Public Diplomacy of the Slovak Republic in the process of gaining membership in the EU and NATO
Students Name: Ftomina Liubov Oleksandrivna
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: International Information
Institute: Institute of Applied Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2020-2021 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: ABSTRACT Ftomina L.O. Public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic in the process of gaining EU and NATO membership: master’s thesis. This work is devoted to the analysis of the Public Diplomacy of the Slovak Republic in the process of gaining EU and NATO membership. Section I examines the general theoretical characteristics of the mechanism and features of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic. Section II analyzes the features of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration. Chapter III is devoted to the study of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic in the field of European integration. Section IV analyzes the experience of the Slovak Republic for Ukraine. As a result, theoretical approaches to defining the essence of diplomacy were analyzed. The implementation of this work led to the following conclusions: public diplomacy is one of the components of strategic communications, which has a key task - the formation of the image of the state and its institutions at the international level, the consolidation of important brands in the global information space. Image building should be based primarily on the formation of the state / institutional grand narrative and broadcast to different target audiences. Thus, public diplomacy involves the formation of the image of all institutional components of the state, including law enforcement agencies. Slovakia’s public diplomacy is based on well-known concepts of soft power and public diplomacy. However, such an approach as national branding is the foundation of modern public diplomacy in Slovakia. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, but also some other ministries, state and non-governmental organizations, are tasked with promoting the country’s positive image at the regional and global level. but also from the activity, behavior and propaganda of the citizens themselves. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls the expansion of Slovakia’s ties with both European countries and Russia the main priorities in public diplomacy, in particular through individual embassies of the Slovak Republic, consulates general and Slovak institutes in almost 70 countries. Slovakia’s participation in world exhibitions is also an effective way of positioning Slovakia abroad. Such participation is one of the most effective tools for promoting the "Slovakia" brand on the international market, as representatives of almost all countries of the world meet on one platform. Public diplomacy in the Slovak Republic has gradually begun to take shape since the creation of the independent republic, and it can be said that its formation is still under development. Given that opinions on the presentation of the Slovak Republic abroad are not unanimous, it is important to note that it is difficult to develop a single concept of Slovak public diplomacy and its effective presentation to other states. It is natural that public diplomacy is directly related to domestic policy, and therefore its development is based on a certain government composition, which is exchanged after almost every parliamentary election held in Slovakia every four years. Public diplomacy should have a single concept, designed for at least a few years ahead, as Slovakia’s strategic focus abroad and the creation of a Slovak brand that could be identified at every event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other governmental and non-governmental structures in Slovakia. embassies and cultural centers of Slovakia abroad. Key words: public diplomacy, integration, foreign policy position, image, Slovak Republic.