The Public Diplomacy Activities of Palestine as a Soft Power Factor

Abstract

This study examines the public diplomacy activities that Palestine conducts as an element of soft power in order to make its voice heard by the international public at a time it is subjected to invasions and attacks by Israel. In today's international relations literature, defending the national interests and opportunities of states is now far beyond classical diplomacy between two states. States have recently begun to develop policies aimed at using public diplomacy and the soft power aspect of military power rather than military power itself, and they have also been striving to influence other governments, international and regional organizations as well as the international public opinion. In this connection, Palestine has first launched the Intifada movements to inform the word public opinion about the Israeli attacks, responding to Israeli soldiers and tanks with stones and sticks. In particular, through the effect of changing diplomacy, Palestine has started to pay more attention to public diplomacy activities that address the minds and hearts of people instead of using hard power. Because the Palestinian people are facing persecution within their own territory, it is a country with a high potential in terms of using public diplomacy and soft power. It tries to increase the dialogue between communities as well as to develop its political relations with other states in order to use soft power elements effectively. The present study examines the culture, education, diaspora, Digital and military public diplomacy policies that Palestine mobilizes to use its increasing soft power and analyses the contributions of the Palestinian people to public diplomacy activities. © 2020, Muhammed Mustafa KULU. All rights reserved.