Unraveling the Shocking Truth: 2023's Game-Changing Global Events Reshaping the Future!

by Hritika Bhatnagar

When most of the things we have come to accept as facts have to be seriously reimagined, the changing world and its constantly shifting dynamics will reshape the meaning of life and its true essence.

The centuries-old practice of diplomacy is one aspect of human existence that will succumb to the demands of these rapid and unabated global shifts brought on by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Diplomacy, like all other endeavours, cannot escape the grip of the upcoming technological age. In order to avoid being dragged kicking and screaming into the new horizon of technology-driven diplomacy, nations will soon need to rethink their strategies.

ICT International Trends

The rapidly developing and innovative ICT sector, which is revolutionising the human experience, is one of the major drivers of change in many areas of human existence. The serious challenge of adapting to and accepting these changes, which will reshape its very existence, presents itself to diplomacy. The rise of social media, which has a far-reaching impact on how the world works, is linked to the advancement of science and technology. Social media have surpassed written and printed forms of communication and will soon be obsolete. It is amazing to see how close and far it can reach.

For instance, approximately 52 million people in South Africa own mobile phones, and 27 million people in South Africa use Whatsapp. Additionally, there are 19 million Facebook users, 9 million Twitter users, and 6 million LinkedIn users in South Africa. If properly utilised, the Square Kilometre Array's presence will yield benefits for further technological innovation that will revolutionise science, medicine, and robotics.

Cultural International Trends

In South African diplomacy, this is one area that has been neglected up until now. Art is one of the essential items that South Africa is offering as one of its exports. South Africa has distinguished itself internationally in a variety of artistic fields, including fashion, fine art, drama, music, poetry, literature, and art. Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masekela, Caiphus Semenya, Don Materra, and Bessie Head were just a few of our earlier exports.

Dirco will make certain that this aspect of diplomacy is given its due. Even if we were to have a prominent artist appointed as the champion of cultural diplomacy in South Africa, it would not hurt us. The recent Grammy Award for the film Black Panther, which was shot in Southern Africa, followed LadySmith Black Mambazo's recent awards. Numerous prominent South African artists, including John Kani, appeared in this film.

Art and culture are used by many nations to improve relations with other nations. The global distribution of American films serves as a model for the propagation of its dominant ideas. While Bollywood movies in India are quickly catching up, African films have yet to catch up and improve in quality.

 

Technological International Trends

These changes make it easy to rethink new ways of speaking and putting more emphasis on diplomacy. Countries will have to work harder during the fourth industrial revolution to keep up with the rapid scientific advancements that will change how people live and interact. It will be necessary to re-negotiate and capitalise on the connection between diplomacy and technological advancement. The government needs to come up with new ways to interact with tech hubs like Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, for example.

Given the amount of economic activity in Silicon Valley whose net value exceeds that of many governments, the concept of establishing a Technology Diplomat to be stationed in these areas is not that far off. In 2017, Denmark was named Silicon Valley's first Tech Ambassador. Digitalization and technological advancement are components of Denmark's foreign policy strategic thrust. A cyber diplomacy ambassador has been appointed by France.

Public International Trends

Public diplomacy needs to develop into an aggressive tool that will continue to promote the art of diplomacy in the public sphere. The large number of South Africans who are detained abroad due to their ignorance of the fundamental laws of the majority of those nations is evidence of the serious lack of diplomacy education in the public sphere. This obstacle is demonstrated by the numerous instances of teachers arrested in China on study visas rather than work permits.

To raise awareness of diplomacy, information sessions must be held at schools, colleges, and universities. In fact, satellite offices of public diplomacy will need to be located on a number of university campuses. The fact that the majority of South African universities have foreign students demonstrates the need to provide these students with a variety of consular services that could be provided in collaboration with their respective embassies.

Scientific International Trends

It is appropriate to contemplate establishing a Science Diplomat whose primary focus will be to fully exploit the opportunities that modern science provides to various nations in order to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the fourth industrial revolution. The activities of the Department of Science, Technology, and Health and the Department of Basic and Higher Education will be enhanced by this diplomat. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, or NEDO for short, is based in Silicon Valley, where a lot of governments interact and use its technology services. NEDO is the drive of the public authority of Japan. Human rights and technology can coexist peacefully and sustainably with the same goal of creating a new world.
International Affairs In 2023

· Space-observable effects of Europe's extreme winter heat wave:- During the peak of Europe's winter skiing season, new satellite imagery reveals the effects of the continent's "winter heatwave." The Swiss town of Altdorf, which is close to ski resorts, is clearly missing snow in an image posted by the Copernicus Programme of the European Union. On New Year's Day, the temperature in Altdorf reached 66.5 degrees Fahrenheit (19.2 degrees Celsius) and remained above 60.9 degrees Fahrenheit (16.1 degrees Celsius) all night, breaking a previous record set in 1864. Warsaw, Poland, also reached 66°F (18.9°C), breaking its own January record by more than 5°C.

