New book by researcher of the Data Diplomacy Academy explores "Cyber, Digital, and Tech Diplomacy"

Rafael Mesquita and Renato Lira Brito have published "Cyber, Digital, and Tech Diplomacy". The title is part of the series SpringerBriefs in International Relations and is intended to be an accessible primer for practitioners and scholars these three facets of the intersection between the digital and diplomatic worlds.

Most research on the topic insists on how radically these technologies have disrupted conventional diplomacy or, empirically, offer individual case studies of Ministries of Foreign Affairs and their digital policies. This book takes a different approach by pointing to the fact that technological developments, such as social media or cyber threats, have been part of international relations for almost a quarter of a century. Hence, it seeks to make a timely contribution by reviewing and defining some of the concepts that have circulated in this space for the past twenty years.

It conducts this stock-taking exercise by means of an extensive bibliographic survey leading to a clear categorization of the most salient concepts applied to this domain: (i) cyberdiplomacy, (ii) digital diplomacy, and (iii) tech diplomacy. Based on a comprehensive literature review, the authors argue that these concepts - rather than used interchangeably - should be differentiated based on their orientation towards rationales of (i) national security and norms for state conduct, (ii) dialogue and representation, and (iii) innovation and technological advancement, respectively. As such, (i) cyberdiplomacy comprises discussions on cybersecurity as well as multilateral norm-making regarding internet governance; (ii) digital diplomacy, for its part, covers the use of social media for public diplomacy goals and for consular work; and (iii) tech diplomacy involves states’ efforts to draw near to innovation centers, which also underscores the rising importance of big tech in international relations.

The writing of "Cyber, Digital, and Tech Diplomacy" is intertwined with the Data Diplomacy Academy. As the authors report in the Preface, reflections for the manuscript began after participations by Rafael Mesquita in activities by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) previously reported in this blog. Ambassador Marco Suazo, the Director of the UNITAR New York Office, writes the book’s Foreword.

The book can be accessed or purchased at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-22423-1.

Rafael Mesquita is an assistant professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco and Renato Lira Brito is a PhD candidate at the same university.