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Storytelling in EU public diplomacy : reputation management and recognition of success

Hedling, Elsa LU (2020) In Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 16(2). p.143-152
Abstract
This article draws attention to storytelling in public diplomacy. Based on interviews with officials in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and a campaign on social media, it explores storytelling in EU public diplomacy. It treats storytell-ing as narrative strategies that tap into the power of dramaturgy and visual elements to mediate emotions and identity in international politics. This understanding of storytelling is discussed in relation to three interrelated bodies of literature of relevance to the digitalization of public diplomacy. The study traces how storytelling in the EEAS stems from the norm of engagement, intends for a process of legitimation through techniques of representation, and has the goal of recognition. The... (More)
This article draws attention to storytelling in public diplomacy. Based on interviews with officials in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and a campaign on social media, it explores storytelling in EU public diplomacy. It treats storytell-ing as narrative strategies that tap into the power of dramaturgy and visual elements to mediate emotions and identity in international politics. This understanding of storytelling is discussed in relation to three interrelated bodies of literature of relevance to the digitalization of public diplomacy. The study traces how storytelling in the EEAS stems from the norm of engagement, intends for a process of legitimation through techniques of representation, and has the goal of recognition. The analysis illustrates the conceptualization of storytelling focusing on the communication of the European Union’s Global Strategy launched in June 2016. The article finds the role of storytelling to be a result of the perceived new urgency of engaging domestic publics in EU foreign policy. In this context the role of stories to evoke emotions and the opportunities on social media to project these stories, are highly valued. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
diplomacy, storytelling, digital diplomacy, visual politics, public diplomacy, place branding, EEAS
in
Place Branding and Public Diplomacy
volume
16
issue
2
pages
10 pages
publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
external identifiers
  • scopus:85069953317
ISSN
1751-8059
DOI
10.1057/s41254-019-00138-2
project
Digital Diplomacy in a Turbulent Global World
Social Information and Hybrid Power: A Strategic Platform for Political Communication at Lund University
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
98380b95-f0a9-41c9-b310-7ddde35b537c
date added to LUP
2019-08-01 17:14:51
date last changed
2022-08-16 12:47:24
@article{98380b95-f0a9-41c9-b310-7ddde35b537c,
  abstract     = {{This article draws attention to storytelling in public diplomacy. Based on interviews with officials in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and a campaign on social media, it explores storytelling in EU public diplomacy. It treats storytell-ing as narrative strategies that tap into the power of dramaturgy and visual elements to mediate emotions and identity in international politics. This understanding of storytelling is discussed in relation to three interrelated bodies of literature of relevance to the digitalization of public diplomacy. The study traces how storytelling in the EEAS stems from the norm of engagement, intends for a process of legitimation through techniques of representation, and has the goal of recognition. The analysis illustrates the conceptualization of storytelling focusing on the communication of the European Union’s Global Strategy launched in June 2016. The article finds the role of storytelling to be a result of the perceived new urgency of engaging domestic publics in EU foreign policy. In this context the role of stories to evoke emotions and the opportunities on social media to project these stories, are highly valued.}},
  author       = {{Hedling, Elsa}},
  issn         = {{1751-8059}},
  keywords     = {{diplomacy; storytelling; digital diplomacy; visual politics; public diplomacy; place branding; EEAS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{143--152}},
  publisher    = {{Palgrave Macmillan}},
  series       = {{Place Branding and Public Diplomacy}},
  title        = {{Storytelling in EU public diplomacy : reputation management and recognition of success}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41254-019-00138-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1057/s41254-019-00138-2}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}