Summary The aim of this article is to identify and map innovation diplomacy actions in Denmark and Sweden using the 'functions of innovation systems' approach. Based on Hekkert et al.'s seven key system functions (Marko P. Hekkert, Roald A. A. Suurs, Simona O. Negro, Stefan Kuhlmann and Ruud E. H. M. Smits, 'Functions of Innovation Systems: A New Approach for Analysing Technological Change', Technological Forecasting & Social Change 74 (4) (2007), 413-432), the article assess the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in meeting governments' innovation targets. The empirical analysis, including twelve semi-structured interviews with seventeen career diplomats, reveals the key initiatives that countries are taking in furthering their homeland's innovation aims or ambitions. The study also asks whether the 'diplomacy for innovation' approach of both Scandinavian MFAs are consistent with the 'whole-of-government' and 'whole-of-society' approaches.
21. gadsimtā ārlietu jeb diplomātiskais dienests, līdzīgi kā citas valsts pārvaldes iestādes un struktūrvienības, ir pakļauts straujām pārmaiņām. Ņemot vērā straujo notikumu attīstības gaitu globalizācijas apstākļos, kā arī faktu, ka starptautiskajās attiecībās ir iekļauti jauni un nozīmīgi aktieri, maģistra darbā ir aplūkota ārlietu dienesta loma mūsdienās. Pētnieciskā darba autors par hipotēzi izvirza pieņēmumu, ka izmaiņas 21. gadsimta diplomātijā nosaka ārlietu dienestu pāreju no tradicionālā "vārtsarga modeļa" uz diplomātijas "koordinēto sinerģijas modeli". Darba teorētiskajā daļā autors konceptualizē diplomātijas jēdzienu, kā arī sniedz koncentrētu vēsturisku ieskatu diplomātijas attīstībā, kas savukārt tiešā veidā ir ietekmējusi ārlietu dienesta izveidošanos. Maģistra darba pamatā tiek aplūkotas izmaiņas ārlietu dienestos no izmaiņu diplomātiskā dienesta uzdevumos un darbības raksturā aspekta, kad diplomātija tiek izprasta tradicionālajā diplomātijas nozīmē – kā valsts ārpolitikas īstenošanas instruments. Piemērojot trīs būtiskākās diplomātijas iezīmes ārlietu dienesta attīstības noteikšanā - pārstāvība, komunikācija un informācijas apmaiņa, kā arī sarunu vešana, praktiskajā daļā autors analizē Amerikas Savienoto Valstu un Apvienotās Karalistes ārlietu dienestu darbību 21. gadsimtā. Papildus, prognozējot turpmāko ārlietu dienestu attīstības gaitu mūsdienās, autors scenāriju modelēšanā piedāvā jaunākos datus no veiktajām intervijām ar augsta ranga ārvalstu diplomātiem, bijušajiem diplomātiem, pazīstamiem akadēmiķiem un pētniekiem, kā arī konsultantiem ārlietu jautājumos. Izvērtējot pēdējos gados publicētos ziņojumus un pārskatus par Amerikas Savienoto Valstu un Apvienotās Karalistes ārlietu dienestu attīstības tendencēm, maģistra darba autors apstiprina darbā izvirzīto hipotēzi. Lai arī ārlietu ministrijas daļu līdzšinējo pārstāvības funkciju turpinās deleģēt citām valsts pārvaldes iestādēm, tomēr nākotnē ārlietu ministriju loma ārpolitikas īstenošanas koordinēšanā vēl vairāk nostiprināsies. Paredzams, ka turpmākajos gados liela nozīme būs "speciālistu" rekrutēšanai darbam ārlietu dienestos, kā arī līdzsvara pārdefinēšanai starp "ģenerālistiem" un "speciālistiem". Pieaugoša nozīmē būs arī informācijas un komunikācijas tehnoloģiju izmantošanas veidiem diplomātiskajos dienestos. ; During the 21st century, diplomatic services, in the way of state administration offices and branches, are subject to change. Considering the rapid development of events in the circumstances of globalization, as well as the fact that international relations include many new important actors, the Master's Paper examines the role of foreign services. The author of the research paper proposes the hypothesis that the changes in diplomacy during the 21st century determine foreign services to move from the traditional "gate-keeper model" to the "coordinated synergetic model." In the theoretical chapter the author generalizes a concept of diplomacy, as well as considers the development of diplomacy through the lens of history, which has directly influenced the establishment of foreign services. Overall, the Master's Paper analyzes the changes in foreign services from the aspect of changing tasks and functions in the diplomatic services, where diplomacy is understood in the traditional meaning – as an instrument of foreign policy implementation. In the practical chapter, the author uses three essential diplomatic characteristics for identifying the development of foreign services (representation, communication and information exchange, and negotiations) as well as analyzes the diplomatic services activities of the United States and United Kingdom in the 21st century. In addition, for projecting and modelling the future course of foreign services, the author provides the latest information of the transformation of diplomacy from interviews with high-ranking foreign diplomats, former diplomats, famous academicians and researchers, as well as consultants in foreign affairs. After the analysis of published reports and reviews on the developmental tendencies of foreign services in the Unites States and United Kingdom the Master's Paper's author confirms the stated hypothesis. Although foreign ministries will delegate some of their previous representation functions to the state's other actors, the coordination role of foreign ministries in foreign policy implementation will increase further in the future. It is predictable that in the following years great importance will be attached to the recruiting of "specialists" in foreign services, as well as reconsidering the balance between "generalists" and "specialists." This increasing importance will also be attached to the use of information and communication technologies in diplomatic services.
The aim of the article is to offer a comparative overview of the latest developments in the Baltic and Nordic state diaspora engagement policies and outreach practices, and to further the understanding of the term diaspora diplomacy. In this article, diaspora diplomacy is understood as the use of Foreign Service, or other branches of government, to promote the systematic relationship, for mutual benefit, between the country of origin government, diaspora groupings in countries of residence, and the various interest associations in both the country of origin and country of residence. In addition to reviewing the diaspora outreach initiatives of the eight countries, the article also utilizes interviews with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic and Nordic region. The interviews with government representatives offer insight into how diaspora are regarded, if diasporas are thought of as a resource for the home country, and what are the possible future trajectories for diaspora relations.
Summary Declaring the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 left thousands of travellers stranded, propelling consular work to the forefront, and testing governments' capacity to aid their nationals abroad. While all consular departments provided assistance and duty of care (DoC) through information and guidance, some were reactive while others were proactive, and some were willing to make exceptions and engage in pastoral care. Analysis of the Baltic and Nordic countries' reactions to the initial outbreak of COVID-19 shows us how DoC diverged in practice, and to note the transition of consular affairs into consular diplomacy and its interplay with facets of digital, citizen-centric and diaspora diplomacy. The conclusion is that all eight countries exceeded normal consular practice and exhibited some level of pastoral DoC, with Latvia and Lithuania exhibiting high levels of pastoral care. In parallel, Lithuania and Denmark, in their responses, effectively incorporated innovative elements of digital and diaspora diplomacy.
