On Social Diplomacy

Diplomatic studies are becoming more open to social ideas, and a growing number of scholars are looking at diplomacy as a social practice. At the same time, diplomacy itself is in greater demand in increasingly complex societies, both international and domestic. This article analyses diplomacy between socially defined actors and complements the ideas of social diplomacy outlined in my book Diplomacy for Professionals and Everyone (Leiden: Brill, 2022). Since the social is essentially interconnectional, interactional and relational, I explore social diplomacy that takes place between purposive social entities, such as individuals, groups, organisations and states, and their aggregations, by focusing on their means of engagement, interaction and relationship-building. Diplomacy has always been regarded as a mission, and social diplomacy can be considered a goodwill mission that involves constructive engagement and dialogical interaction between parties to create a social good, most notably positive relationships.