About 

The Crisis Diplomacy project studies the emergent "new" diplomacy of the twenty-first century by considering how post-Cold War global interconnectedness, non-state actors, and challenges from terrorism and piracy to humanitarian crises and pandemics demand an altered conceptualization and practice of "traditional" diplomacy. The project considers the subject from theoretical and conceptual perspectives, as well as through case studies of emerging and current crises throughout the world.  

The project on Crisis Diplomacy focuses on issues such as the role of youth and social media that highlight the new role of technology and new groups impacting the conduct of diplomacy in a world of real-time global inter-connectedness. New forms of diplomacy such as citizen and private diplomacy are also evaluated based on examples of experiences in different crisis settings, especially in the context of the nuclear program in Iran, and diplomacy in the MENA region since the Arab Spring. 

Seminar on Global Diplomatic and Security Challenges (GDSC)

The Seminar on Global Diplomatic and Security Challenges (GDSC) is a year-long interactive seminar led by Wolfgang Danspeckgruber, Founding Director of LISD, which affords participating students the opportunity to participate in in-depth discussion on select issues critical for contemporary diplomacy and security with eminent experts and representatives in an interdisciplinary and interactive virtual venue. The GDSC will explore conceptual dimensions like perception, predictability, realpolitik, trust, leadership, strategy, sphere of influence, sovereignty and self-determination; focus on geo-strategic developments and crises in regions like the Arctic, EurAsia, the Mediterranean, the wider Middle East, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, North East Asia; and deal specifically with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the United Nations (UN). The seminar will analyze critical global challenges, such as the SARS2 Covid-19 Pandemic, inequality, the environmental challenges; as well as the role of media, and new technologies. 

Participating students, the GDSC Fellows, are expected to register for the entire academic year 2020/21 and are expected to attend all sessions. Special arrangements will be made so that the Fellows will have additional time with speakers to discuss their interests in a more private forum.