What is Virtual Diplomacy

Diplomacy, in its international meaning, refers to the art and practice of negotiations between representatives of states or international organisations. In international relations, the interaction between said representatives can focus on aspects as diverse as war and peace, trade, economy, and culture. This chapter endeavours to shed light on the emerging new public diplomacy. Specifically, it introduces a competency model for new global diplomacy with several objectives. The first is the need to audit real power, which escapes international law legislation. The power audit suggests that one is facing a trilemma, a problem with three elements that require prioritization. The first point concerns the debate between freedom and security: how to reconcile both dimensions in the face of the growing threats to the integrity of people. The second is the balance between transparency and confidentiality. Third, it questions what public knowledge is when faced with Wikileaks and the Snowden leaks and how much it affects the relationships based on mutual trust.