Diplomacy in the digital abyss: how populism and misinformation are reshaping statecraft

A profound paradox characterizes the contemporary international system; unprecedented digital connectivity coincides with a deepening crisis of trust, creating what this paper terms a “digital abyss” for traditional diplomacy. This paper examines how populist politics and disinformation use language through framing and delegitimization to challenge traditional diplomacy and principles of statecraft. This study adopts a Constructivist theoretical approach, arguing that these forces function as a form of epistemological warfare, completely undermining the institutional legitimacy and shared realities that underpin diplomatic interaction. Findings demonstrate a fundamental shift from confidential negotiation to contested reality, challenging the possibility of international cooperation, which evades and delegitimizes international institutions. This paper concludes by proposing pathways for institutional adaptation, including cognitive immunity. By laying out a roadmap for diplomatic innovation that utilizes the conceptual and technological information landscape of 21st-century statecraft, this study advances the domains of digital diplomacy and international relations.