Digitalization of Diplomacy: Defense Diplomacy in Turkey

Introduction

Diplomacy, defined as the peaceful conduct and maintenance of relations between states by officials appointed by states, is one of the important tools that states put into practice to realize their security and foreign policy objectives and strategies (Abdurahmanlı, 2021, p. 581). Diplomacy, which is a concept as deep-rooted and old as the history of humanity, has been a method applied by states in the international system throughout history. Initially, diplomacy was used by states as a temporary method such as making agreements and announcing peace conditions, but as time passed and the international conjuncture changed, diplomacy also changed. In particular, states without military power have used diplomacy to survive. Diplomatic moves made temporarily have become the constant presence of representatives in the states concerned. States have opened representative offices in the relevant countries and appointed officials who will stay here permanently. This has also changed the scope of diplomacy. Diplomatic negotiations to make agreements and give information included gathering information and conducting intelligence activities (Cooper, Heine & Thakur, 2013, p. 3).

As time passed and the international conjuncture changed, diplomacy, which began to be applied in various forms such as coercive diplomacy, permanent diplomacy, summit diplomacy, and shuttle diplomacy, began to become more important than military power in realizing the foreign policies of states (Nicolson, 1941, p. 27). In this sense, the hard power used to define military power has been replaced by soft power with the increase in the effect of diplomacy. This situation has also led to a change in the scope of power. Over time, not only military but also economic and technological power, which is one of the elements of soft power, has increased its influence. In particular, with the increase in the influence of public diplomacy, which is used to define the method used by the government of one country to influence and direct the citizens of another country in line with their national interests and ideologies, a bond that cannot be broken between soft power and diplomacy has been formed (Cull, 2009, p. 17).

Considering the developments in technology in recent years, almost everything from education to health, from foreign policy to economy has started to become digital. Almost all applications and all activities have started to be done easily and conveniently in a very short time using digital platforms. Diplomacy has also had its share of this situation and diplomacy has taken on a new form (Cull, 2008, p. 33). Digital diplomacy, also defined as the implementation of public diplomacy on digital platforms, has gained an important place in the foreign policy practices of states (Adesine & Summer, 2017, p. 4). Because of the restrictions and quarantine practices implemented with the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have carried out their activities online. State leaders attended the meetings online and tried to influence societies by explaining their policies through social media.

The digitalization of diplomacy has also been reflected in the policies implemented by states in many areas such as defense and security. For example, defense diplomacy, which is examined as a branch of both soft power and public diplomacy, which is a new concept theoretically but has a long history in practice, has also come under the influence of digitalization. This study discusses the historical development of defense diplomacy, the transformation it has experienced in this process, and how much it has been affected by the digitalization process. As a case study, defense diplomacy practices in Türkiye were examined. The study consists of two chapters. In the first chapter, the definition, characteristics, and historical development of defense diplomacy are described. In the second chapter, the implementation and development process of defense diplomacy in Türkiye is explained. A descriptive method was used in the study. Because of the lack of sufficient studies on defense diplomacy, it is hoped that your work will make an important contribution both in terms of theory and case studies.