In a recent article, Guy Golan and I argued that the 21st century will be governed by three giants: The US and China, thanks to their military and financial power, and India thanks to its status as the world’s telecommunications hub. In the world of giants, no single nation will be able to later the... Continue Reading →
Monday’s Must Read List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Disruptive Innovation 2021: These 15 big ideas are most likely to change the world (ZDNet)The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives in 2021 (The New York Times)Why a dawn of technological... Continue Reading →
The Iran Deal is already being negotiated on Twitter
Digital platforms are now increasingly used for diplomatic signaling. MFAs and diplomats often use Twitter to comment on crises, address other nations’ policies and even criticize state action. They do so knowing full well that their Twitter accounts are monitored by their peers, and influential social media users such as journalists and blogger. Already in... Continue Reading →
Algorithms as Audiences
Diplomacy’s digitalization has advanced at a remarkable speed. MFAS, once defined as archaic institutions who lack the communicative culture to adapt to new technologies, have launched virtual Embassies, created smartphone applications, built blog sites, established big data units and have taken to writing their own algorithms. While not all digital initiatives have ended in a... Continue Reading →
Monday’s #MustRead List
Each week, I publish a list of interesting articles, essays and reports that may be of interest to the digital diplomacy community. This week- Subtle cyberattack met by swift cybersecurity acts (The Jerusalem Post)5 challenges to the new EU digital rulebook (Politico)Queen Elizabeth will deliver her Christmas Day message via Alexa this year, if you... Continue Reading →
The new “new” propaganda
The term propaganda has accompanied digital diplomacy since its inception more than a decade ago. Notably, although the propaganda has a negative connotation it actually dates back to the Catholic church that wished to propagate the faith. As technologies have evolved, so have the forms of propaganda. Under the reign of Henry VI, tapestries were... Continue Reading →
Crafting Digital Diplomacy Campaigns: How America’s Iranian Campaign is Backfiring
The Value of Facebook Comments When reviewing the US State Department’s Facebook account, it becomes apparent that the Department is in the midst of two digital campaigns. The first focuses on China’s alleged misconduct during the Covid19 outbreak. The second argues that Iran’s nefarious activities in the region, and the world, must be met by... Continue Reading →
How America Uses Instagram to Indict Iran
Recent weeks have seen tensions between the U.S. and Iran reach fever pitch. While the Trump administration has warned Iran not to commit any acts of provocation, or attack American interests in the region, Iranian officials have vowed to defeat America in any future war. With tensions quickly escalating, the U.S. has decided to withdraw... Continue Reading →
What Is The Role of Humor in Digital Diplomacy?
The past two years have seen the growing use of humor and satire in digital diplomacy. Memes, GIFs, pop references and BLOCK CAPITALS have become another instrument in the diplomatic toolkit. One of the earliest successful uses of humor in digital diplomacy occurred during the Crimea Crisis of 2014 when the Canadian Mission to NATO... Continue Reading →
Narrative Realignment & the Holy Grail of Digital Diplomacy
How to prove the efficacy of digital diplomacy activities? This question has plagued diplomats and scholars for nearly a decade. Diplomats have had to prove the efficacy of digital activities in order to ensure the very existence of digital diplomacy departments. Unlike any other desk or department, diplomats have had to demonstrate that digital diplomacy... Continue Reading →