Public Diplomacy in Authoritarian Regimes

This book offers a timely exploration of how authoritarian states communicate with foreign publics, blending strategies of attraction, persuasion, manipulation, and control. As authoritarian regimes grow more sophisticated in projecting influence beyond their borders, this publication investigates the tools they employ from soft power initiatives in culture, sports, and academia to sharp power tactics of disinformation and censorship. Through a comparative lens, authors uncover the nuances of these regimes' practices, challenging assumptions about where public diplomacy ends and propaganda begins. By examining cases including China, Cuba, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Venezuela, this book sheds light on the transnational implications of authoritarian public diplomacy in an era of shifting global power dynamics. An essential reading for scholars of international relations, political communication, and public diplomacy, this publication offers fresh insights into the evolving struggle for influence on the world stage.

Explores the different strategies of how authoritarian regimes practice public diplomacy Examines a geographically wide and qualitatively diverse range of country case studies Unpacks the goals of authoritarian countries' public diplomacy and the methods they use to shape their foreign policies

Autorentext

Dr. Vedat Demir is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Media and Communication Studies at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. He has been an Einstein Guest Researcher before. He was a recipient of the Philipp Schwartz fellowship by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the University of Potsdam between 2018-2021.

Dr. Carola Richter is Professor for international communication at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. In her research and teaching, she focuses on media systems and communication cultures in the Middle East and North Africa region, public diplomacy, foreign news coverage as well as on media and migration.

Inhalt

Introduction Vedat Demir & Carola Richter Historical and conceptual perspectives.- 1. When soft power matters not: The Priam syndrome Sameera Durrani.- 2. Evolving soft power paradigms: a comparative analysis of China and the U.S. in the Middle East Mohamad Zreik.- 3. The Public diplomacy of Apartheid South Africa Nicholas J. Cull China.- 4. China's public diplomacy: projecting self-confidence and asserting power across the globe Ingrid d'Hooghe.- 5. China's image and influence in 2024, a persistent ambiguity Olivier Arifon Cuba.- 6. When the academy support autocracy: Latin American Council of Social Sciences and the Cuban regime Armando Chaguaceda & Leonardo Fernandez Otaño Egypt.- 7. Speak Arabic, Speak Egyptian as a tool of Public Diplomacy Aida M. Yehia Abd El Rehim Iran.- 8. Iran: digital self-empowerment to achieve international discursive power Jiayi Jing Morocco 9. Palaces to partnerships: Morocco's royal initiatives and the reinvention of public diplomacy Shabista Naz.- 9. Palaces to partnerships: Morocco's royal initiatives and the reinvention of public diplomacy Shabista Naz.- 10. Playing for two goals Moroccan football as a soft power resource Andreas Wüst North Korea.- 11. Threats as a means of Public Diplomacy: The case of North Korea Jacob Ausderan Russia.- 12. Russia's public diplomacy: Navigating the shadows of the war in Ukraine Ana Jovi-Lazi Saudi Arabia.- 13. The domestic-international nexus of authoritarian public diplomacy: The case of Saudi Arabia Jens Heibach.- 14. Beyond sportswashing? Saudi football politics as a driver for economic diversification, power consolidation, social cohesion and public diplomacy Sebastian Sons.- 15. Latent and manifest affect: The public diplomacy and soft power of Saudi Arabia Giulio M. Gallarotti.- 16. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are going green: Green developmentalism as a new form of authoritarian public diplomacy Tobias Zumbraegel.- 17. Public diplomacy in the entrepreneurial state: the case of the UAE Jana Fedtke & Mohammad Ibahrine Turkey.- 18. From Turkey to Türkiye: Public diplomacy of symbols Senem Çevik.- 19. Public diplomacy in Turkey during democratization and democratic backsliding Vedat Demir Venezuela.- 20. Venezuela: from oil diplomacy to disinformation pawn Maria Puerta Riera.- Conclusion Vedat Demir & Carola Richter.