POL 226 - Public Diplomacy and Sports

In today's international relations, the ability to influence international public opinion and agendas has become a crucial area of ​​diplomatic activity, and in this sense, public diplomacy has become an indispensable element of foreign policy. Advances in communication technologies, the transformation of interpersonal relations into multilayered and multidimensional, and the expanding effectiveness and scope of new media and social media networks have made public diplomacy activities aimed at citizens of other countries a necessity. Public diplomacy institutions, which exist in almost every country, are a reflection of this necessity. Public diplomacy, which has undergone significant transformation since its inception in the 1960s, has evolved beyond the activities of states establishing relations with the international community, informing them, and generating and directing influence, into a field where non-state actors, and even individuals, can exert influence. This course will examine the concepts, approaches, history, and development of public diplomacy, as well as its relationship and differences with other concepts such as propaganda, soft power, public relations, and cultural diplomacy. Examples of public diplomacy from Turkey and other countries will be discussed in detail.

The course can be divided into two terms. The first six weeks will focus on more theoretical and conceptual discussions. The next six weeks will focus on analyzing several public diplomacy cases, including the Turkish example.

Gaye Aslı Sancar, Kamu Diplomasisi ve Halkla İlişkiler, Beta, 2012.