ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 zooms in on another side of what is seen as “means of implementation” for sustainable development – a key enabler for diplomacy and development alike: digital technologies. The chapter outlines the challenges that digital technologies pose to diplomacy, including the lack of parameters for technology creators to engage in international public policy, and the ensuing lack of a system of internet governance. Following the structure of previous chapters, Chapter 4 outlines COVID-19’s amplification of the governance gap, noting implications of nearly half of the world remaining offline in the midst of global lockdowns. It also touches on the impact of technology on the practice of diplomacy in the time of COVID-19, including the democratization of diplomacy through digital means, the appointment of ambassadors to technology communities rather than countries, and a bridge to security issues and cybersecurity. Looking forward, chapter four makes the case for multi-stakeholder and multilateral cooperation with the UN as a key convener, and outlines the main ingredients for future-readiness here, with a view to leveraging the potential of digital technologies as enablers for sustainable development.
