Journal of Public Diplomacy

The Korean Association for Public Diplomacy (한국공공외교학회)
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The Impact of Citizen-led Facebook Public Diplomacy: A Case Study of Libyans' Views of the US

  • Lisa Gibson (Conflict and Resolution Studies, Washington and Jefferson College)
  • Received : 2023.01.30
  • Accepted : 2023.10.12
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Citizen engagement in public diplomacy efforts has been considered important since its earliest conceptualizations in the 1960s. Since 9/11, the US government has put a strong focus on citizen engagement in promoting positive images of the US, its values and culture, suggesting that these activities would improve foreign publics views of US foreign policy. However, much of the public diplomacy scholarship has primarily focused on the state centric messaging form of public diplomacy to the neglect of interactions and relationships. In recent years, scholars have begun calling for an increased focus on nonstate actors, networks, and relational approaches to public diplomacy. Yet, there is still a strong need for empirical studies into how participants in these kinds of activities perceive them and how they affect their views. This article provides a case study of citizen-led public diplomacy between Libyan and American citizens through Facebook friendship groups and uses Facebook focus group interviews with Libyans to understand how these groups shape their views. The study finds that these kinds of activities are useful in promoting understanding and improved images of Americans and its culture. However, these activities do not improve Libyans views of US foreign policy.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

All participants in this study gave informed consent. This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee at the University of Nottingham.

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