climate policy makers.

The positivity that was shown by each speaker showed how passionate they were about the need to make progress toward avoiding the worst extremes of our climate emergency and demonstrated their faith that renewable energy would be a key tool in our arsenal. The enthusiasm shown by speakers in particular from a number of senior level female executives, was infectious and we left each meeting a little bit more hopeful that change is possible. What was telling of students who had come before us was the high level of engagement: we were seen as industry colleagues rather than just students and our questions were always answered honestly and fully, no matter how challenging or controversial.

This study tour provided unique industry insights that cannot be found online or in any literature. It consisted of all the things one expects from a study tour from learning and cultural integration opportunities, to global and professional networking, as well as an opportunity to get to know your fellow students and lecturers better. Each talk created a stronger sense of a systemic shift coming to climate and energy policies around the world, further validating what the course had equipped us with. The study tour further highlighted that there is no particular profile that is required to play a part in making the change happen, instead there is a need for a variety of backgrounds and skillsets to positively reduce the impacts of climate change.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall

If you would like to attend evening seminars please sign up to the CISD website/mailing list.

By SOAS Students Arifa Virani & Adam Ruffell.

On June 2-4^th, 2019 the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) in cooperation with the NATO Centre for Civil Military Cooperation (CCOE) and The Municipality of The Hague, hosted  the first model conference of NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC).

The Conference topic was Determining appropriate and proportional responses to cyberattacks against NATO member states. Once successful in their applications, delegations were expected to write and submit position papers reflecting their respective country’s stance on cybersecurity.

Arifa Virani represented the delegation of the United States of America and Adam Ruffell represented the delegation of Albania. Exceptional delegations were eligible to receive honourable mentions and the conference award. Both delegations did well; the US delegation was 1 out of 4 to receive honourable mentions out of the 29, and Albania was 1 out of 2 to receive the conference award out of the 29.

As a nod to NATO’s 70^th anniversary this year, the Model Conference addressed contemporary security challenges facing the alliance. In July 2016, Allies made a Cyber Defence Pledge which aimed at enhancing national cyber security as a matter of top priority. Following, the 2018 Brussel’s Summit saw an agreement to establish a new Cyberspace Operations Centre. Additionally, the creation of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) placed cyberattacks at the forefront of NATO’s security challenges.

The conference highlighted the need to provide parameters and thresholds for appropriate responses to cyberattacks. The shift from the challenges of conventional warfare such as armed troops on the ground, to unconventional warfare such as cyberwarfare, represents the challenge of the 21^st century. The potential threats faced on the frontlines have moved to potential threats sitting on our kitchen counters in the form of our laptops, as seen with the cyberattack on Estonia in 2007, where thousands of private and public computers were hijacked to form malign bots attacking Estonia’s digital infrastructure.

The Model Conference was set at the private compound of the military where HCSS is located. Living in a military complex for civilians is a rare experience. Walking alongside uniformed military personnel on the way to eat our meals at the complex cafeteria enforced a deep sense of respect for the work being done by the military professionals and an appreciation of the gravity of the challenges HCSS engages with.

At the Opening Ceremony we were welcomed by keynote speakers, the former member of the Dutch House of Representatives Han ten Broeke who is the current Director of Political Affairs at the HCSS, Colonel (GS) Johan Wangner who is the Deputy Director of CCOE, Commodore Elanor F. Boekholt-O’Sullivan who is the Commander of the Defense Cyber Command and Diplomat Michel Rentenaar who is the Netherlands Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels.

Throughout the conference, military personnel sat in on the negotiations and provided guidance and experienced negotiators gave useful tips in relation to strategy planning and representing a country’s position successfully.

Our interdisciplinary MA courses prepared us to do well at the Conference, especially in terms of practical skills developed in courses such as Diplomatic Practice and Global Energy and Climate Policy focusing on negotiations and national strategy planning.  International Security Studies covered academic approaches to cybersecurity and Foundations of International Law provided a legal framework to approach cybersecurity.

The Conference provided a great opportunity to network and foster connections with international students and young professionals interested in cybersecurity, international affairs and diplomacy. The Hague was the perfect place for such a conference, as the city intrinsically represents justice, peace and the liberal international order which can be seen in the many institutions placed in The Hague- International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, The Peace Palace, The Permanent Court of Arbitration to name a few.

The Conference was a valuable experience which served as a productive introduction to the inner workings of NATO’s North Atlantic Council and the consensus based policymaking.

The essence of NATO Article 5 on Collective Defence: “all for one, and one for all”.

