BY INVITATION ONLY: Joint ISS and Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Roundtable: 'Foreign Policy & The Environment'

Date: 2010-08-13 to 2010-08-14

Venue: Mombasa Continental Hotel

Introduction

The history of the different phases and orientations of the international system over time and space has been quite interesting and has tested statecraft in all its modes. This is especially so given that the diplomatic system was expanded courtesy of new states that came out of the yolk of colonialism and has made international relations to be a very complex mode of statecraft. The task of diplomacy as a core element of statecraft has been particularly a herculean task especially for small states and those wielding little if any hard power to assert their interests in the international arena.

As a navigation tool in the complex international system, foreign policy has emerged as a science and art that strategically changes to suit any given polar orientation of world affairs. A tool that has been utilized before by African states to stay relevant in international relations has been soft power and especially so in the diplomacy of conflict management as utilized by Kenya.

A major element of Kenya’s soft power in its foreign policy orientation is seen in two dominant diplomacy practices that the country has espoused. One is based on Kenya’s history of environmental diplomacy and championing environmental security in the continent. Highlighted here is Kenya’s role in the establishment of UNEP and location of the same in Nairobi, which is a diplomatic capital in its own right. Kenya’s continued streamlining of wildlife protection and especially so on the elephant species is also one indicator of this. The other dominant area of Kenya’s soft power capability is seen in its history of the diplomacy of conflict management in the Horn and Great Lakes conflict systems.

It should however be noted that environmental diplomacy does in itself cut across all other soft power capabilities that Kenya yields and foreign policy pillars for that matter. For example, mediation, facilitation or negotiation exercises that do not take into stock the question of natural resource conflict variables will not be serving its purpose. In the Eastern Africa region resource conflicts are intricately connected to politics and the public sphere for that matter.

Kenya has been embarking on restating its foreign policy and rationalizing the same through strategic pillars and the environmental diplomacy pillar might as well be determining the sustainability and operationalization of all other pillars, namely; the economic diplomacy pillar, Diaspora diplomacy pillar and peace diplomacy pillar. This restatement also comes at a time when diplomacy is becoming a highly complex science and art shaped by fast changing contemporary international affairs.

The environment as an international public good has particularly gained international appeal given its direct relevance to the very sustenance of national security and human security for that matter. Ultimately, environmental diplomacy is at the core of foreign policies especially for small states whose capabilities lie within soft power realities as mentioned. The very fact that most of Africa’s international trade and economic sustenance relies a lot on primary products and natural resource endowments-that are found in that temporal space known as the ‘states geographical environment and resource base’ does justify the need to open up the environmental pillar of state’s foreign policies. Environmental diplomacy therefore does equal to effective comparative advantage management. This roundtable will seek to strategically consider what environmental diplomacy means particularly in Kenya, which has considerable soft power capabilities that need to be further enhanced to advance its national interests and also contribute to regional stability.

The Institute for Security Studies, ISS

As a leading African human security research institution, the ISS works towards a stable and peaceful Africa characterized by sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy, collaborative security and gender mainstreaming. ISS realizes this vision by: undertaking applied research, training and capacity building; working collaboratively with others; facilitating and supporting policy formulation; monitoring trends and policy implementation; collecting, interpreting and disseminating information; and networking on national, regional and international levels.

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Foreign Ministry Republic of Kenya

In response to the demands of a dynamic and complex international diplomatic arena, the FSI offers intensive and tailor-made training for newly recruited foreign service personnel and newly appointed ambassadors, as well as providing in-service training for officers at all levels. Government functionaries from other ministries and departments whose mandates have a bearing on Kenya’s foreign relations are also targeted. Apart from this, the Institute undertakes policy analysis research.

The FSI has realized that the learning of new skills and the acquisition of new knowledge has become an absolute necessity for diplomats. They need specialist knowledge in a wide range of subjects. The FSI taps into existing reservoir of knowledge and experience of current and former ambassadors and other senior government officials, and also collaborates with institutions for example the National Defence College, the University of Nairobi, the Academy of the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS), and the US International University-Africa. All the courses and events offered are geared towards the practical aspects of diplomacy.