Abstract
Under the authoritarian regime, earlier iterations of Vietnam’s public diplomacy (PD), especially during wartime, reassembled propaganda and psychological warfare. But thanks to Doi Moi (i.e. “renovation”) in 1986, new understandings of PD were made possible with a revamped foreign policy of multi-lateralisation and diversification. This article argues that information and communications technologies (ICTs), especially the internet and social media, have further transformed the practice of Vietnamese PD. Focusing on the period from 1997 when the internet was introduced in Vietnam, this article first provides a general analysis of the influence of ICTs on Vietnam’s politics. It then delves into how ICTs have transformed Vietnam’s PD. The key takeaway is that the internet and social media have significantly empowered public opinion in foreign policy, giving rise to cross-border cyber communities that can play the roles of both recipient and practitioner of PD.
Highlights
Background on Public Diplomacy and DigitalTechnologiesPublic diplomacy (PD) may be a new concept, but it is a long-e stablished practice
There has been a long-term academic debate on what public diplomacy (PD) entails, but a growing consensus can be found in the definition of the concept by Bruce Gregory (2011: 353), “an instrument used by states, associations of states, and some sub-state and non-s tate actors to understand cultures, attitudes and behaviour; to build and manage relationships; and to influence thoughts and mobilise actions to advance their interests and values.”
information and communications technologies (ICTs) advances have allowed for the freer availability of information, empowering the general public to be more deeply involved with the policymaking process and forcing state actors to reckon with the exponential growth of the public sphere and, in many parts of the world, the dire need to appeal to the masses
Summary
Background on Public Diplomacy and DigitalTechnologiesPublic diplomacy (PD) may be a new concept, but it is a long-e stablished practice. There has been a long-term academic debate on what PD entails, but a growing consensus can be found in the definition of the concept by Bruce Gregory (2011: 353), “an instrument used by states, associations of states, and some sub-state and non-s tate actors to understand cultures, attitudes and behaviour; to build and manage relationships; and to influence thoughts and mobilise actions to advance their interests and values.”. In essence, this definition denotes that PD may include any public-facing communication attempts with a view to achieving policy objectives. “Public sphere” is a term coined by Habermas to denote “a sphere which mediates between society and state, in which the public organises itself as the bearer of public opinion” (Habermas et al, 1974: 49–55)
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