DIGITAL DIPLOMACY AS A NEW INSTRUMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Keywords:
digital diplomacy, international relations, foreign policy, public diplomacy, social media, digital communication, cybersecurity.Abstract
This thesis examines digital diplomacy as a new and increasingly important instrument of international relations. In the modern information age, diplomatic activity is no longer limited to traditional negotiations, official meetings, and written correspondence. Digital technologies, social media platforms, online communication channels, and virtual public diplomacy have changed the way states interact with foreign audiences, international organizations, and global society. Digital diplomacy enables governments to promote national interests, strengthen international image, respond quickly to crises, provide consular support, and communicate foreign policy positions more effectively.
References
1. Westcott, N. (2008). Digital Diplomacy: The Impact of the Internet on International Relations. Oxford Internet Institute, Research Report 16. Oxford: University of Oxford.
2. Bjola, C., & Holmes, M. (Eds.). (2015). Digital Diplomacy: Theory and Practice. London and New York: Routledge.
3. Manor, I. (2019). The Digitalization of Public Diplomacy. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
4. Duncombe, C. (2017). Twitter and transformative diplomacy: Social media and Iran–US relations. International Affairs, 93(3), 545–562.
5. Hocking, B., & Melissen, J. (2015). Diplomacy in the Digital Age. Clingendael Institute Report. The Hague: Netherlands Institute of International Relations.
6. Rashica, V. (2018). The benefits and risks of digital diplomacy. SEEU Review, 13(1), 75–89.
7. International Telecommunication Union. (2025). Facts and Figures 2025: Global Connectivity and Digital Development. Geneva: ITU.
8. DataReportal. (2026). Global Social Media Statistics: April 2026. DataReportal Global Digital Insights.
9. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2024). United Nations E-Government Survey 2024. New York: United Nations.
10. Nye, J. S. (2004). Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York: PublicAffairs.
