A digital DFAT: joining the 21st century

Ediplomacy is no longer a boutique extra. Serious foreign ministries are embracing it to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Australia’s own Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a lot of catching up to do. It also has a lot to gain.

Fergus Hanson

3 November 20100 min read

ResearchA digital DFAT: joining the 21st century

About the author

Fergus Hanson

Fergus Hanson was the Program Director for Polling at the Lowy Institute and produced the Institute’s flagship Lowy Institute Poll since 2008.

Topics

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Key Findings

A root and branch ediplomacy overhaul is needed if DFAT is to stay relevant and keep pace with other benchmark foreign ministries.
Perhaps as a result of sustained under-resourcing, DFAT has only more recently moved beyond the use of simple website technology.
While there is a tendency to associate ediplomacy with social networking platforms these form only one (limited) aspect of ediplomacy.

A digital DFAT: joining the 21st century | Lowy Institute

A digital DFAT: joining the 21st century

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Executive Summary