DIPLOMACY

  • What are some of the misconceptions about diplomats?
  • What do diplomats really do?
  • What does the speaker’s example of humanitarian effort in Turkey illustrate?
  • What is the message of this video?
  • What are some definitions of public diplomacy?
  • Which of these definitions resonate with you the most?
  • What exactly did the father of yellow journalism introduce?

You are going to watch “the full and unedited interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov” to a BBC journalist which took place in Moscow 16th April 2018. The interviewer is the host of BBC’s HARDtalk Stephen Sackur in Moscow 16th April 2018. The interview was taken in the aftermath of the alleged chemical attack in Syria. Russia was accused of prompting the chemical attack.

Before your watch the interview, read the short BBC report to get into the story and answer the questions:

  1. Where and when did the alleged attack take place? Who controlled the area the time of the suspected attack?
  2. Who accused Russia of being involved with the attack?
  3. What international action (-s) followed the accusations?
SYRIA AIR STRIKES: RUSSIA DENIES TAMPERING WITH SUSPECTED CHEMICAL ATTACK SITE

Russia has denied interfering with evidence at the site of the suspected Syrian chemical attack, which led to Western air strikes on Saturday.

In an interview for BBC’s Hardtalk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: «I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site.» The US raised concern at the international chemical weapons agency. International inspectors will be allowed to visit the site on Wednesday, the Russian military has announced. A nine-strong team from the agency, the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), has been waiting nearby in the Syrian capital Damascus for the green light. Douma was a rebel stronghold at the time of the attack on 7 April and is now under the control of the Syrian government and Russian military.
(http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43783427)

Now watch the interview and answer the questions:

What is your overall impression of the interview?

What image did Sergei Lavrov project as a diplomat, in your opinion? Why do you think so?

What made it a hard talk for Sergei Lavrov?

Was the interviewer behaving ethically and professionally?

Why do you think the interview got 106398 views on youtube?

MASS MEDIA

  • Why did the reputation of US traditional media go up in flames?
  • What is Trump’s unique ability?
  • How is information on social media selected?
  • How is Trump’s victory explained?
  • What is the challenge traditional US media face nowadays? 
Before you watch
Work with a partner and explain what is meant by the underlined phrases:
a)     During a trip to China you might just find yourself in a digital detox, but not by choice.
b)    China is cracking down, recently threatening to stop illegal internet activity.
1st Viewing
Watch the video and find out what these figures refer to:
  • 96
  • 43 000 000
2nd Viewing
Answer the questions
1)    Which media are blocked in China and? Which one isn’t and why?
2)    What measures have been taken by the government recently to ensure online censorship?
3)    Are there economic benefits of blocking foreign websites?
4)    What is positive propaganda?

NATIONAL IDENTITY

This is a BBC broadcast of 11th September 2018. The news report follows the arrivals of migrants from Africa to the Mediterranean ports which caused a public outcry all over Europe.

1st Viewing

Watch the broadcast and answer the questions:

  1. According to the anchor, what caused Europe’s identity crisis?
  2. How was what was happening in the Mediterranean impacting on policies and politics all over Europe?

2nd Viewing

1. Listen and watch again Fill in the missing words:

  1. Today we’ll see the governments of Hungary and Italy __________  __________ the criticism of the anti-immigration policies.
  2. We’ve seen anti-immigrant parties making __________  __________ …
  3. … or we can talk about Austria. Its leader, its chancellor Sebastian Kurz, a 31-year-old, has __________  __________  __________ with the far-right Freedom Party.
  4. [France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany] they’ve all seen a __________ in support for nationalist and anti-immigration parties.
  5. That’s the leader of Hungary. He won a __________ victory in his campaign, again, focused on immigration.

2. Answer the questions:

  1. How did Italy’s Internal Minister Matteo Salvini explain his government’s decision to send the boats back?
  2. Why did the members of the European Parliament consider disciplinary action against Hungary?

Discussion

  1. How important is the problem of immigration to Europe’s identity? Why do you think so?
  2. How can the problem be solved in your opinion?
  3. Was your country affected by the immigration problem back in 2018? Now?