The Age of the Internet: A Tech Savvy World and New Diplomacy

Abstract

The bittersweet characteristics of internet and social media have caught the imagination of the era we live in. No orb of this society is untouched by the marvels of information and communication technologies (ICT). The evolution of internet from ARPANET to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or apps like Watsapp has changed the modern world from its core, impacting every nook of every society. These tools and services have made individuals way more involved in political, social, cultural, and economic happenings around the globe, making them feel authorized to send their message/opinion beyond their computer/phone screen. Amidst this backdrop, state and traditional diplomacy has seen remarkable technological changes. The birth of digital diplomacy has opened a plethora of opportunities for the people as well as the state. Postmodern understanding of a state's power beyond the realm of its military capabilities (hard power) and through the lens of soft power has led to many countries trying to win “hearts and minds” across the globe. But, the interaction of state and newer technologies in the midst of labyrinth unconventional threats has changed the traditional rules of the game.