1. Public Diplomacy of Authoritarian Regimes: An Introduction

This chapter delves into the public diplomacy strategies of authoritarian regimes, exploring their successes, challenges, and implications for global diplomacy. It examines the adaptability of public diplomacy to authoritarian regimes' communication strategies and the characteristics that define these regimes. The chapter also reviews existing literature on the public diplomacy of authoritarian regimes, identifying gaps and areas for further research. It discusses the distinction between public diplomacy and propaganda, and the role of soft power and sharp power in these strategies. The chapter highlights the importance of understanding these strategies in the current geopolitical climate and provides a comprehensive analysis of the public diplomacy efforts of various authoritarian regimes, including China, Russia, Iran, and others. It also explores the domestic dimensions of these strategies and their linkage to legitimacy construction, authoritarian learning, and the shifting priorities to the Global South. The chapter concludes with a comparative analysis of the public diplomacy strategies of these regimes, highlighting the implications for our understanding of public diplomacy policies in authoritarian states.