istitutodiplomatico.wordpress.com
Istituto Diplomatico is the structure of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) responsible for training. Its main task is to update and improve the professional quality of the MFA staff (both diplomats and non-diplomats) through courses and seminars. The Faculty consists mainly of internal staff and experts from the Ministry. The two main courses offered for diplomats are aimed at junior and middle-rank officers. The main activities for non-diplomat staff relate to pre-post courses and specialized professional training. The Institute is developing a series of self-paced online learning modules focused on the MFA’s activities and functions. Its most recent project is a blog (ISDI learning corner, available at http://istitutodiplomatico.wordpress.com/) for sharing useful information concerning diplomatic soft skills.
DiploFoundation emerged from a project to introduce ICT tools to the practice of diplomacy, initiated in 1992 at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic studies in Malta. In November 2001, Diplo was established as an independent non-profit foundation by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo has received wide recognition for its work, including consultative status with the United Nations. Today, Diplo works to increase the capacity of small and developing states to engage effectively in international policy, negotiations, and diplomacy. We do this by providing capacity development programmes in areas such as Internet governance and climate change diplomacy; using and developing tools for e-participation in global governance, including remote participation in international meetings and social media for global negotiations; and providing specialised and effective academic programmes – accredited with the University of Malta - for professional diplomats seeking cost-effective and high-quality training in both traditional and contemporary diplomacy topics.
Good Books to Support Good Management in Diplomacy
The theme of this calendar was inspired by Mark Twain’s quotation that: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them”. Diplomats, like many other professionals, must read, understand, synthesise and make sense of newspapers, magazines, emails, official reports and so many other things related to their daily work. But there is so much else to read both for pleasure and to deepen our knowledge. The digital revolution has successfully given us access to more and more information and taken away the time available to do so. We believe that reading one book a month is an entirely reasonable objective. Our challenge was that of selecting books that support professional development and are relevant to management in diplomacy. The selection reflects our reading history over many years and our belief that these are transformational works as they changed the way we think, live and work. Some of the 11 books we’ve selected have been in best-seller lists for many years and perhaps some may be unknown to you and we hope this will not stop you from being curious about them. Happily, books are perhaps the cheapest luxury available today (even free if your library has a copy). Reading good books was, is and will continue to be essential to personal and professional growth. This is why the 2013 Diplo calendar is a joint initiative of the Diplofoundation and the Diplomatic Institute of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Stefano Baldi and Eduardo Gelbstein
Enhance creativity and memory
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
Tony Buzan, The Mindmap Book
january www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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DECEMBER 2012
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7 14 21 28
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
1 8 15 22
2 9 16 23
3 10 17 24
FEBRUARY
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
Diplo’s capacity development: involving individuals and strengthening institutions • delivered in three phases: policy training – policy research – policy immersion • Internet governance, climate change, e-diplomacy www.diplomacy.edu/capacity
Time is more valuable than money
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
MTD Training, Successful Time Management
FEBRuary www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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JANUARY
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3 10 17 24 31
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
MARCH
4 11 18 25
Internet governance: capacity development and online training at national, regional, and global level • issues, players, and controversies www.diplomacy.edu/ig
A Users manual for your Brain?
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
John Medina, Brain Rules
MARCH www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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FEBRUARY
4 11 18 25
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6 13 20 27
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2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
1 8 15 22
2 9 16 23
3 10 17 24
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
APRIL
1 8 15 22 29
Climate change: capacity development programme • highly interactive online course • policy research • illustrations and multimedia for awareness building www.diplomacy.edu/capacity/climate
Thinking is an activity
Edward De Bono, Thinking Course
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
APRIL www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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MARCH
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
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2 9 16 23 30
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7 14 21 28
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2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
MAY
6 13 20 27
E-diplomacy: capacity development and courses • should diplomats blog • what is the impact of the Internet on diplomacy? • how does Twitter impact diplomatic reporting? www.diplomacy.edu/e-diplomacy
Discover the Genius in You
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
Michael J. Gelb, How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci
MAY www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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APRIL
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2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
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6 13 20 27
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4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
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1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
JUNE
3 10 17 24
Language and diplomacy: what makes one set of words more convincing than another • how can language best be put to work in the service of diplomacy and international relations • online and onsite courses www.diplomacy.edu/courses/language
Emotional intelligence is more important to success and happiness than professional skills and IQ
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
Daniel Goleman, Working with Emotional Intelligence
JUNE www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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MAY
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
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4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
2 9 16 23 30
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4 11 18 25
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6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
JULY
1 8 15 22 29
Soft Skills in diplomacy: get your brain in motion • learn more about soft skills for diplomatic activities • • improve the knowledge on emerging learning tools istitutodiplomatico.wordpress.com
A step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and dignity
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
Stephen R. Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
JULY www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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JUNE
3 10 17 24
4 11 18 25
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2 9 16 23 30
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
4 11 18 25
AUGUST
5 12 19 26
Protocol and Etiquette: role in diplomatic signalling and negotiations • online and onsite training, coaching, and consultancy www.diplomacy.edu/courses/protocol
Bureaucratic traps to avoid
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljašević
C. Northcote Parkinson, Parkinson´s Law
AUGUST www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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JULY
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4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
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SEPTEMBER
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24
Multilateral diplomacy: introductory and advanced courses • conceptual understanding and practical skills • negotiations and drafting • www.diplomacy.edu/courses/multilateral
Improving interaction between politicians and civil servants (and vice-versa)
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
Jonathan Lynn and Anthony Jay, Yes Minister
SEPTEMBER www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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AUGUST
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4 11 18 25
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6 13 20 27
OCTOBER
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
Public diplomacy: capacity development and online courses • opportunities and limits of public diplomacy • use of the Internet www.diplomacy.edu/courses/public
A Good Person is as Rare as a Black Swan*
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljašević
*Juvenal ± 90 AD
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan
OCTOBER www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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SEPTEMBER
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NOVEMBER
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
Training for ministries of foreign affairs: customised training delivered online and in situ • linked to institutional development • on-the-job training www.diplomacy.edu/courses/solutions
3 10 17 24
One thing we learn from history is that we don�t learn from history
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljašević
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
NOVEMBER www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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OCTOBER
7 14 21 28
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6 13 20 27
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1 8 15 22 29
DECEMBER
2 9 16 23 30
3 10 17 24 31
Illustrations and multimedia: describing complex policy issues in asimple way • increasing awareness among policymakers and the general public www.diplomacy.edu/resources/illustrations
Suggestions for a 2014 reading list
Concept: Baldi-Gelbstein Illustration: Veljaťević
DECEMBER www.diplomacy.edu/2013
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NOVEMBER
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3 10 17 24
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4 11 18 25
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JANUARY 2014
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
1 8 15 22 29
Policy research: revisiting core policy issues • discussing alternatives • thinking out of the box • involving academics and policymakers www.diplomacy.edu/courses/policyresearch