Digital diplomacy: overview of the main directions

Abstract

Digital diplomacy has become an efficient instrument of foreign policy today and has become widespread in the world. Being influenced by extraordinary achievements in the sphere of information and communication technologies, the Internet, and social networks, the way diplomacy is implemented and presented has changed radically and is increasingly moving away from traditional diplomatic elements. Therefore, knowledge about the role and importance of digital diplomacy is simply necessary. This article provides information on the definition, relevance, and effectiveness of digital diplomacy. Meanwhile, the study focuses on the review of the main areas, such as «Digital Embassy» and «Digital Ambassador», the process of automation of consular services, public diplomacy, a unified policy for the use of personal pages in social networks, the introduction of e-commerce culture, information and analytical decision-making systems. When writing this work, various sources in Russian and English were used and analyzed. In addition, international ratings and reports related to understanding the latest trends in digital diplomacy, statistical data from analytical centers and organizations, and data from social networks were used. The theoretical and practical significance of the work is determined by the relevance of the topic under consideration.