A “Tech First” Approach to Foreign Policy? The Three Meanings of Tech Diplomacy

Scholars have recently argued that international politics is plagued by instability as the world rapidly transitions from one crisis to another. This state of “Permacrisis,” or permanent crises between states, is driven by technological innovations which create new kinds of crises and drive competitions between adversarial states. It is amid the backdrop of “Permacrisis” that this article conceptualizes and defines the term tech diplomacy which has three meanings. First, tech diplomacy denotes a shift in how foreign ministries (MFAs) contend with the rapid development of new digital technologies. The article suggests that tech diplomacy constitutes a form of proactive digitalization in which diplomats foster networks with tech actors to prepare for future digital landscapes and map potential tech-based challenges. Second, tech diplomacy refers to diplomats' growing need to manage tech-related issues. In a digitally connected world, technologies have national, regional, and global ramifications necessitating diplomatic action. Finally, tech diplomacy denotes a “Tech First” approach to foreign policy in which tech-based negotiations are viewed as a steppingstone towards diplomatic engagement between adversarial states. The article uses the case study of cryptocurrency regulation in the US and China to discuss the potential and the limitations of tech diplomacy.