Emergence of Public Diplomacy in Kenya’s Foreign Policy

Abstract

Public diplomacy is the direct communication by the state to the foreign publics. There is a limitation of actors in Kenya’s public diplomacy whereas, there is no involvement of other actors other than the government alone in the communication of foreign policy objectives to the foreign publics. State through its official representatives such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main diplomatic actor. Non-state actors and other individuals with standing in world affairs such as the agents of United Nations, international organizations and regional international organizations are considered as mere channels of communication. These non-state actors either independently or in collaboration with the state hold dialogues aimed at influencing foreign publics before influencing their governments. Public diplomacy is introducing newer diplomatic actors beyond the state governments and is organ. Examining the development of public diplomacy in foreign policy of countries, the study specifically examines the rise of public diplomacy and its transformation of Kenya’s foreign policy. The study uses rational choice model to explain the behavior of state actors in the practice of public diplomacy as it develops an understanding as to why states and their governments make certain choices based on specific costs in exclusion of nonstate actors. To get abstractions from actions and interactions held in the international system, the study used in-depth interviews and contextual analysis framework. Results of the study show that non-state actors and private individual with standing in world affairs are gaining position in public diplomacy arenas. Conscience of their national identity, domestic publics are also pushing governments to partner with them in building relations, defending interests and promoting national interests. Public diplomacy as a development which came within a specific period of time and is transforming the relationship of states in the international system. It has shaped the practice and scholarship that arose and has also impacted on Kenya’s foreign policy. Although inconsistencies from time to time, different governments utilize different approaches seen to be affected by both internal and external relationship issues. The study challenges the limited ability for interactions between the senders and receivers of information arguing out that with technological development and the rise of globalization, government monopoly on information control is undermined and is getting carried over to people and individuals of the society. In striving to develop its economy, foster its diplomatic stability and uplift its diplomatic profile, Kenya has overlooked non-state actors with standings and capabilities in using public diplomacy to advance foreign policy objectives and goals.