2019 in review: top 10 digital diplomacy moments
9. “Tools and Weapons”

Tools and Weapons is a narrative journey from inside of the world’s largest tech companies, with a focus on how technology needs partners working tightly together to face the biggest challenges of our era and to move us forward.

Most of all, this book — released this past September — shows how digital diplomacy is not only about narratives and content, but it’s also about understanding technology and all stakeholders in the tech spectrum and beyond. Digital diplomacy is about social media, as much as it is about policy and diplomacy.

“This is a colorful and insightful insiders’ view of how technology is both empowering and threatening us,” said Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of The Innovators and Steve Jobs. “From privacy to cyberattacks, this timely book is a useful guide for how to navigate the digital future.”

Authors Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer at Microsoft, and Carol Ann Browne, senior director of communications and external relations, understand “that technology is a double-edged sword — unleashing incredible opportunity but raising profound questions about democracy, civil liberties, the future of work and international relations,” said former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. “Tools and Weapons tackles these and other questions in a brilliant and accessible manner. It is a timely book that should be read by anyone seeking to understand how we can take advantage of technology’s promise without sacrificing our freedom, privacy or security.”

10. Influence in the Brussels-bubble

Even if you often look at the US as a barometer to understand online influence in politics and government, Brussels is another great example of how social media and digital engagement form the basis of influence on the Internet.

This past summer, POLITICO’s exclusive analysis revealed the influencers in the European Parliament’s Twitterverse. A very interesting time to observe what is happening as the EU legislative body was renewed in May after the Europe-wide elections, and with a new European Commission starting its mandate under President Ursula von der Leyen.

Notably, “the list of international politicians (excluding MEPs) followed by EU parliamentarians is heavily Brussels-dominated,” explain the authors of this report James Randerson and James O'Malley. “It includes just one European leader (Macron), one national politician (Germany’s Martin Schulz, who is a former European Parliament president) and four U.S. politicians (Trump, Obama, Hilary Clinton, and the U.S. president’s institutional account POTUS).”

In September, another interesting study came out, published by ZN Consulting and EurActiv.com. It provides a great picture not just for Brussels-based and European players, but also for Washington DC politicos interested in European affairs and the work of the European Union.
['Andreas Sandre']
['Social Media', 'Technology', 'Diplomacy', 'Foreign Policy', 'Year In Review']