Exploring Digital Diplomacy Practices amid Covid-19 Pandemic and its Challenges: Perspectives from Sri Lankan Diplomats

Abstract

The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic forced states to shift their diplomacy practices into digital platforms to stay connected with the outside world while serving their citizens abroad. Consequently, Sri Lanka also enhanced the level of Digital Diplomacy practices to adapt to the ‘new-normality’ brought by Covid-19. This paper focused on examining the shifts in Digital Diplomacy as a response to the pandemic while exploring the challenges faced by diplomats in adapting to this new form of diplomacy. A snowball sample of eight diplomatic officers attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka were selected for the study. In-depth interviews were conducted for data collection and thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The study found digital diplomacy practices prior to Covid-19 under three main themes namely, traditional digital communication tools, limited digital public engagement and initial steps toward digital services. Digital Diplomacy practices after Covid-19 are presented under five themes as; expanded digital communication social media for public engagement, enhanced online services, adoption of virtual platforms and online portals and data management. This study further found that when practicing Digital Diplomacy, officers face challenges as, absence of legal or policy frameworks, inefficiencies in virtual meetings, officers’ reluctance, limitations in capacity, lack of citizens’ adaptability, data security issues, inadequate digital platforms and repository systems and, issues due to other state conditions. This study provides useful implications for policy makers on the effective use of Digital Diplomacy practices for national interest.

Keywords: Challenges, Covid-19, Digital Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Sri Lanka