The relevance of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations 1961 following advancements in technology. : a focus on e-diplomacy

Abstract

In this dissertation I will be examining whether the advancements in Internet communication are affecting or changing the way diplomats communicate with each other in order to achieve diplomatic objectives. This modern way of communication, enhanced with the use of blogs and social networks, is more known as e-diplomacy. Historically, diplomatic communication was limited to 'government to government', however, e-diplomacy has been able to connect the government to the people, people to people, and the people to the government. The essence of e-diplomacy, therefore, is to get more people involved in the dialogue, ushering in the era of public diplomacy. This research makes use of established authors, considered authoritative in the world of diplomacy, in order to investigate the use of contemporary technology and its effects in the way diplomatic relations are conducted. The extensive literature review presents an analytical outlook not only on which modes of technology and how do modern day diplomats use them but also how these technological aids tend to reshape this complex world of high-level communication. Special focus will then be dedicated to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 as the legal framework for diplomatic communication, and how customs in International Law on Diplomatic Relations continued to evolve since the codification of customary law in 1961, due to advances in technology. Hence, the mam objective of this research is the assessment of the Vienna Convention's applicability to diplomatic communication between diplomats in this day and age of the Internet.