Digital diplomacy

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Digital Diplomacy, a contemporary methodology, leverages the internet^[1] and numerous digital channels to address foreign policy concerns. It is adopted by a diverse array of entities such as state departments, embassies, diplomats, and even non-state actors. This method has seen a substantial rise in popularity, with nearly all United Nations member countries maintaining a diplomatic presence on social media platforms such as Twitter. Digital diplomacy is instrumental in shaping public opinion regarding foreign policy agendas and enabling collaborative efforts on diplomatic campaigns. Despite its advantages, it is not without its hurdles as it can occasionally trigger diplomatic dilemmas or propagate false information. Prominent figures in this arena include Jovan Kurbalija, Joshua Fouts, Carl Bildt, Davina Tham, and Tom Miles.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ internet. The Internet, a global network of interconnected computer systems, utilizes standardized communication protocols, predominantly TCP/IP, to connect devices across the globe. The term 'Internet' has its roots in the 1849 term 'internetted' and was later adopted by the US War Department in 1945. The inception of the Internet can be traced back to the 1960s when computer scientists developed time-sharing systems, which eventually led to the creation of ARPANET in 1969. The Internet operates autonomously, without any central control, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages its primary name spaces. It has revolutionized traditional communication methods and has seen an exponential growth, with the number of internet users growing by 20% to 50% every year. In 2019, more than half of the global population was using the Internet. The Internet protocol suite, comprising TCP/IP and four conceptual layers, directs internet packets to their intended destinations. Fundamental services such as email and Internet telephony function on the Internet. The World Wide Web, an extensive network of interconnected documents, serves as a crucial element of the Internet.

Digital diplomacy (Wikipedia)

Digital diplomacy, also referred to as Digiplomacy and eDiplomacy (see below), has been defined as the use of the Internet and new information communication technologies to help achieve diplomatic objectives. However, other definitions have also been proposed. The definition focuses on the interplay between internet and diplomacy, ranging from Internet driven-changes in the environment in which diplomacy is conducted to the emergence of new topics on diplomatic agendas such as cybersecurity, privacy and more, along with the use of internet tools to practice diplomacy.

Platform-specific terms that have also evolved in this diplomacy category include Facebook diplomacy, Twitter diplomacy, and Google diplomacy.

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