Diplomacy and Power in a Technological Age

On March 10th, the OUSL and the Bridge Forum Dialogue organized a conference given by Tom Fletcher CMG, Principal of Hertford College, former UK Ambassador and foreign policy adviser to three British Prime Ministers, bestselling author and Oxford University’s youngest Head of College, who shared reflections on how we can respond to a world in flux.

He was joined by two discussants: Arlette Conzemius, former Luxembourg Ambassador to Belgium and NATO and Urban Gillström Founder and CEO of Greenworlder (Luxembourg). The meeting was chaired by Hugo Woestmann of the Bridge Forum Dialogue and moderated by David Clark.

Digital technology is changing power at a faster rate than at any time in history. Distrust and inequality are fuelling political and economic uncertainty. The scaffolding built around the global order is fragile, and the checks and balances created over centuries to protect liberty are being tested, maybe to destruction. Tom Fletcher gave his view how we – as governments, businesses and individuals – can survive and thrive in the twenty-first century and how we can ensure that technology can make it easier for citizens truly to take back control.
His speech contained elements of his bestselling book “The Naked Diplomat” and his latest book “Ten Survival Skills for a World in Flux”.

The event was hybrid, with the live event held at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, where a large audience actively participated. The even was streamed on the OUSL youtube channel. See the recording below.