public Diplomacy 2.0: A Case Study of the US Digital Outreach Team

Abstract

The internet is enabling new approaches to public diplomacy. The US Digital Outreach Team (DOT) is one such initiative, aiming to engage directly with citizens in the Middle East by posting messages about US foreign policy on internet forums. This case study assesses the DOT's work. Does this method provide a promising move towards a more interactive and individualized approach to connecting with the Middle East? What are the strategic challenges faced by “public diplomacy 2.0?”