When scholars and pundits discuss digital diplomacy, they tend to equate this term with social media activities. Indeed, the majority of digital diplomacy studies have focused on how and why social media is used by foreign ministries (MFAs), embassies, Ambassadors and International Organisations. Studies have explored the numerous ways in which states use sites such... Continue Reading →
“Follow-mies”- Is Diplomatic Reciprocity Binding in Digital Diplomacy?
Social media sites are predicated on the concept of reciprocity. When a user follows one of his peers, he expects his peer to respond in kind. The same is true with content engagement. The basis of social media is a social contract where users “Like” and “Share” one another’s content. Given that the ultimate goal... 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 – Americans widely distrust Facebook, TikTok and Instagram with data, poll finds (The Washington Post)The Metaverse already has a groping problem (MIT Technology Review)How America Can Keep Its Lead in Technology (Wall... Continue Reading →
Israel Escalates Twitter Feud with Iran
Recent years have seen the mass migration of MFAs (foreign ministries) and diplomats to social media sites. It is now estimated that 95% of UN Member States have established some form of social media presence. Iran is no exception. Although Twitter, Facebook and other platforms cannot be accessed from Iran, senior Iranian policy makers can... 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 - Two-thirds of Ultra-Orthodox Israelis are online, COVID driving them to tech training (Times of Israel)How Russia tries to censor Western social media (BBC News)The worst technology of 2021 (MIT Technology Review)India... Continue Reading →
Walking a Tightrope: How Ambassadors Meet the Demands of the Digital Society
To understand digital diplomacy, one must first understand the digital society. The reason being that diplomacy is a social institution and diplomats are social beings. Processes that affect society as a whole affect diplomats and it is through diplomats that such processes permeate into MFAs giving rise to new norms, values and working routines. Sociologists... Continue Reading →
Mondays’ 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- The 20 Most Promising Israeli Startups to Follow in 2021 (Haaretz Newspaper)WSJ’s deep dive into eating disorder on TikTok explains a sudden policy change (The Verge)What is the metaverse? (BBC News)Could... 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- How Israeli Spy-tech Became Dictators' Weapon of Choice (Haaretz Newspaper)The opportunities that geospatial technology presents for India Inc. (The Economic Times)We don’t yet have the technology needed to reach net zero... Continue Reading →
The End of the Charm Offensive? Iran on Social Media
The 2013 election of Hassan Rouhani as President of Iran was greeted with a global sigh of relief. Here was a clear indication that Iran was willing to rejoin the international community even at the cost of halting its nuclear weapons program. From the eve of his election, Rouhani was positively depicted in Western media... 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- The Vast Promise of mRNA Technology (Wall Street Journal)Can Technology Predict War? (The Diplomat)The Job Juggle: Gen Z and millennial employees embrace the concept of ‘Polywork’ (Digiday)U.S. to lead global initiative... Continue Reading →