Public diplomacy as an instrument for obtaining foreign policy goals of Russia in Greece

Abstract

The study considers the particular features of Russian public diplomacy as an instrument of the Russian Federation’s foreign policy which focuses on its political image forming abroad. This topic is becoming increasingly urgent in currency world politics because of involvement of non-governmental organizations into public diplomacy, increase in popularity of Russian-language media, and rapid spread of modern media, as well as against the transformation of the Internet space into a platform of active political interactions. So, the development of new technologies – television, radio, advertising, the World Wide Web, etc. – became a key tool for public diplomacy of the RF. Besides, in the international system take place the processes which gradually shift the focus of the use of hard power towards introducing of soft power tools of the diplomatic arsenal for ensuring international influence on other countries. Public diplomacy is demanded by a state, and implementing of public diplomacy programs is enforced through the structures related to the state system or NGOs that synergize in one ideological trend with the state. Thus, Russian public diplomacy has been transforming into the system of manipulating Greek public awareness and consciousness for years by establishing a confidential dialogue between the governments, non-governmental, and religious organizations.

The objects of Russian public diplomacy are cultural, historical and religious values, domestic and foreign politics of Greece. The forms of Russian public diplomacy in Greece include information and Internet propaganda, diplomatic assistance programs, academic and educational exchanges, activities for enhancing the authority of the states. Special attention is paid to the Greek public reaction and the collection of information by the Russian actors, which means the adjustment of the differentiated foreign policy strategy of the RF.