Citizen as diplomat (Global, Jewish, and Israeli perspectives)

The field of Citizen as Diplomat examines the role of private citizens in conducting diplomacy and influencing international relations, a departure from the conventional understanding of diplomacy as the exclusive domain of state representatives. From a historical and interdisciplinary perspective, the concept of the citizen diplomat has grown in prominence, transforming significantly over the centuries.

A large portion of the book is dedicated to Israeli and Jewish cases, yet the book conveys a broader, universal message. Similar to the non-Israeli/Jewish articles, the Israel/Jewish articles also serve as examples and test cases for the broad and universal phenomenon of the Citizen as Diplomat. Even the chapter dedicated to Jewish Citizen Diplomacy aims to use a specific case to illustrate broader aspects of this phenomenon.

Historically, diplomacy was traditionally the purview of state actors – kings, queens, ambassadors, and official diplomats. It was formal, protocol-driven, and largely inaccessible to common citizens. However, the rise of globalization, democratization, and technological advancement has democratized the diplomatic process. Now, everyday citizens, either individually or through organized groups like NGOs, can participate in diplomatic activities.

This has given rise to the concept of citizen diplomacy, also known as track-two or people-to-people diplomacy. The book is dedicated to the exploration of the diverse non-state actors, citizens, who perform acts of diplomacy and are the backbone of an emerging field, Citizen Diplomacy.