Plagiarism: Can 85% of Students be Wrong?

Yesterday, the Tribune de Geneve published on its cover page the news that 85% of university students in the United States are involved in plagiarism. (One should praise the US for facing and making this problem public. One can imagine what the situation is in European universities with mega-classes of 300-500 students writing papers in [...]

Public perception of diplomacy and diplomats…. why diplomats write…..

 
Since we started “DeepDip” I was thinking about my first input. I even started drafting my “first blog” (it will come later on). But as usual events take direction of itsown. Last few days I have been writing the preface for Stefano Baldi’s and Pasquale Baldocci’s book “Through the Diplomatic Looking Glass”. The book will [...]

The nullification of international agreements and policies or The mongrelisation of diplomacy

Aldo Matteucci
In the Westphalian paradigm states are sovereign in their national policies. In toady’s world deliberative democracy legitimises the laws and policies of the state. International convergence of national laws and policies is obtained through multilateral agreements based on consensus. Their legitimacy relies on national ratification. State laws and regulations are the outcome, and state [...]

Poetry: A Survival Strategy for Diplomats

Many diplomats have used poetry in their diplomatic work: wrapping words in silk is the diplomat’s job. A diplomat may turn a lie into a ‘constructive ambiguity’ – which is a way of defining poetry. Some poets have been diplomats – Neruda, Claudel, St. John Perse. It’s an occupational hazard: the stimulating place, the sheltered [...]