Are former African leaders being tried in the International Criminal Courts (ICC) in a biased, unfair manner? Has power politics been influential in the decision to prosecute former African leaders? Or is the reality an uncomfortable truth? SOASians and academics from across London, including the Royal African Society and Chatham House, came to find out from an expert panel, exploring fact from perception, as well as identifying means and ideas for African nations to address this perceived bias. The included Justice Richard Goldstone, former Chief Prosecutor in the Rwandan genocide tribunals between 1994 and 1986; Dr Dan Plesch, CISD Director; and Mr Robert Misigaro, journalist at BBC World Service. The evening was moderated by Professor Fareda Banda, Chair of SOAS’s Centre of African Studies, who carefully navigated our way through this contentious and interesting subject.

.@DanPlesch #Ethiopia bought 10 charges against Italy to the commission in 1948. Countries such as #Poland and #India supported the case @mfaethiopia @UKinEthiopia @EthioEmbassyUK pic.twitter.com/GGueQoYtDQ

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) June 18, 2019

First, Dr Dan Plesch gave us insight into the long-forgotten war crimes of the Italian army in Ethiopia during the Second World War. If it wasn’t for a stroke of academic luck, his research may have not been so successful to have informed us of the post-war proceedings of the UN War Crimes Commission. Although there was thorough and conclusive primary evidence with detailed legal arguments, there were political motivations to not extradite an Italian officer to Ethiopia: the Italians had switched sides during the war, becoming Allies. This obviously pre-dates African failure to send anyone to be tried at the ICC.

It wasn’t until the end of the Balkans War that a similar model to the War Crimes Commission was introduced to try Slobodan Milosevic. With the Cold War in the intervening years, one can only assume there was little political will to address the crimes of others without finding the glasshouse windows broken.

Justice Richard Goldstone now discussing the politics of international criminal justice in #Africa, and criticisms of the @IntlCrimCourt inc selectivity of cases and completing 5/28 cases pic.twitter.com/FHrl6FhCWX

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) June 18, 2019

Justice Goldstone began by debunking the decade-long myth that the ICC is biased against Africans: of the 9 African cases that are subjected to ICC tribunals, only 3 were the result of ICC reviews, 2 referrals were from the UN Security Council, and the remaining 4 were self-referrals, that is, requested by the national government. He later explained that there are plenty of Africans within the ICC, as judges or prosecutors.

He argued that the African Union called for African nations to withdraw from the process, based on political argument rather than fact. But the reason for not liking the ICC is because they feel threatened by it: “Burundi – the leader feels threatened; Gambia – the autocratic leader was forced out of power; South Africa threatened to leave but it came to nothing.”

Justice Goldstone’s “sorry criticism” of the 17 years of the ICC was that only 5 cases of 28 had been properly concluded. Of these 28, 5 were thrown out by the reviewing panel at the outset, and 2 were dismissed at the end of the case; the remaining cases are still underway.

He proposed that there is a selectivity of international justice, based on the will of the powerful nations: starting wars on less powerful nations to guarantee a successful outcome. There has been no tribunal into the war criminals on either side of the long wars in Sri Lanka or Syria; the same goes for Palestine and Israel. Justice Goldstone opined that the Permanent 5 of the UN Security Council would veto any ICC review into these countries.

But he argued, despite these setbacks, that we should not be disheartened, but rather than abandon international justice we should tackle it with “renewed vigour.”

By way of a case study, Justice Goldstone explained that in the Rwandan genocide case in 1994, the Rwandan government sought an independent, internally operated process, not based on the model used in the Former Yugoslav Republic trials, with the death penalty available. Fortunately, this option was removed by the UN, citing human rights. He reminded us that an estimated 1 million people were killed in those 12 weeks. Not getting their way, the Rwandan government withdrew their request for a tribunal. Coincidentally, Rwanda was, at that time, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and voted against the decision to impose the model without the death penalty; China abstained; all 13 other members supported the decision. But the tribunal was limited to evidence from 1994, not any proceeding factors or events, and did not consider the actions, retaliatory or otherwise, of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). The model was not perfect.

Justice Goldstone explained how he had set up the Prosecutor’s Office in Kigali, with the tribunal itself taking place in Arusha, Tanzania. He asked all of his team to peer review each indictment, whether the lawyer was prosecuting or not, to gain a full understanding of each case. Subsequently, the decision to prosecute was made on a majority basis as the team’s view was not always unanimous, carefully considering and discussing any opposing, minority views before proceeding with a prosecution.

Echoing Doctor Plesch’s historical findings, Justice Goldstone reported that gender crimes were considered in the War Crimes Commission (WCC) of 1944-1948, with about 8000 convictions in domestic courts.

