Benefits and Risks of Digital Diplomacy

Abstract

Diplomacy is a key tool for conducting foreign policy, and it has experienced changes throughout the past centuries. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social media platforms began playing a highly important role in achieving diplomatic objectives leading to the emergence of the term “digital diplomacy.” Being one of the main trends in contemporary diplomatic communication, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a closer look at digital diplomacy is worthwhile. This chapter analyzes the main characteristics of digital diplomacy as well as its opportunities and challenges, compares digital and traditional diplomacy, and aims to determine whether traditional diplomacy is in decline. The author argues that traditional diplomacy is not antiquated; traditional and digital diplomacy complement each other. Diplomats will need to function in a hybrid regime, both in offline and online environments. Utilizing digital diplomacy will improve the effectiveness of traditional diplomacy contributing to more multifaceted, comprehensive, and results-oriented foreign policy.