The implementation of the digital diplomacy of the United States, the UK, and China in Kenya

Ong’ong’a Daniel Oloo ()
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Ong’ong’a Daniel Oloo: Mount Kenya University

Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2024, vol. 20, issue 2, No 5, 180-191

Abstract: Abstract This paper examines the digital diplomacy used by the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and China as great power rivals in Africa, focusing on Kenya. Digital diplomacy has arisen as an essential topic in communication studies, especially in international relations, political communication, and place branding. As a result, even though little is known about the current approach, challenges, and strategies of these significant actors, it has attracted scholarly interest in recent years. Due to social media's prevalence, diplomacy now requires transparency, public involvement, openness, and real-time communication. Through interviews with diplomats, the study compares the implementation of digital diplomacy employed by the three diplomatic players. While each of these diplomatic players may exhibit distinct digital profiles, the study reveals a fascinating interplay of complementarity among them, especially when confronted with shared global challenges such as climate change. Anonymity and managing interactions emerge as key concerns, with diplomats navigating the potential distortion of their messages and contending with anonymous negativity. Moreover, the study acknowledges the cross-cultural dynamics of digital diplomacy, necessitating adaptive strategies to bridge divides and resonate with diverse audiences. The implication of this study on practice points toward regular developing and updating the capacity of diplomats to identify the challenges created by new technologies such as artificial intelligence and human learning machines.

Keywords: Digital diplomacy; Kenya, China, Strategic communication, Artificial intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1057/s41254-023-00316-3

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