The Use of Digital Diplomacy by Intergovernmental Organisations

The Case of the United Nations

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2025.9.Spec.1018

Keywords:

Digital Diplomacy, Intergovernmental Organisations, United Nations, UN Agencies, Benefits, Challenges

Abstract

Digital diplomacy plays a very important role in realising the diplomatic objectives of the subjects of international law, in which case it is understood that, in addition to states, it has also been adopted by intergovernmental organisations (IGOs). However, when the digital diplomacy of IGOs is discussed, the focus is undoubtedly on the United Nations (UN) as the most powerful political organisation in the world, as well as its agencies. Therefore, this research article aims to specify the main characteristics of IGOs’ digital diplomacy, thus taking the UN as a case study. For the realisation of the article, qualitative methodology was applied, namely methods such as case study and documents analysis. The research results show that digital diplomacy has extraordinary importance to the UN because it enables increased public support through rapid and broad engagement with global audiences, thus strengthening its position in the international arena for solving global challenges. The conclusions of the article contribute to increasing information about the digital diplomacy of the UN and its agencies, specifying both its benefits and challenges.

Author Biography

  • Viona Rashica, South East European University

    Faculty of Contemporary Social Sciences
    Ilindenska n. 335
    1200 Tetovo
    North Macedonia
    vionarashica@hotmail.com

References

Bjola, C. and Holmes, M. (eds.) (2015). Digital Diplomacy: Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315730844

Cull, J. N. (2009). Public Diplomacy: Lessons from the Past. Los Angeles: Figueroa Press.

Holmes, M. (2018). Face-to-Face Diplomacy: Social Neuroscience and International Relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108264761

Kurbalija, J. (2018). Confessions of a #DigitalDiplomat. Diplo. Available at: https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/confessions-digitaldiplomat/ (accessed on 06.10.2025).

Kurbalija, J. (2025). History of Diplomacy and Technology: From smoke signals to artificial intelligence. Malta: DiploFoundation.

Lamb, P. and Robertson-Snape, F. (2017). Historical Dictionary of International Relations. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

LinkedIn. (2023). What are the most common social media mistakes that employees make and how can you prevent them?. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-most-common-social-media-mistakes (accessed on 09.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2023a). International Organizations on Social Media 2023: Instagram. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2023/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2023b). International Organizations on Social Media 2023: YouTube. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2023/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025a). International Organizations on Social Media 2025. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025b). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: X. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025c). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: Facebook. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025d). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: Instagram. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025e). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: Threads. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025f). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: LinkedIn. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025g). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: TikTok. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Lüfkens, M. (2025h). International Organizations on Social Media 2025: YouTube. DigiTips. Available at: https://digitips.ch/international-organizations-on-social-media-2025/ (accessed on 07.10.2025).

Matteucci, A. (2015). Internet’s silent and hidden effects. Diplo. Available at: https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/internets-silent-and-hidden-effects/ (accessed on 08.10.2025).

Mingst, A. M. and McKibben, E. H. (2022). Essentials of International Relations (9th edition). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Rashica, V. (2018). The Benefits and Risks of Digital Diplomacy. SEEU Review, 13(1), 75-89. Available at: https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/seeur-2018-0008. (accessed on 02.10.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/seeur-2018-0008

Rashica, V. (2019a). Digital diplomacy: aspects, approaches and practical use. International Scientific Journal on European Perspectives, 10(1), 21-39. Available at: https://www.europeanperspectives.org/storage/24/DIGITAL-DIPLOMACY_Rashica.pdf. (accessed on 02.10.2025).

Rashica, V. (2019b). The right, procedures and reasons of the withdrawal of states from international organizations. SEEU Review, 14(2), 62-77. Available at: https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/seeur-2019-0019. (accessed on 03.10.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/seeur-2019-0019

Rashica, V. (2022). Is Digital Diplomacy Triumphing Over Political Diplomacy?. International Scientific Journal on European Perspectives, 13(2), 47-67. Available at: https://www.europeanperspectives.org/storage/197/EPs04-Oct22-Digital-Diplomacy-Rashica.pdf. (accessed on 10.10.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.60073/euper.2022.10.04

Rashica, V. (2023). The Rainbow Beyond the Soul: Reflecting the Diplomat’s Profession and Personality. International Scientific Journal on European Perspectives, 14(2), 101-122. Available at: https://www.europeanperspectives.org/storage/265/06-EPS-Oct23-The-rainbow-Beyond-the-Soul.pdf. (accessed on 04.10.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.60073/euper.2023.10.06

Rashica, V. (2024). Diplomacia Digjitale në Teorinë dhe Praktikën e Diplomacisë së Shekullit Njëzet e Një. Prishtinë: Botime Artini.

Roumate, F. (2024). Artificial Intelligence and the New World Order: New Weapons, New Wars and a New Balance of Power. Cham: Springer Nature. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50312-2

Salmon, C. T. (2000). Issues in International Relations. UK: Routledge.

Sandre, A. (2015). Digital Diplomacy: Conversations on Innovation in Foreign Policy. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Sandre, A. (2020). Digital diplomacy on TikTok is growing. Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/digital-diplomacy/digital-diplomacy-on-tiktok-is-growing-8ad1eb940719 (accessed on 06.10.2025).

UNICC. (2024). Cyber Threat Landscape Report 2023. Available at: https://www.unicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2023-Cyber-Threat-Landscape-Report-v2.pdf (accessed on 13.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.a). UN System. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states (accessed on 04.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.b). United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds special meeting on preventing exploitation of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes. Available at: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ctc/news/united-nations-security-council-counter-terrorism-committee-holds-special-meeting-preventing (accessed on 10.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.c). Cybersecurity and New Technologies. Available at: https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/cybersecurity#:~:text=Misuse%20of%20information%20and%20communications,in%20preventing%20and%20countering%20terrorism.” (accessed on 10.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.d). #Work4UN: Basic Facts about Working for the United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/work4un-basic-facts-about-working-united-nations#:~:text=Working%20around%20the%20clock%2C%20the,development%20and%20promote%20human%20rights (accessed on 10.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.e). Countering Disinformation. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/countering-disinformation (accessed on 09.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.f). United Nations Global Principles For Information Integrity. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/information-integrity/global-principles (accessed on 12.10.2025).

United Nations. (n.d.g). Artificial Intelligence (AI). Available at: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/artificial-intelligence#:~:text=Lights%20and%20shadows%20of%20AI,democratic%20processes%20around%20the%20world (accessed on 14.10.2025).

UN News. (2025). Sixty-five nations sign first UN treaty to fight cybercrime, in milestone for digital cooperation. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166182#:~:text=Adopted%20by%20the%20General%20Assembly,consensual%20sharing%20of%20intimate%20images (accessed on 14.10.2025).

UNSCEB. (n.d.). Structure of the CEB. Available at: https://unsceb.org/structure (accessed on 10.10.2025).

Downloads

Published

28.12.2025

Issue

Section

Special Section: “Unwritten Sources of Law"

Categories

How to Cite

The Use of Digital Diplomacy by Intergovernmental Organisations: The Case of the United Nations. (2025). Bratislava Law Review, 9(Spec), 161-174. https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2025.9.Spec.1018