Justice Goldstone concluded that the notion of peer review was not new, with the WCC conducting a peer review by 16 countries, including India, the USA and China, to sift through each case before reaching a decision to prosecute. Should the ICC adopt a similar approach, he mused. It would certainly address any perception of bias against African or small state nations.

The last guest speaker was Robert Misigaro of BBC World Service, who spoke passionately about the perceptions of double standards in international justice. “Why don’t we push certain questions?”, he posed, citing a recent decision to not investigate the US for alleged war crimes during its campaign in Afghanistan. He also questioned who the ICC was actually for, as the victims want to see their perpetrators brought to international justice and to “go and have their day in court.”

Justice Richard Goldstone speaking on the prospects for the International Criminal Court (#ICC), including in #Africa to @royafrisoc at @SOAS. #JusticeInAfrica. pic.twitter.com/TbLTyLOSNs

— Nick Westcott (@NickWestcott4) June 18, 2019

The session ended with many interesting questions and comments, including the resourcing of the ICC – the ICC “needs to go on a diet” opined Doctor Plesch; whether Tony Blair and George W. Bush should be indicted for the regime change in Iraq, and that Africans want to see a more vocal opposition to a discriminatory Western narrative and greater ICC involvement regarding Omar Al Bashir, former president of Sudan. Of particular note was a question from Dr Nick Westcott, Director of the Royal African Society, posing whether we should salvage the concept of the ICC, adding that although there is the “tarnished message” of Western justice on African peoples, the “rationale remains strong.” Justice Goldstone countered that the ICC has to succeed, seeking improvements at the national level in domestic courts. The ICC is “all about politics, and some of it is a long way off.” We will have to wait to see what the future brings.

If you would like to explore more about this subject please visit http://www.unwcc.org/

If you would like to attend evening seminars please sign up to the CISD website/mailing list.

In a moment reflecting the significance of visual language in digital diplomacy, the day began with a “groufie”, courtesy of Twiplomacy’s Matthias Lüfkens.

Un-diplomactic use of #cyberdiplomacy has very high risks of people killing each other

Fascinating discussions @soas_cisd about #DigitalDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/3DCfACFtDW

— Twiplomacy #DigitalDiplomacy (@Twiplomacy) May 23, 2019

The first session focused on Shaun Riordan’s recent book “Cyberdiplomacy: Managing Security and Governance Online”, with responses from CISD’s Dr Dan Plesch and Dr Hanns Kendel.

Thanks to @DrJSimonRofe for having me at the @SOAS_CISD workshop on #CyberDiplomacy – International affairs in the digital age today pic.twitter.com/Fn4EykcSrT

— Matthias Lüfkens (@luefkens) May 23, 2019

The session then opened up to a wider debate aimed at defining “Cyberdiplomacy”, and featured remarks from Dr Nicholas Westcott, as well as video contributions from Alexander Evans, Director Cyber, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and Dr Ilan Manor, author of “The Digitalization of Public Diplomacy“.

The second session, which was opened by Oxford University’s Dr Corneliu Bjola, focused on future developments in cyberdiplomacy.

Fascinating discussions and presentations at @soas_cisd @SOAS Now @CBjola diving into #digital and monitoring disinformation @drjsimonrofe @DanPlesch @SYMConsult @shaun_riordan pic.twitter.com/n9GfQMf0fL

— Jose Gigante, FRSA (he/him) (@SportEducation) May 23, 2019

Dr Katharina Hone made the following contribution on the role of Big Data in digital diplomacy.

at a really timely event at @soas_cisd on 'Cyber diplomacy: international affairs in the digital age' I'm up next (after the wonderful @CBjola ) and will be talking about #bigdata. Want to know more? Here is our @DiplomacyEdu report on the topic https://t.co/azlVFN2XVu https://t.co/E8Ge72QQo0

— Dr Katharina E Höne (@KatHone) May 23, 2019

The next two presenters discussed the importance of visual media within cyber/digital diplomacy. Matthias Lüfkens explored the significance of “selfie diplomacy”.

Thanks to @DrJSimonRofe for having me at the @SOAS_CISD workshop on #CyberDiplomacy – International affairs in the digital age today pic.twitter.com/Fn4EykcSrT

— Matthias Lüfkens (@luefkens) May 23, 2019

While Massimiliano Fusari from the University of Westminster discussed visual communication of diplomacy on digital media.

To keep up-to-date with news about cyberdiplomacy, follow the participants from the roundtable: @shaun_riordan, @Ilan_Manor, @CBjola, @KatHone, @NickWestcottRAS, @DanPlesch, @drjsimonrofe, @Twiplomacy, @luefkens, @imassimedia.

