Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Davos Agenda: What you need to know about technology (World Economic Forum)The Technology 202: Tech experts overwhelmingly approve of Trump suspensions from social media (The Washington Post)China's Foreign Policy Weapons: Technology,... Continue Reading →
Digital Diplomacy & Existential Threats
The Covid virus is not likely to kill mankind. The majority of Covid patients survive, youngsters seem more immune to its potency, and scientific and medical collaborations will ultimately yield a vaccine. However, Covid’s side effects, namely anxiety and disorientation, are evident everywhere. In Israel, TV viewers are told that the rate of contamination has... Continue Reading →
How External Shocks Alter Digital Diplomacy’s Trajectory
Some academics believe that digital diplomacy has developed in a linear fashion, and that each technological breakthrough (e.g., Facebook, AI) is accompanied by a process of implementation, adaptation and assimilation. Such scholars tend to focus on the attributes of any new technology while uncovering its potential use for diplomats. The fax machine, for instance, reduce... Continue Reading →
Corona and the European Commission
Last week I analyzed Corona-related tweets published by the European External Action Service (EEAS). This week I turned my attention to the European Commission. The Commission is, in essence, the governing body of the EU. It helps manage the EU’s external and internal affairs. The prolonged Brexit debate emphasized that while the UK viewed the... Continue Reading →
Call for Papers: The Digitalization of Diplomacy in South-East Asia (Special Issue)
Call for Papers Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia (JCEA), Vol. 19, No 1 - Summer 2020 The Digitalization of Diplomacy in South-East Asia: A Special Issue Invited editors: Ilan Manor, University of Oxford (manor.ilan@gmail.com) Craig Hayden, Marine Corps University Hyunjin Seo, University of Kansas In recent years scholars have paid growing attention to... Continue Reading →
The Digital Diplomacy Bibliography
Last week I was asked to review an academic journal article dealing with the use of social media by diplomatic actors. The article started with a familiar phrase- few studies to date have investigated the manner in which digital technologies have impacted the conduct of diplomacy and those practicing it. The article also stated that... Continue Reading →
Are Local Employees the Unsung Heroes of Digital Diplomacy?
The past decade has seen the accelerated digitalization of diplomacy. While scholars, diplomats and diplomatic institutions are still searching for a definition of the term “digital diplomacy”, most agree that digital technologies have substantially affected the practice of diplomacy. Over the past four years alone, digital technologies have been employed in nearly all realms of... Continue Reading →
Open Letter to the ISA Leadership
To the leadership of the ISA, The events unravelling in the United States have led many members of the ISA to reevaluate their decision to attend this year's conference in Baltimore. Throughout my short academic career I have adamantly opposed academic boycotts, including those against my own country, Israel. This opposition stems not from my... Continue Reading →
Do US candidates for the Presidency attract diplomats on Twitter?
On the 23rd of July, Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for the Presidency of the United States. This week Hillary Clinton is likely to be chosen at the Democratic nominee for the Presidency. While it is true that national elections often draw attention from foreign countries and governments, no election is as closely monitored... Continue Reading →
Turkey Launches #DigitalDiplomacy Blitz
During the night of Friday the 15th of July, as Turkish soldiers attempted to stage a coup and oust the Turkish government, MFAs and diplomats were slow to comment on events. By the time official statements were issued by the State Department or Downing 10, social media networks were flooded with images and video of... Continue Reading →