, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
QUESTION 1: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE DIGITAL SQUARE AND THE DIPLOMATIC TABLE: NAVIGATING MODERN
STATECRAFT IN SOUTH AFRICA-US RELATIONS
1.1. Introduction
The contemporary landscape of international relations is a complex hybrid environment where
centuries-old diplomatic practices converge with the instantaneous, borderless nature of digital
communication. The evolving relationship between South Africa and the United States, as
highlighted in the provided article, serves as a poignant case study of this dynamic. President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s hopeful outlook, stemming from a shift from informal social media exchanges to
formal trade negotiations, underscores a critical tension in modern statecraft. This essay will argue
that while social media has irrevocably transformed diplomatic engagement by offering new tools for
public diplomacy and direct communication, it remains an insufficient and often risky substitute for
the structured, confidential, and substantive processes of traditional diplomacy. To develop this
argument, the essay will first define social media and identify its use in the SA-US tariff dispute. It
will then analyse the appropriate and inappropriate contexts for governmental use of these platforms,
evaluating President Donald Trump’s specific approach. Finally, it will provide a critical discussion
of formal diplomatic channels, using the commencement of "formal negotiations" between the two
nations as a cornerstone example to illustrate the enduring necessity of old diplomacy in a new
world.
1.2. Defining Social Media and its Application in the Tariff Announcement
Social media, in the context of international relations and diplomacy, can be defined as a collection
of internet-based, interactive applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations
of Web 2.0, enabling the creation and exchange of user-generated content (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010,
as cited in Knowska, 2021). These platforms are characterised by their immediacy, broad
accessibility, and ability to facilitate many-to-many communication, bypassing traditional media
gatekeepers. Unlike official government statements or diplomatic notes, social media communication
is often informal, personal, and designed for public consumption, making it a powerful tool for
shaping narratives and engaging directly with both domestic and international audiences. Mutisya,
Maluki, and Adar (2024) describe this evolution as part of "digital diplomacy," where states leverage
these technologies to advance foreign policy objectives, manage their international image, and
conduct public diplomacy.
In the case of the trade tensions between the United States and South Africa, the social media
platform predominantly used by former US President Donald Trump to share information was
Twitter (now known as X). President Trump was renowned for his direct and unfiltered use of
Twitter to announce major policy shifts, communicate with other world leaders, and set the political
agenda. While the article does not quote a specific tweet, it explicitly references that the
communication regarding the tariff increases initially occurred through "tweets and social media
messages" before evolving into formal talks. This practice aligns with the observations of Sayin and
Sayin (2013), who noted that social media allows political leaders to engage in "new diplomacy" by
speaking directly to the people, often sidestepping established diplomatic protocols. Therefore,
Twitter served as the primary megaphone for the US administration's initial stance on the tariffs, a
move that framed the issue publicly before any formal, private bilateral engagement had concluded,
placing the South African government in a reactive position.
QUESTION 1: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE DIGITAL SQUARE AND THE DIPLOMATIC TABLE: NAVIGATING MODERN
STATECRAFT IN SOUTH AFRICA-US RELATIONS
1.1. Introduction
The contemporary landscape of international relations is a complex hybrid environment where
centuries-old diplomatic practices converge with the instantaneous, borderless nature of digital
communication. The evolving relationship between South Africa and the United States, as
highlighted in the provided article, serves as a poignant case study of this dynamic. President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s hopeful outlook, stemming from a shift from informal social media exchanges to
formal trade negotiations, underscores a critical tension in modern statecraft. This essay will argue
that while social media has irrevocably transformed diplomatic engagement by offering new tools for
public diplomacy and direct communication, it remains an insufficient and often risky substitute for
the structured, confidential, and substantive processes of traditional diplomacy. To develop this
argument, the essay will first define social media and identify its use in the SA-US tariff dispute. It
will then analyse the appropriate and inappropriate contexts for governmental use of these platforms,
evaluating President Donald Trump’s specific approach. Finally, it will provide a critical discussion
of formal diplomatic channels, using the commencement of "formal negotiations" between the two
nations as a cornerstone example to illustrate the enduring necessity of old diplomacy in a new
world.
1.2. Defining Social Media and its Application in the Tariff Announcement
Social media, in the context of international relations and diplomacy, can be defined as a collection
of internet-based, interactive applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations
of Web 2.0, enabling the creation and exchange of user-generated content (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010,
as cited in Knowska, 2021). These platforms are characterised by their immediacy, broad
accessibility, and ability to facilitate many-to-many communication, bypassing traditional media
gatekeepers. Unlike official government statements or diplomatic notes, social media communication
is often informal, personal, and designed for public consumption, making it a powerful tool for
shaping narratives and engaging directly with both domestic and international audiences. Mutisya,
Maluki, and Adar (2024) describe this evolution as part of "digital diplomacy," where states leverage
these technologies to advance foreign policy objectives, manage their international image, and
conduct public diplomacy.
In the case of the trade tensions between the United States and South Africa, the social media
platform predominantly used by former US President Donald Trump to share information was
Twitter (now known as X). President Trump was renowned for his direct and unfiltered use of
Twitter to announce major policy shifts, communicate with other world leaders, and set the political
agenda. While the article does not quote a specific tweet, it explicitly references that the
communication regarding the tariff increases initially occurred through "tweets and social media
messages" before evolving into formal talks. This practice aligns with the observations of Sayin and
Sayin (2013), who noted that social media allows political leaders to engage in "new diplomacy" by
speaking directly to the people, often sidestepping established diplomatic protocols. Therefore,
Twitter served as the primary megaphone for the US administration's initial stance on the tariffs, a
move that framed the issue publicly before any formal, private bilateral engagement had concluded,
placing the South African government in a reactive position.
