Strategic Integration of Information Technology and Diplomacy Focusing on the Integration of ICT - Term Paper Example

Moreover, modern diplomatic service being faced with enhanced roles, requests for extended outreach and accountability. Reduction in resources is also confronted with the multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary international arena. The occurrence of information and communication technologies (ICT) has rather carved out a substitute pathway towards progress. This paper inspects the role of information and communication technology in conveying diplomatic services, as a case of the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

E-Diplomacy has emerged as an internet-based resource that combines different application tools to help secure the diplomatic goals of different countries (Hanson). In the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2012) digital diplomacy is considered an important tool in managing foreign policy issues via the internet. The current scope and definition of e-diplomacy are however limited as it does not cover internal electronic collaboration processes, mobile applications, or related technologies.

The US State Department (2013) applies the concept of 21st-century statecraft to encompass the elements and applications of e-diplomacy, where the focus is on three primary information networks of international relations and trade, personal communications and mass media.With the increasing involvement of ICT into diplomatic affairs, political scientists refer to this transformation as the shift in the paradigm. It offers a much more targeted way of delivering information and empowers the government in establishing new connections across the globe.

Moreover, e-diplomacy has changed the role of diplomats; they are no more bound to carry all the official documents, as these files are always present at the distance of their fingertips. Foreign ministries will have little option but to take advantage of IT if they are to remain competitive with other parts of government, their analogs in other countries, and in some respects, the media (Eldon, 1994, par. 22).The concept of e-diplomacy is explained by some researchers in terms of Actor-Network Theory or ANT (Nweke).