· China launches the first hydrogen-powered train in Asia: A hydrogen urban train was introduced by China's CRRC Corporation Ltd.; it is the first of its kind in Asia and the second in the world. A few months ago, Germany introduced green trains. The hydrogen trains can travel 600 kilometres without refuelling and have a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. The German trains set a record with a range of 1175 kilometres. On the other hand, the Indian Railway is moving quickly to introduce the "World's Greenest Train" soon. By December 2023, India will have its first indigenous hydrogen trains. According to information provided by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, engineers at Indian Railways are designing new environmentally friendly trains.

• A new transgender law is passed in Spain, allowing anyone over 16 to change their gender:- A measure that allows people over the age of 16 to change their legally recorded gender without medical supervision was approved by the lower house of the Spanish Parliament. Minors between the ages of 14 and 16 must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians in accordance with the law, which was drafted by the centre-left coalition government. Minors between the ages of 12 and 13 will need the permission of a judge to move.

• · UN estimates that global trade will reach a record $32 trillion in 2022:- A UN report that indicated a slowdown going into 2023 stated, "The value of global trade is set to reach a new record this year, increasing by about 12% to an estimated $32 trillion." The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development stated in the report that "increases in the value of the trade of energy products were largely responsible for the substantial growth in trade over the past year."

• · The first Arab-built lunar spacecraft is successfully launched by the UAE:- The first lunar spacecraft constructed by Arabs was launched into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. From the Florida Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, it was launched. The HAKUTO-R lander, designed by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace, is delivering the Rashid Rover, which was constructed by Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• · Antarctica's biodiversity is in danger, and by 2100, Emperor Penguins may be extinct:- New research on Antarctica's biodiversity shows that more needs to be done to protect Antarctic ecosystems. If nothing is done, up to 97% of Antarctic species with land-based populations could die out by 2100. The study, which just came out, also found that just USD 23 million per year could be used to implement ten important methods to reduce threats to Antarctica's biodiversity.

• · The tenth Dhaka Literary Festival will take place from January 5 to 8:- The 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF), the largest international literary festival in Bangladesh, which was postponed three years in a row owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, is scheduled for January 5-8, 2023. The Bangla Academy in Dhaka’s historic grounds will serve as the venue for the event.

• · Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, Is the First Person to Ever Lose $200 Billion:- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Twitter, became the first person to lose $200 billion of his wealth. Due to the recent decline in Tesla Shares, Elon Musk's wealth has decreased by up to $137 billion. His electric car company's shares are down nearly 65%. With a wealth of more than $185 billion, Elon Musk became the world's richest person for the first time in January 2021. Bernard Arnault, the world's richest man and chief executive of luxury brand Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH, took his place.

• · War Between Russia and Ukraine: Over Orthodox Christmas, Putin orders a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine:- Over Orthodox Christmas, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order for a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine. This was the first significant truce in the more than ten-month war that has left tens of thousands of people dead and swaths of Ukraine devastated. According to the Kremlin, Putin instructed the ceasefire to begin on January 6. January is Christmas for many Orthodox Christians, including those in Russia and Ukraine.

• · Croatia joined Europe's borderless zone after adopting the euro:- After joining the European Union (EU) nearly a decade ago, Croatia has achieved two significant milestones: it has switched to the euro and entered Europe's passport-free zone. The Balkan country gave up its kuna currency at midnight and became the 20th member of the eurozone. It is now the 27th country to join the Schengen zone, which is the largest passport-free travel area in the world and allows over 400 million people to freely move between its members.

Theories and trends in international relations are important topics in the discipline of international relations. A clear understanding of international relations is provided by the theoretical perspective. The following are examples of these theories: One is conventional theories that constantly contradict one another; Additionally, their emergence continues. For instance, contrary to earlier notions that it was flat, people now hold the belief that the earth is a globe. Second, the middle ground theory, which holds that society states exist on a global scale. Thirdly, a variety of theories about how the world works are combined in critical theories. They are crucial because they look at aspects of international relations that are often overlooked.

Understanding the requirements of international relations necessitates the analysis of emerging issues in the field. In addition, developing a deeper understanding of the field is made possible by studying theories of international relations. As a result, students' and the general public's equipment is crucial. The following are just a few of the many current trends in international relations: The expansion of international relations beyond the borders of several nations through the processes of globalisation, transnationalisation, and regionalization. The three components are a plan to end sovereign state dominance over society. Additionally, activities in international relations extend beyond state politics. Consequently, giving multinational and non-governmental organisations more authority.

The motivations behind studying international relations are examined in this article. People who make a difference and make the world a better place are greatly needed. Learning about other cultures can help improve the world. It provides a deeper comprehension of the current global issues. The field of study is emphasised. Education, political science, culture, and economics are a few examples. In addition, it examines how these fields affect the community and respond to global issues. As a result, a variety of private, public, and non-profit careers related to international relations are available.