Towards a New Understanding
Helmer Helmers of the University of Amsterdam argues that public diplomacy--trying to influence foreign citizens' perceptions--was a central aspect of early modern international relations.
Contrary to the view of diplomacy as a strictly secretive activity, early modern diplomats, according to Helmers, communicated with foreign audiences; and their diplomacy opened up spaces for public debate and created transnational issues.
An understanding of this history is thus central to understanding the history of news and the development of the public sphere.
Read Helmers' article here.
