In diplomatic studies, comparison of foreign ministries and their methods is a niche activity, which does not draw or attract academic scholars. Few books have been published in this field. Yet, for foreign ministries, large and small, mutual learning is useful. The fact that foreign ministries are typically closed institutions also complicate study and discussion. Yet, what are the trends in the working of foreign ministries that call for attention? Some thoughts are offered, covering comparable practices in bilateral, regional and multilateral diplomacy, and harvesting embedded knowledge, as a subset of knowledge management, and also human resource management.

War and negotiation are closely connected. They have a lot of differences and similarities,
and they are both instruments in conflict management and resolution. Strategies and tactics
in war and negotiation are quite alike, though their application is completely different. This
article analyses the utility of war and negotiation, their historical background, things they
have in common, divergences and synergies. A few paragraphs are devoted to mediation
and the question of when mediation can be regarded as being useful in preventing conflicts
and bridging the abyss between war and words. The article concludes by observing that – in
our time – the number of conflicts ended by negotiations is much higher than the number of
conflicts ended through victories. This is – among other factors – a consequence of regime
building over the centuries, culminating in institutions like the United Nations, ASEAN, and
the European Union.

This article reflects upon the maritime disputes in the South China Sea, the principle actors
involved in the issue, and their actions and reactions of late. Focus is given on China’s
actions, including its recent reclamation works and lighthouse construction, which are seen
by many parties as overly aggressive, and the counteractions of the United States by
patrolling close to the reclaimed area which has unnerved China. The article poses several
questions for China to reflect upon in consideration of its actions and position with regard to
the disputes. It calls upon China and the United States to refrain from undertaking actions
that could jeopardise peace, threaten stability and security, and cause disunity in the region.

The unprecedented number of foreign terrorist fighters “immigrating” to the so-called land of
the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has raised global concerns. As a result, many nations
have come together in the form of a coalition while also increasing their internal security
through legislature measures and heightened border controls, among others. While these
are important steps to combat the threat from Daesh, the medium used by the terrorist group
to garner such massive support must also be clearly understood and confronted. The
medium is the Internet including the various social media platforms used to spread their
vicious propaganda, radicalise individuals, and recruit members and sympathisers around
the world. This article will examine the use of the Internet by Daesh in these three areas: to
spread propaganda, radicalise and recruit potential members. It argues that while other
measures to counter the threat of Daesh are essential, it is also important that nations take
the battle online to defeat the appeal of Daesh. This includes mobilising religious movements
online, countering Daesh propaganda online, utilising online tools to monitor and analyse
Daesh’s activities on the web as well as enhancing Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen
the online presence of relevant authorities and agencies.