Topic: COVID-19 and the Future of Diplomacy

Abstract

As restrictions kept people at home, diplomacy had to go virtual, losing much of its human touch. Yet its tasks involved new complex challenges such as public messaging – even across borders – where misinformation could mix with nationalist sentiments to create new pressures on countries. This panel will explore questions such as: How has the pandemic harmed or strengthened soft power? Who has maintained their reputations emerging from the crisis? How has the pandemic affected the practices of public diplomacy, characterised by contrasting challenges of misinformation and urgent health prerogatives? Will vaccine access and distribution become an instrument of diplomacy? How will concerns about fairness, inequalities, or competition affect the distribution and reopening?

The panellists will present on the following topics:
1. "COVID-19 and Soft-Power " by Dr Kitti Prasirtsuk
2. "COVID-19 and Public Diplomacy" by Ms Ariel Bogle
3. "COVID-19 and Vaccine Diplomacy " by Dr Alfred Gerstl

Please be informed that the event will be conducted via Zoom. Webinar ID and Password will be sent via email to all registrants one working day before the event. Unregistered persons will not be able to access the virtual event.

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Registration will close on Monday,1 March 2021 at 5.00 pm (UTC +8)

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