Digital Diplomacy Essay

The internet revolution has changed how organizations and states conduct some activities. Digital diplomacy is a new system that uses internet and information communication technology to help execute international relations objectives between states (Sethi 143). Although this form of digital diplomacy has become a popular way of conducting diplomacy activities it has not replaced the traditional in person or face to face diplomacy it only compliments it. The ministry of Ministries of Foreign Affair of Netherlands is constantly involved in diplomacy activities such negotiation, representation, and communication. The existence of social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook has changed its communication aspect of diplomacy.

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The Netherlands digital diplomacy is involved in establishing foreign policies and national reputation at two levels which are its foreign affairs ministry and the embassies around the world. The objectives of diplomacy can be political. This is seen when a when a country's foreign policies are created in order to increase the influence of a nation over other nations. It employs persuasion and rational negotiation in its foreign policies in order to achieve the influence and cooperation desired with other states. The non-political side of diplomacy comes about due to the interdependence of countries for economic and commercial connections. The ultimate role of diplomacy is creating and maintaining peace between nations

Rugh suggests that a Persuasion is a major tool of diplomacy where diplomats convince and justify the objectives they are trying to achieve. Use of promise of rewards and concessions to other nations if they accept a change or maintain the existing policies is another way that Netherlands use to establish diplomacy. Diplomats also use threats of using force like ultimatums, boycotts or protest to promote their national interests.

The development of the internet has changed the old form of diplomacy which was mainly bilateral diplomacy which involves two states or two parties like a state and one Non-Governmental Organization. Digital diplomacy has led to the expansion of relations between states and international organizations. It has resulted in multilateral diplomacy internet has provided an effective and efficient platform of teleconferencing to conduct international conferences. Diplomats are able to communicate and negotiate for their national interest without using the old procedures that were costly and time-consuming.

Diplomats in the Netherlands use websites, Twitter, Facebook and other platforms to promote and build a positive image of the country. The internet has also enhanced public diplomacy. The public opinion which is mostly channelled through social media has been used as a form of foreign policymaking. The public is also able to follow the progress of a diplomatic negotiation until a conclusion is reached. It has also simplified the manner in which diplomats acquire information. They also communicate with other states' diplomats using e-mails. This has made diplomacy processes to have an aspect of real -time.

Consular services which are vital in this digital age due to the existence of e-businesses which need digital diplomacy for establishment are now offered effectively in the Netherlands. Development of digital diplomacy has increased the scope of business which in return has improved the economy of the country. Digital diplomacy has provided a strong and reliable administration function of embassies. The internal administration of embassies and providence of e-services is important and digital diplomacy has made foreign affairs ministry of Netherlands to be effective and reliable in service. Netherlands adaption of digital diplomacy is selective and keen in promoting national interests. If digital diplomacy is not applied well it can get messy and contribute to conflicts. Multilateral diplomacy which is enhanced by digital diplomacy has posed a challenge because it has become difficult to handle the numerous parties that sometimes are sometimes non -state diplomacy actors.

The use of internet and digital platforms such as websites by diplomats also exposes diplomacy activities to cyber threats which could lead to leakage of information, hacking and culture of anonymity user (Bousfield 1050). However, it is evident that with the digital revolution a country's diplomacy cannot evade the use of Information communication technology in order to fit in the world where nations are greatly connected. Although digital diplomacy cannot replace traditional diplomacy it is important to utilize it in providing prompt information, debunk wrong information and confirm information from official sources of the government. Social media is not only used by diplomats for communication but also for analysing, shaping and cultivating public opinion.

I order to utilize information communication and technology to the advantage of diplomacy the government must implement some measures or strategies that will ensure digital diplomacy is used to promote foreign policies that promote the national interests and minimize the disadvantages of this form of diplomacy in the Netherlands. The state ensures that it is actively involved in championing efforts to develop digital diplomacy. According to Brown on while addressing international relations, every effort to promote this kind of diplomacy that use social media, blogs, the mainstream media websites is encouraged to continue developing it for a strong and reliable relation. The strategies are informed by the objective of the ministry of foreign affairs like good governance, improved economy and reliable security (Brinkerhoff 84). To this end, the strategies of Netherlands government are as follows.

One of the strategies is identifying the most effective digital platform to achieve the objectives set by the ministry of foreign affairs. Selecting the most suitable digital platform is a strategy ensuring the state is able to control its diplomacy activities and is not exposed to the risks that threaten the secrecy that any diplomacy should have.

Netherland state has a website that is used as a tool of communication and it seeks to promote the Dutch interests. The interests communicated include economic prosperity, Security, Justice to ensure a fair world, and Dutch national's wellness while in other countries. It also has a Twitter handle and a Facebook account which is the most popular social media. The platforms are used to communicate the status of ongoing negotiations, the conflicts that are being experienced and the results of the entire process. It also communicates the benefits that the state is going to experience as a result of reaching successful negotiations with other countries. This has allowed public diplomacy through the usage of digital platforms. The growth of digital diplomacy will continue to evolve as the information communication technologies continue to evolve (Cull 5).

Another strategy of digital diplomacy is acquiring relevant knowledge and expertise in technology policies and its impacts on the national interests. This has assisted in securing the Netherlands' digital diplomacy from the cybersecurity issues. Understanding the risks involved in the internet, the state is able to put measures to avoid security breaches. The openness that digital diplomacy seeks to achieve might be jeopardized by the increase of cyber -risk (West 356). The state encourages innovation of ICT that will promote positive practices of digital diplomacy to impact on the country's economic prosperity.

Finally, the other strategy is the development of appropriate content in the right context. A vibrant form of digital diplomacy is achieved through creating timely messages that will attract people's attention or one that will interest actors of diplomacy. It can be in form of tweet or posts on the blog. The message should be aimed at achieving diplomatic objectives of the state and also help solve foreign policy problems.

Works Cited

Bousfield, Dan. "Revisiting Cyber-Diplomacy: Canada-China Relations Online." Globalizations 14.6 (2017): 1045-1059.

Brinkerhoff, Jennifer M. "Creating an enabling environment for diasporas' participation in homeland development." International Migration 50.1 (2012): 75-95.

Brown, Rob. Public Relations and the Social Web: How to use social media and web 2.0 in communications. Kogan Page Publishers, 2009.

Cull, Nicholas J. "WikiLeaks, public diplomacy 2.0 and the state of digital public diplomacy." Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 7.1 (2011): 1-8.

Rugh, W. Front Line Public Diplomacy: How US Embassies Communicate with Foreign Publics. Springer, 2014.

Sethi, Aakriti. "The Age of the Internet: A Tech Savvy World and New Diplomacy." Media Diplomacy and Its Evolving Role in the Current Geopolitical Climate. IGI Global, 2018. 138-153.

West, Sarah Myers. "Redefining Digital Diplomacy: Modelling Business Diplomacy by Internet Companies in China." The Hague Journal of Diplomacy 9.4 (2014): 334-355.