Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 06/2011

A digital DFAT: joining the 21st century

Fergus Hanson

November 2010

Lowy Institute for International Policy

Abstract

E-diplomacy is no longer a boutique extra. Serious foreign ministries are embracing e-diplomacy to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. New digital tools offer far better means of communicating both internally and externally. They also allow governments to reach audiences – like important areas of the blogosphere – they would otherwise be cut off from. Australia’s own Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a lot of catching up to do. It also has a lot to gain from adopting these new platforms. This policy brief looks at the latest e-diplomacy innovations being pioneered by the US, UK and Canadian foreign ministries, drawing on meetings with the e-diplomacy units from all three countries.