Digital Diplomacy

This article discusses the role of digitalization for diplomacy. In a currently-unfolding new type of evolution of lawmaking through digital media, digitalization has become a central component of the online creation of law. Classical traditional means of diplomacy have changed in light of social online media and digital content. This article introduces the role of online communication as a new diplomacy gateway that cuts traditional red tape. Digital diplomacy being more transparent than previous forms of traditional diplomacy, has made international affairs more visible to multiple stakeholders instantaneously. In this feature, digital diplomacy appears to be more openly accessible to everyone to witness and more likely to be influenced by multiple streams, also on a truly global stage. At the same time, digital diplomacy brings along crowd influences and manipulation threats. Given the diminishing role of traditional media and nation-states’ shrinking control over online information exchange as well as censorship, digital diplomacy can become a contested terrain of multiple rather uncontrollable forces at play concurrently. Clear downsides are the strategic manipulation of democratic processes possible in digitalized media. Internet vulnerabilities as well as digital inequality in terms of access to online information and technology skills are additional areas of improvement for digital diplomacy. The paper closes with a future prospect of the law and economics of digital diplomacy and a call for the need to address human rights online.