Insights
The Geopolitics of AI: Three Models of Digital Sovereignty
Artificial intelligence now sits at the epicenter of global strategic contestation—an arena in which competing visions of governance, innovation, and values are taking shape. In this new landscape, divergent models of digital sovereignty have materialized, each...
Digital Sovereignty: Controlling National Digital Destiny
Digital sovereignty has swiftly become a defining issue in international relations, encapsulating national ambitions to control digital assets, infrastructures, and data in an era of mounting technological dependencies and strategic uncertainty. This concept extends...
Corporate Diplomacy in the Tech Sector: Microsoft and Beyond
The acceleration of tech diplomacy as a core governmental practice is mirrored by the evolution of corporate diplomatic functions within major technology companies, marking a transformative shift in how both governments and private entities approach global technology...
Big Tech as Diplomatic Partners: Power, Legitimacy, and Collaboration
The evolving relationship between governments and major technology companies stands among the most critical and complex challenges in contemporary international relations. Leading enterprises such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon have amassed capabilities...
Beyond Nation-States: The Polylateral Nature of Tech Diplomacy
Tech diplomacy shatters the centuries-old monopoly of nation-states over international relations. Unlike traditional diplomacy's bilateral handshakes and multilateral treaties, tech diplomacy operates in a "polylateral" world—multiple types of actors wielding power...
Tech Ambassadors Around the World: A Comparative Analysis
Over twenty countries have established tech ambassador positions since Denmark's groundbreaking 2017 initiative—a diplomatic revolution that signals universal recognition of technology's transformative impact on global affairs. While nations share the conviction that...
What Does a Tech Diplomat Do? Responsibilities and Mandate
As governments worldwide establish tech diplomat positions and integrate technology into foreign policy, understanding these specialized roles becomes crucial for effective implementation. Tech diplomats operate at the intersection of traditional diplomacy and rapidly...
The Rise of Tech Ambassadors: Redefining Modern Diplomacy
The appointment of tech ambassadors represents the most significant innovation in diplomatic practice since economic diplomacy emerged after World War II. These specialized positions reflect a fundamental shift in global power dynamics, acknowledging that technology...
The Analytical Triangle: A Framework for Studying Tech Diplomacy
As tech diplomacy emerges as a distinct field of academic inquiry and policy practice, scholars and practitioners require systematic frameworks for analyzing its complex dynamics. The rapid pace of technological change, the diversity of actors involved, and the...
The Evolution of Tech Diplomacy: From Denmark’s TechPlomacy to Global Movement
The emergence of tech diplomacy as a distinct field of international relations can be traced to a pioneering decision made by Denmark in 2017, when it became the first nation to appoint a dedicated technology ambassador. This groundbreaking initiative, branded as...
Central Asia pioneers Global Movement for Tech Diplomacy with Historic Samarkand Declaration
World leaders gathered Saturday, November 1st in Samarkand for the launch of the Samarkand Declaration on Tech Diplomacy, the world’s first global movement ensuring every nation has diplomatic capacity to shape the digital future.
What is Tech Diplomacy? A Comprehensive Academic Definition
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has fundamentally transformed the landscape of international relations, creating unprecedented challenges that traditional diplomatic frameworks struggle to address. As artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other emerging...
Brazil Appoints First-Ever Tech Ambassador, Setting Global Precedent for Tech Diplomacy
Tech Diplomacy Institute Supervisory Board Member Eugenio Vargas Garcia Named to Historic Role as Extraordinary Ambassador for Technology and Innovation Paris, October 10, 2025 - Brazil has made diplomatic history with the appointment of Eugenio Vargas Garcia as its...
Kenya’s TechPlomacy Revolution: Pioneering Tech Diplomacy for Africa’s Inclusive Digital Future
Kenya has emerged as a trailblazer in tech diplomacy with the recent launch of its groundbreaking TechPlomacy Connective initiative on July 18, 2025. This ambitious platform represents a paradigm shift in how Global South nations approach the intersection of diplomacy...
