Can digital diplomacy be an alternative?

Face-to-face meetings used to be considered key for diplomacy, but the pandemic has upended traditions.

Face-to-face meetings are said to be the best way to bring together conflicting parties.

But during the past year and a bit, the coronavirus pandemic changed all that.

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Social distancing measures and health and travel restrictions forced world leaders to switch to virtual talks.

And diplomats have had to negotiate and persuade while adapting to the relatively new technological advances.

The diplomatic calendar was completely disrupted by COVID-19, but some talks are now taking place in person.

Can digital diplomacy serve the same purpose as physical diplomacy?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests

Tom Fletcher – Principle of Hertford College at Oxford University and foreign policy adviser to three UK prime ministers

Theresa Fallon – Director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies

Youssef Amrani – Morocco’s ambassador to South Africa