Blog Archives

Recalibrating The G20 in the Aftermath of Saudi Arabia’s Summit: Testing a Secretariat!

Cooper posted a blog post on the German Development Institute webpage: Recalibrating The G20 in the Aftermath of Saudi Arabia’s Summit: Testing a Secretariat!

Posted in Uncategorized

The Populist Challenge and the Domestic Turn in Diplomacy

Cooper was asked to do the 1st blog for the Hague Journal of Diplomacy on populism and diplomacy. The blogpost could be seen here: The Populist Challenge and the Domestic Turn in Diplomacy

Posted in Uncategorized

Examining South Korea’s Global (Psy)chology As A Mix Of High Ambition And A Sensitive Legacy

First published on 18.11.2012. In many ways the Republic of Korea (or South Korea) is on a roll in terms of its positive global image. In soft power terms, it has found an unlikely source of attraction in Psy —

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

The Presidential Race Was No Contest On The Celebrity Scorecard

Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney shakes hands with musician Kid Rock at a campaign rally. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

First published on 10.11.2012 Nate Silver enhanced his already impressive reputation by his prediction in his FiveThirtyEight forecast that President Barack Obama had a 90.9 % chance of winning last week’s US election (NY Times, Nov. 10). In quantitative terms,

Posted in Celebrity Activism

Argo As A Lens Into Perceptions Of The Canadian Role In The World

Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor says a few words after he was presented the Congressional Gold Medal by President Ronald Reagan, June, 1981. (AP Photo/ Barry Thumma)

First published on 02.11.2012. Argo’s treatment of the escape from Tehran of six US embassy staff in January 1980 offers ample psychological compensation for the image of American vulnerability. In this respect, the movie’s dealing with this episode is part

Posted in Canadian Foreign Policy, Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Where Does Individual Agency Come From In International Relations? Is Argo Reality? (part 1)

Actor Ben Affleck poses for photographers during a photocall presenting his movie "Argo" in Rome, Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

First published on 24.10.2012. In the analysis of international relations, agency is back in. That is to say, instead of simply viewing the underlying structural context as dominant, space has opened up for the role of individuals. Yet this turn

Posted in Canadian Foreign Policy, Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

Leader’s Tweets Offer A Distorted Tip In Assessing eDiplomacy

President Barack Obama sits with Twitter co-founder and Executive Chairman Jack Dorsey in front of a screen displaying the question he tweeted during a "Twitter Town Hall". (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

First published on 17.09.2012. Publications sometime hit on an important topic that leaves more questions than answers. A good illustration is the release over the summer of a study from the PR firm Burson- Marsteller on “Twiplomacy.” How diplomats respond

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

A Long Apprenticeship Distinguishes Successful Celebrities Turned Politicians

First published on 09.09.2012. The relationship between celebrities from the entertainment/sports world and politics is fraught with difficulty. Celebrities have been drawn repeatedly into political life on a global basis. Yet an image remains of unpredictability and under-performance. When Clint

Posted in Celebrity Activism

How Should We Mark The Brics In Terms Of Artistic Expression?

Leaders raise their arms together during the group picture for the BRICS 2012 Summit in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das).

First published on 07.08.2012. There is an ongoing debate about the logic of using acronyms for clustering ascendant or rising states. The BRICS – a concept originally formulated by Goldman Sachs as BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and translated

Posted in Brics, Celebrity Activism

London Olympics

First published on 25.07.2012. The political dimensions of the London Olympics will be far more unpredictable than in previous years. Traditionally the divisions were rigid ones, based on Cold War rivalries or some other major fault lines of importance to

Posted in Celebrity Activism, Diplomacy

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