Tech Diplomacy: Origins and Contemporary Practice
By Ayumi Moore Aoki24 July 2025 Tech diplomacy has emerged as a critical diplomatic innovation in response to the digital transformation of international relations. This article examines the origins and evolution of tech diplomacy, from Denmark's pioneering...
The Conceptual Foundations of AI Sovereignty
By Ayumi Moore Aoki 22 July 2025 Introduction The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed the landscape of international relations, challenging traditional notions of state sovereignty and introducing new complexities in global...
Meta’s Refusal to Sign the EU General-Purpose AI Code of Practice: Implications, Context, and Industry Impact
In July 2025, Meta announced its refusal to sign the European Union’s voluntary General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, a regulatory instrument to support compliance with the EU’s AI Act. This article explores the regulatory context, Meta’s rationale, industry and...
Comparative Structures of Tech Ambassador Roles: Five National Perspectives and Institutional Gaps
Digital technologies are reshaping diplomacy worldwide, prompting the rise of dedicated tech ambassador roles. These positions represent an effort by governments to reframe their foreign policy around the fast-evolving digital landscape. Drawing on thirteen academic...
Tech Diplomacy Forum launched at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on June 18th 2025
Paris, 18 June 2025 — The inaugural Tech Diplomacy Forum convened today at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, establishing a transformative platform for international collaboration in the digital era. This pioneering initiative, held in partnership with UNESCO, brought...
AI and Diplomacy—International Relations in the Era of Disruptive Technologies
Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) and disruptive digital technologies are fundamentally transforming the landscape of international relations and diplomacy. The SELA report (2024) provides a comprehensive analysis of how these technologies are reshaping power...
Evolving Paradigms in Science and Tech Diplomacy: A New Era for International Relations
Based on Balme, S. (2025). Evolving paradigms in science and tech diplomacy. Global Challenges, 17. --- The landscape of international relations is undergoing a profound transformation. Science and technology, once peripheral to the core of diplomacy, now stand at its...
The Osaka Protocol: Gender Equality in Digital Societies
On April 25, 2025, the Osaka Protocol was officially signed at the Women in Tech Global Summit in Osaka, marking a significant milestone in the global effort to advance gender equality within digital societies. This landmark international agreement brings together...
UN Establishes Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies
The United Nations has taken a significant step towards addressing the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly evolving digital landscape. As of January 1, 2025, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology has transitioned to the new UN Office for...
Denmark’s Pioneering Role in Tech Diplomacy: The World’s First Tech Ambassador
When Casper Klynge packed his bags for Silicon Valley in 2017, he wasn't just another tech enthusiast chasing the California dream. As Denmark's—and the world's—first official tech ambassador, Klynge embodied a radical shift in diplomatic relations. His appointment...
The Geopolitics of Innovation: Tech-Diplomacy as a Tool for National Branding
In the evolving landscape of international relations, the concept of Tech-Diplomacy is gaining prominence as nations strategically engage with technological stakeholders to achieve diplomatic objectives. This emerging field, highlighted in the paper by Itzhak Mashiah,...
Digital Diplomacy: Transforming International Relations in the 21st Century
The landscape of international relations is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements that have revolutionized communication and information sharing. At the forefront of this transformation is digital diplomacy, a product of globalization and new public...
What exactly is Tech Diplomacy?
Welcome to the realm of tech diplomacy, a dynamic field that's rapidly reshaping how nations, corporations, and civil society interact on the global stage. As explored by Eugenio V. Garcia in his recent work, tech diplomacy is more than just a buzzword; it's a...
Digital Diplomacy vs. Tech Diplomacy: Understanding the Difference
The rapid digitalization of international relations has generated considerable terminological confusion, with concepts like digital diplomacy, tech diplomacy, cyber diplomacy, and e-diplomacy often used interchangeably in policy discussions and academic literature....
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