Another output of my project on events with Lukasz Swiatek is out: a book chapter in the second edition of The Routledge Handbook of Soft Power. In this chapter, we look at Expo 2020 Dubai and we make a twofold argument: first, that the events’ soft power is anchored in virtuosity and, second, that the events continue to …
Online Pre-Events During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lukasz Swiatek and I have just published a new article in the International Journal of Communication about online pre-events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mega-events such as the Olympics and expo were postponed, prolonging the build-up phase of the events and providing the opportunity to organize pre-events. COVID restrictions and limitations on movement forced these pre-events …
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A short course on Digital Responsibilities
In April, I will be launching the C-Pod on Digital Responsibilities at Western Sydney University as part of the 21C Project . Curiosity Pods (typically 15 to 30 hours of student learning effort) are designed as bite sized learning available to all students at WSU regardless of the course they are enrolled in. I have …
As trust in social media crumbles, are these platforms still adequate for public diplomacy?
The tension of social media as both a liberating and constraining force has important implications for the study of digital communication in public diplomacy. The challenges and opportunities brought about by social media have been discussed in the third of a series of debates co-organized by the ISA's International Communication Section and the ICA's Public Diplomacy Interest Group. Lisa Tam of …
Early Career Scholars Debate on Public Diplomacy and Social Media
On the 7th of December, I will be charing the 3rd Early Career Scholars Debate, a joint event of the ICA Public Diplomacy Interest Group and the ISA International Communication Section. The debate will be held on the 7th of December at 8:00 AM London time, 11:00 AM Moscow time, 6:00 PM Brisbane time. Lisa Tam of the Queensland …
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Fear and empathy in international relations: Diplomacy, cyber engagement and Australian foreign policy
Just published in Place Branding and Public Diplomacy Abstract Emotions in international relations, as in human relations, are invisible but leave traces in the policy articulation. Such traces can reveal how emotional interpretations of the environment in which national states operate shape and frame certain policy and strategic choices. Drawing on the concept of the …
The Spectrum of Listening
It is generally agreed that listening is a critical component of any successful public diplomacy initiative. Listening has become particularly relevant with the introduction of social media platforms in public diplomacy, which has created new possibilities for governments to listen to and communicate with domestic and international audiences. In particular, data-driven approachesprovide diplomats with new …
Conceptualising public diplomacy listening on social media
Just published in Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. Read the full article (Abstract below). Abstract Public diplomacy consists of the public and interactive dimensions of diplomacy. Although listening is one of its core activities, public diplomacy scholarship has not yet engaged with listening theory. This paper connects public diplomacy scholarship with a new wave of …
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Typologies of social media accounts in public diplomacy
Public diplomacy actors are those who contribute to the projection of a country’s positive international image as a part of the national public diplomacy strategy. These actors are not always strictly diplomats since they may not be explicitly part of the diplomatic organisation. This introduces a differentiation between diplomatic social media accounts which are managed …
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Italian diaspora diplomacy: Italianness, political participation and international broadcasting
The “continuing history” of Italian emigration to Europe, North and South America and Oceania has formed large Italian diaspora communities around the world. The Italian diaspora has developed according to a “spontaneous and independent process” driven by personal, political and economic reasons, resulting in an every-increasing number of Italians citizens living abroad – approximately 5,4 …
Luigi Di Martino 