From Action to Hashtags: The Impact of Digital Diplomacy on Sudan’s Revolution
I am Alaa Elrayah, a senior at Georgetown University in Qatar majoring in International Politics and pursuing a Certificate in Media and Politics.
My e-portfolio is on digital diplomacy’s role in the Sudanese revolution, titled: “From Action to Hashtags: The Impact of Digital Diplomacy on Sudan’s Revolution.” Globalization and digitization forced diplomacy to adapt to this ever-changing world. Therefore, this portfolio engages with the emergence of digital diplomacy, allowing for an interactive and more engaging form of diplomacy with citizens and the international community during the Sudanese revolution. I looked at to what extent the relationship between street protests, social media activism, and digital diplomacy maximized the potential of the protests by raising awareness, calling for change, and promoting a democratic civilian-led Sudan. I argue that digital diplomacy during the Sudanese revolution played a pivotal role in calling for the international community’s attention insofar as it went alongside street protests and social media activism. I used Twitter as the social media platform to analyze tweets from state and non-state actors who engaged with the crisis, in addition to tweets from the Former Prime Minister of Sudan, to indicate how digital diplomacy also impacted the Sudanese government to adapt to the change in diplomacy.
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Nadine Ghamloush
CMAP E-Portfolio: https://sites.google.com/georgetown.edu/alaaelrayahcmap
