What is it about?
Our essay discusses key features of diplomacy in the digital age, which requires an understanding of diplomacy as well as the social impact of new technologies. This book chapter is informed by insights from new media theory. One of the main arguments forwarded here before they became more widely accepted, is that we need to look at the back-end politics of the use of social media in diplomatic communication.
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Why is it important?
The variety and widespread use of digital tools affect our "technological condition" and are therefore more than just tools that help shape the environment in which we use new technologies. Social media cannot be superimposed on existing diplomatic techniques and procedures. They also make diplomatic communication more political, and the new media have a profound effect on relations between governments and their citizens.
Perspectives
Is has been great to work with my early career and wise co-author on this project. The book "New Realities in Foreign Affairs: Diplomacy in the 21st Century" (Nomos, 2019) has also been published in German, under the title "Die neue Wirklichkeit der Aussenpolitik: Diplomatie im 21. Jahrhundert", edited by Volker Stanzel.
Jan Melissen
Leiden University and University of Antwerp
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Critical Digital Diplomacy and How Theory Can Inform Practice, January 2019, Nomos Verlag,
DOI: 10.5771/9783845299501-63.
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