On April 3, 2018, the Valdai Discussion Club held an expert discussion, titled "The Future of Diplomacy and Political Communication".
The current crisis in Russian-British relations, which has evolved into a full-scale multilateral diplomatic war, clearly reflects the situation that has developed in the sphere of international communication in the last few years.
Diplomatic relations do not serve the purpose to maintain contacts between states and resolve conflict situations. The recent cases of diplomats expulsions without real reasons, confirm an overly politicized approach by governments to the issue of the status of diplomats.
Formally, such actions are not a violation of international law, but they undermine the principles of political communication, which for many decades helped to strengthen mutual trust and maintain dialogue. They introduce chaos without rules, order and systemic vision, which could lead to disastrous consequences.
Will the modern diplomacy get out of the current crisis? Can we talk about a radical transformation of the sphere of political communication? What are the most likely consequences of this situation? These and other questions will be answered by the participants in the discussion.
Working languages: Russian, English.
Speakers:
Alexander Grushko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Alexander Orlov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the French Republic (2008-2017), Executive Secretary of the Russian-French Forum Trianon Dialogue