Online diplomacy has arrived. The State Department has its own social networking site, similar to Facebook. It's called ExchangesConnect and it is administered by the department's Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs. According to Nextgov's Kellie Lunney, it includes blog postings, photos and videos from users across the world who discuss culture, language and global education programs. It's been running since December 2008. The State Department also has a blog, DipNote, where top-level officials discuss policies.
In an article published in the National Journal in February, 2009, Jeremy Curtin, the coordinator of the State's Bureau of International Information Programs which puts together America.gov, the State Department is advocating US policies in its online social networking efforts.
According to the same National Journal article, the U.S. Institute of Peace recently used Twitter for the first time at a conference on media and diplomacy. This allowed 40 Twitterers from India, Morocco, and Egypt to participate in the conference. Additionally, Then-Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy James K. Glassman put together the virtual world Second Life to debate Egyptian bloggers, earlier this year. The result was that 45% of the 200 people who participated in the discussion were from the Middle East.
Although promoting US policies in the online world is not as advanced as the marketing efforts of Fortune 500 corporations, local mom-and-pop businesses, and global businesses and nonprofits that have built vast globalization awareness machines bringing them front-and-center into the 21st century, it appears that bureaucrats will need to get used to the trend. The use of social networking sites will likely continue to increase.
The effect on US foreign policy can be positive considering that many progressive-minded users of social networking websites, readers interested in foreign policy, and policymakers see the advantages of staying connected and bridging ideas. The formation of online communities facilitates the cooperative and collaborative spirit of those who are interested in seeing advances in social policies, economic policies, environmental policies, energy policies, arms control policies and various global public policies. It also bridges cultures toward understanding their similarities and differences. The global thought process that evolves thru online opportunities can lead to effective networks that bridge people interested in global issues to problem-solve collaboratively and build win-win relationships that focus on the complex issues that US policies tackle.
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