A study of diplomatic discourse and network dynamics on Twitter

Social media has become a relevant platform to communicate with a vast audience, enabling users to spread information or influence discussions. As such, it has garnered the attention of governments and other organizations, enabling them to engage with their audiences directly and bypass traditional channels that might disrupt their message. Given their influence on shaping public perception, understanding and analyzing how they communicate provides insights into their political strategy and their outward perception. We have conducted a study based on a collection of tweets sent between January 2020 and March 2021 from diplomats in four different regions: Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States. We have analyzed the content produced and the properties of the following network connecting these users. Our findings show a clear structural separation in the following network by region, which may reflect differences in their diplomatic strategies. The content analysis revealed the use of propagandistic content during key events, suggesting that observed engagement between diplomats from distinct regions typically follows existing structural paths. With this work, we aim to fill a gap in digital diplomacy by focusing on the behavior of diplomats of global powers across three continents.