On January 20th, as President Joe Biden took the Oath of Office, he also gained control of the @POTUS Twitter account (President of the United States), one of the most followed accounts on Twitter. Both his predecessors had amassed a vast following online with Donald Trump reaching some 90 million followers and Barack Obama 137... Continue Reading →
The Downside of Digital Diplomacy: Life in the Age of Constant Surveillance
Philosophers and political theorists have argued that the goal of every society is complete control. This is also true of democratic societies and herein lies the tension of every democracy. That a government is elected by people to manage its affairs. Yet soon that very government strives to control its citizenry. Free people thus freely... 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 →
The Woman in Purple- An Address At Warwick University
(The following is an address made at the 2018 Warwick Student Congress) American poet Allen Ginsburg opens his masterpiece Howl with the lines I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly... Continue Reading →
The Russian Tweet Heard Around the World
On Thursday, the 29th of December 2016, President Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the US as well as new economic sanctions targeting Russia's intelligence agencies. Both measures were part of the American response to Russia's alleged interfering in the 2016 Presidential elections. Russia's digital response was immediate. Within an hour... Continue Reading →
Do World Leaders attract #digital diplomats? 2016 analysis
Two weeks ago I evaluated the extent to which Donald Trump has been able to attract diplomats, MFAs, embassies and foreign affairs journalists to his Twitter account. My analysis suggested that most digital diplomats, and diplomatic institutions, do not follow Trump online. This week, I decided to expand my analysis and see if world leaders... Continue Reading →
Did #SOTU Go Global?
It’s Complicated Diplomacy and International Relations scholars have argued that ours is the age of complexity. Global challenges such as health pandemics, climate change and migration necessitate trans-national cooperation as no nation can address these issues alone. Furthermore, in a globalized world domestic policies have international ramifications. One country’s open border policy can lead to... Continue Reading →
The Framing of #IranDeal on Digital Diplomacy Channels
One of the greatest difficulties facing foreign ministries in the digital age is the need to react to events in real time. The need for speed, as it were, is in direct contradiction to diplomacy's need for time to respond to events by pooling resources, gathering intelligence and formulating policy recommendations. However, this week saw... Continue Reading →
Why Michele Obama’s tweet matters
On May 8th, First Lady Michele Obama posted a Selfie on her twitter account holding a sign with the hashtag #bringbackourgirls. Over the last week, public response to this Selfie has ranged from enthusiastic to hostile with some journalists attacking the First Lady for taking pictures rather than taking action to rescue the 250 Nigerian... Continue Reading →