Diplomacy in Cyberspace

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Diplomacy in Cyberspace

• Aleks Krotoski
• University of Surrey
• The Guardian

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So people are playing games. So what?

• People are gathering in these spaces
• People are communicating with one another
• People are developing meaningful relationships
• People are creating new understandings
• People are participating

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But before we get ahead of ourselves

• The differences between online and offline
• Anonymity
• Physical appearance
• Physical proximity
• Greater transience (more weak ties)
• Absence of social cues

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So how can the interactions in cyberspace be
meaningful ?

• In traditional definitions of community,
  thered be no such thing in cyberspace
• How can you develop meaningful relationships with
  people youve never met?

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Its been happening for years

• These virtual worlds are the places which the
  online communities are tied to

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So how does it happen?

• Virtual worlds are designed that way people
  must rely upon one another to survive and advance
• Anonymity becomes Pseudonymity
• Whatever role trust plays in offline communities,
  it plays in online communities because these
  interactions are human-bound

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This is where things get interesting

• Incorporating real-world ritual into the virtual
• Commemorating real-world events
• A non-official policing force in a space where an
  official police are absent
• Representational government for the people by the
  people
• Judicial systems
• Thriving economies worth tens of millions of USD

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So what does this mean for public diplomacy?

• These spaces integrate the functionality of the
  internet, the creativity enabled by digital media
  and the collaborative possibilities offered in
  the networked age
• They are integrated and immersive media platforms
  which encourage active participation,
  collaboration and innovation
• They extend traditional information access, and
  support new ways of creating exchanges and
  experiences for a global population

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Some people have chosen to study them
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Others have chosen to use them

• Charities
• Global Kids
• UNICEF
• American Cancer Society
• Childline

• Political Parties
• John Edwards 08
• National Front
• UKIP

• N/GOs
• Centre for Disease Control
• NOAA
• World Economic Forum

• Governments
• Sweden
• The Netherlands

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So how do you do it?

• Its very easy. It just takes a bit of planning.
  The most important thing to remember is that it
  all comes back to the community
• What are their social norms?
• What can you provide which offers value?
• What can you provide which offers the community a
  stake in how and where youll fit into the social
  landscape?

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In sum

• Virtual environments are thriving worlds
  populated by tens of millions around the world
• They simulate and stimulate
• People are motivated to participate
• And if you want to get involved, you must too

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Thank you

• Aleks Krotoski
• aleks_at_toastkid.com
• http//www.toastkid.com