Protocol vs creativity: diplomats of different generations debated at the International Symposium "Inventing the Future"
As part of the open programme of the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future", a debate titled "Protocol or Creativity?" was held, bringing together diplomats of different generations. The event was co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Participants tackled real diplomatic cases based on both professional experience and modern trends, while also discussing the transformation of international relations.
Two teams took part in the grand diplomatic debate. The first team included Alexander Alimov, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dmitry Birichevsky, Director of the Department for Economic Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The second team consisted of Alexander Bobrov, Head of the Department for Diplomatic Studies at the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of RUDN University, founder of the Diplomatic Club named after A. G. Karlov, PhD in History, and Vasily Taran, Deputy Dean for International Programmes of the Faculty of International Relations and Researcher at the Laboratory for Data Mining at MGIMO University. The debate was moderated by Olga Lebedeva, Professor at the Department of Diplomacy at MGIMO University, Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Participants discussed two main questions: whether the established diplomatic system needs renewal through creative approaches, and how significant the role of artificial intelligence will be in diplomacy in the near future.
Alexander Alimov noted that today’s international situation can indeed be described as a diplomatic crisis — primarily as a result of the actions of the elites of several Western countries that continue to act from positions of force and dictate, typical of a unipolar world model. Nevertheless, this does not mean that diplomacy itself is outdated or requires replacement.
"Professionalism in the European diplomatic corps is being cancelled when people without proper education or necessary knowledge are appointed to responsible positions. True diplomacy must counter this. Let me remind that our President, Vladimir Putin, speaking recently at the Valdai Club, touched upon this topic, noting that a multipolar world means a return to classical diplomacy — persuasion instead of coercion. And I have no doubt that we will soon witness a global renaissance of high diplomatic art," emphasised Alexander Alimov.
Dmitry Birichevsky stressed that protocol is very important in itself, although it does not contradict creativity.
"The diplomatic note has been and remains a key tool of communication. The need to record the main points of each diplomatic meeting after it concludes also remains relevant — simply because it not only helps preserve but also allows us to deeply comprehend its entire content. But above all, what has always been and remains crucial is the trust between people who communicate with one another, even if they are on different sides," said Dmitry Birichevsky.
Supporting the need for more creative approaches, Alexander Bobrov also pointed to the crises affecting many traditional mechanisms of international diplomacy, including the UN and its Security Council. Under these circumstances, it is essential to find new formats of cooperation.
"We must develop informal communication methods — the so-called ‘second-track diplomacy’, as well as trade diplomacy. Here, we should acknowledge the work of the Special Presidential Representative for Investment Cooperation with Foreign States, Kirill Dmitriev, whose efforts made possible the Russia–US summit in Alaska. Another successful example of informal diplomacy is the recently held project ‘Intervision’," said Alexander Bobrov.
Artificial intelligence has already become part of the diplomatic system and is playing an increasingly significant role, noted Vasily Taran. Technological tools based on AI are also becoming an integral part of negotiations and their preparation.
"Today, both big data and neural network models are both subjects of negotiation and participants in every field connected with diplomacy. For instance, just five years ago, OSINT (open-source intelligence) was a behind-the-scenes activity, handled confidentially, but now it is used not only by states but also by private actors," said Vasily Taran.
The II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held on 7 – 8 October at the National Centre RUSSIA, bringing together participants from more than 85 countries and all regions of the Russian Federation. Over 260 Russian and foreign experts from China, the United States, Italy, Latin American countries, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are taking part.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is organised at the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, under the aegis of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The analytical partner of the Symposium is the VCIOM Analytical Centre, and the literary partner is the Eksmo-AST Publishing Group.