CISD group at the British Embassy, Ethiopia

The tour began by visiting the British Embassy in Ethiopia, which sits in the UK’s largest diplomatic compound. The CISD delegation met the Ambassador Dr Alastair McPhail, and were briefed by the Political Officer Jamie Orton, and the Embassy’s African Union liaison officer. The meeting focused on the history the UK in Ethiopia, the policies of current prime minister Abyi Ahmed, and the UK’s engagement with the African Union.

Just completed the first session of our #AddisAbabaStudyTour at @UKinEthiopia – very interesting discussions on peace & security, economics and development. Looking forward to the week ahead! pic.twitter.com/983ChptTMr

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) April 8, 2019

CISD at the Nelson Mandela Conference Hall

On the second day the CISD delegation had a series of back-to-back meetings with the heads of various African Union organs including: the Office of the Secretary General; the Department of Trade and Industry; the Department of Political Affairs; and the Department of Economic Affairs. The African Union was keen to discuss Agenda 2063, its economic, social and political implications.

Day 2 of our #AddisAbabaStudyTour and we're at @_AfricanUnion discussing #Agenda2063, it's formation, implementation and relation to #SDGs pic.twitter.com/cWpd4RvTIO

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) April 9, 2019

Following the meetings the group held a roundtable discussion with Ambassador Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry, where negotiations surrounding the Continental Free Trade Area were discussed in detail, as well as other policy priorities such as the African Union passport.

CISD Delegation with Ambassador Albert Muchanga

On the third day the group visited the Ethiopian Civil Service University, and met with Ambassador Arega Teffera, head of the Ethiopian Foreign Service Training Institute, to discuss potential partnerships.

Now meeting H.E. Ambassador Arega Teffera @mfaethiopia ahead of a interactive student-led discussion between @soas_cisd @SOAS and School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Ethiopian Civil Services University pic.twitter.com/eAxJ1GcwGR

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) April 10, 2019

That group then had an evening briefing with the European Union External Action Service, led by Ambassador Ranieri Sabatucci, EU Ambassador to the African Union. The reception provided the students with the opportunity to liaise with a number of ambassadors, including: Ambassador Brita Wagener (Germany), Ambassador Mary-Beth Leonard, Ambassador (US Mission to the AU), Aymeric Lorthiois (French Counsellor for African Union issues), Jason Grimes (UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the African Union), and Paul Rainier (New Zealand Deputy Ambassador).

On the fourth day the group met Ethiopian Foreign Minister Hirut Zemene,  Dr Dan Plesch also briefed the minister of his war crimes research and presented an archive of claims made by Ethiopia against Italy following the fascist occupation.

Early morning roundtable with Minister Hirut @mfaethiopia on security and @igadsecretariat. @DanPlesch @SOAS presented archives on #WarCrimes case submitted by #Ethiopia against #Italy c.1940s #AddisAbabaStudyTour @royafrisoc @soas_cisd pic.twitter.com/K4Aq8u4tuy

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) April 11, 2019

The UN always features prominently in CISD Study Tours, and the Addis Ababa trip was no different. The group visited the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on the morning and afternoon of the fourth day. Meeting in Africa Hall, the historic conference centre built in 1961 and used by the AU’s predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, the delegation held discussion with experts from a range of departments.

CISD delegation at UNECA

Rounding off the tour, the SCRAP Weapons project had its official Africa launch in the evening of the fourth day of the Study Tour. The panel, including CISD Student Melanie Mylvaganam, Dan Plesch, Olamide Samuel and Nick Westcott discussed the role of African leadership in weapons control. The event attracted a range of NGOs, diplomats, and students, and was attended by Ambassador Hanna Tetteh, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU).

.@HannaTetteh – the @SCRAPweapons treaty shows that we can implement peace, and gives people hope. pic.twitter.com/60C8BsXKxR

— SOAS Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy (@soas_cisd) April 11, 2019

Speaking about the Study Tour CISD student Melanie Mylvaganam said: “This trip was an invaluable opportunity to engage with African politics close up, and have real conversations with practising diplomats in the field. All our learning at SOAS suddenly met reality, and gave me an even deeper appreciation for the complexity of diplomacy in practice.”

While CISD student Aashika Doshi said: “Addis Ababa is a once in a lifetime experience and a career training highlight”.

Royal African Society’s Nick Westcott said: “Addis Ababa was the birthplace of the OAU, now the AU, and Ethiopia is the oldest independent state in Africa. With its stabilising role in the region, it seems appropriate that we visit the country at the centre of Africa’s international relations”

Dan Plesch said: “In many ways Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa, so it was a natural destination to expand our Study Tours to. The trip provided a great opportunity for students to engage with centres of power in African politics, while enabling the Centre to institutionalise meaningful partnerships with the thought leaders of regional and continental politics”.