How can I apply real-time location-based exchange across borders? How can we create borderless global movements using maps? How can neogeography contribute to international aid and social justice? How can a group of citizens connect and effect cross-nation policy?
Society to society networks become commonplace and global citizens share resources and shape policy, mediation, travel and defense. This is the stage where long standing national/geographic community issues and territorial disputes can be resolved by societies and where treaties may be forged among citizens.
Neogeography can be the foundation of a new dialogue connecting people across borders, sharing local customs and concepts. Milton C. Cummings Jr. defines cultural diplomacy as “... the exchange of ideas, information, art, lifestyles, values systems, traditions, beliefs and other aspects of cultures....” These ideas, information, lifestyles, values systems become more transparent, easier to analyze to identify points of connection and agreement. Cultures have become collections of subcultures which can be navigated through maps. Within the field of Participatory GIS, mapmaking is already being used to successfully resolve conflict, border disputes and other social issues. Once these processes are available to everyone and location information is truly open, diplomacy on a massive scale becomes possible.
The major challenges here lie in ethics and the ability to readily adapt to changing usage as technology becomes even more accessible. PPGIS, the forum for participatory geographic information systems and technologies, shares the guidelines of their strong ethical foundation. Citizens will surely ‘overstep their boundaries’ in foreign affairs and neogeography may be the seat of those new challenges and opportunities.
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