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How Information Revolution is Affecting US Diplomacy

By Mina Fabulous  

Assistant Secretary Rose Gottemoeller for Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance today discussed how information revolution is affecting American diplomacy.

In her remarks "From Telegraph to Twitter: Arms Control Diplomacy in the Information Age," Ms. Gottemoeller underlined
the changing nature of diplomacy in the Information Age.

"Technology and innovation have changed the conditions for statecraft in the 21st century. Treaties and agreements are not being formulated in vaulted, smoke-filled rooms across green baize tables, among grizzled diplomats with endless amounts of time." -Ms. Gottemoeller

She noted that for better or for worse, diplomacy now often happens more in the open, and at comparatively break-neck speeds. She said the world has changed and American diplomats have to to adapt and thrive under new circumstances. She added that the information age is changing how the U.S. conduct diplomacy today.

She stressed that the State Department had to learn how to make the most out of the new technology without letting it damage or disrupt the business of diplomacy.

"The telegraph, of course, was not the first game-changer: think of the role the printing press played in an earlier time. Now we are in another era of revolution, this time also driven by new information technologies.
" -Ms. Gottemoeller

She noted that new concepts are not invented overnight, and no one yet understands the full range of possibilities inherent in the information age.

"My boss, Hillary Clinton, has been a great champion of 21st Century Statecraft, which places a big premium on internet freedom, civil society, and innovation." -Ms. Gottemoeller

She reported that in January of 2010, Secretary Clinton gave a groundbreaking speech on internet freedom, establishing the United States as the global leader in the promotion of freedom of expression in the Internet Age.

"This past December, the State Department opened a Virtual Embassy in Tehran in support of the Secretary's vision. When she announced the launch of this first-ever virtual embassy for Iran, she made clear that we want to communicate directly to the people of Iran and to support a more direct and robust engagement between our people." -Ms. Gottemoeller

She stressed that the virtual embassy is a hub in Persian and English for information not only on U.S. policy towards Iran, but also a place for insight into American culture and society, to find visa information, and to learn about opportunities to study in the United States.

She explained that internet freedom is the foundation for what Secretary Clinton called Civil Society 2.0. The initiative matches organizations with technology tools and tech-savvy volunteers to help raise digital literacy, strengthen the information and communication networks of NGOs, and amplify the impact of civil society movements.

"As we've seen throughout the Arab Spring, technology can be a powerful catalyst for the growth of civil society groups." -Ms. Gottemoeller

She noted that another component of the 21st Century Statecraft Initiative focuses on bringing innovation to the Department of State and modernizing the practice of statecraft.

She said the United States is incorporating new standards for hiring to find young, technology minded staff, emphasizing new media platforms to reach younger and more tech-savvy audiences, and revising the Foreign Service exam to test for problem-solving skills necessary in today's world.

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain english. Contact Mina through NewsBlaze.