Public Diplomacy: An Alternative Diplomacy in Foreign Affairs' Issues. Greek Public Diplomacy: Capabilities and Perspectives
Abstract
Communication with foreign citizens and the engagement of public opinion is, today, one of the vital elements of foreign policy. This is not a new phenomenon, but it has recently taken on a new importance due to a series of factors emerging from globalization, the speed of information exchange, the spreading of democracy, and the increasing participation of new, nongovernmental actors (NGOs) in decision-making processes concerning foreign policy. As a consequence, the political value of public opinion has also increased significantly as far as governments are concerned. Therefore, Public Diplomacy (PD) has emerged as the public face or alternative version of traditional diplomacy. This thesis will provide the theoretical frame and some critical points regarding PD, in conjunction with the target addressed and the results achieved by some developed countries through this kind of diplomacy. It will prove that PD is one of the most important tools for a successful foreign policy, having as its primary objective to inform, engage, and build mutual relations with foreign public opinion. Therefore, the first major question to be answered in this thesis is as follows: (1) Is PD an effective tool in foreign affairs issues? To answer this question, the thesis will present a case study of PD in Greece, focusing on its level of effectiveness, its capabilities, and its perspectives. The final outcome of the case study will be the answer to the second major question: (2) Is Greek PD effective, and is it a stabilizing agent for the Balkan region?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA547922
Entities
People
- Sotirios Petropoulos
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School