U.S. Internet Diplomacy on China
Author
Jiang, Xiaoying
Term
4. term
Publication year
2013
Abstract
This thesis examines how the United States employs internet diplomacy in its relationship with China and why it has become an important complement to traditional diplomacy. It begins by clarifying the concepts of diplomacy, public diplomacy, and internet diplomacy, and builds a theoretical framework centered on soft power and neoliberalism, which the author argues better explain the U.S. approach than realism or constructivism. Methodologically, the study combines conceptual clarification and literature review with qualitative case studies, including Secretary Hillary Clinton’s “Internet Freedom” speeches, the State Department’s “Blog Briefing,” and Google’s withdrawal from the Chinese market, alongside a descriptive overview of internet development in the U.S. and China. The analysis explores U.S. strategic intentions, the use of social platforms such as blogs and microblogs, and the roles of both state and non-state actors in advancing an Internet freedom agenda. Overall, the thesis indicates that the internet has become a strategic space for U.S. foreign policy toward China and that internet diplomacy increasingly shapes communication, conflict, and cooperation in the bilateral relationship.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan USA anvender internetdiplomati i relationerne til Kina, og hvorfor det er blevet et vigtigt supplement til traditionelle diplomatiske værktøjer. Afhandlingen begynder med at afklare begreberne diplomati, offentlig diplomati og internetdiplomati og opstiller en teoretisk ramme med soft power og neoliberalismen som hovedperspektiver, der ifølge forfatteren bedre forklarer USA’s tilgang end realisme og konstruktivisme. Metodisk kombineres begrebsafklaring og litteraturgennemgang med kvalitative casestudier af bl.a. Hillary Clintons “Internet Freedom”-taler, Udenrigsministeriets “Blog Briefing” og Googles tilbagetrækning fra det kinesiske marked, samt en beskrivende gennemgang af internetudviklingen i USA og Kina. Analysen belyser USA’s strategiske intentioner, brugen af sociale platforme som blogs og mikroblogs, og samspillet mellem statslige og ikke-statslige aktører i promoveringen af internetfrihed. Overordnet peger afhandlingen på, at internettet er blevet et strategisk rum for USA’s udenrigspolitik over for Kina, og at internetdiplomati spiller en stigende rolle i at forme kommunikationen, konflikter og samarbejde i det bilaterale forhold.
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