Diplomacy’s Public Turn: Prospects for Theory and Practice

"This new volume . . . offers a rich exploration of diplomacy's transformation in an era shaped by societal forces and technological disruption. It connects themes of societization, regional diplomatic cultures, humanity-centered approaches, and reputational security with debates on AI, digital culture, and tech expertise. By bringing these strands together, it shows how publics and (digital) networks are becoming central to diplomacy. This is essential reading for scholars, practitioners, and policymakersseeking to understand diplomacy's evolving role in global affairs." -- Corneliu Bjola, Professor of Digital Diplomacy, University of Oxford, United Kingdom "In this timely book . . . leading academics and practitioners examine two important trends. The first is the growing societization of diplomacy, in which wider society is increasingly engaged in diplomacy. The second is the advancement of artificial intelligence, which stands to significantly transform PD practice. These developments are scrutinized within a geopolitical context characterized by U.S. PD retrenchment and increasing multipolarity." -- Babak Bahador, Director, Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, George Washington University, United States This book is about a world where diplomats engage more in societies at home and abroad, and citizens participate more in diplomatic practice; where public diplomacy is now central to most diplomatic concerns; where digitalization and artificial intelligence empower and disrupt diplomacy's institutions, tools, and methods; and where large-scale geopolitical conflicts and complex global problems require collaborative cross-border solutions. Thought leaders and innovators in this volume consider the impacts of these changes, illuminating what's new, what's at stake, and what's needed to reimagine diplomacy when states and society are deeply interconnected. Their insights and ideas challenge next generation scholars, practitioners, educators, and policymakers to think differently about the relevance and value of diplomacy and its public dimension in global affairs. Kathy R. Fitzpatrick is Professor and Director of The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications at the University of South Florida. Bruce Gregory is an Affiliate Scholar at George Washington University's Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication.