The spectrum of “Ingagement”: a typology of engagement outcomes in public diplomacy
摘要
In recent years, engagement has become the focus of communication research. Several communication disciplines, such as public relations and organizational communications, have already constructed theoretical models to study how engagement-derived outcomes are achieved and enacted. The business world and management services providers have also developed their own analytical tools and metrics to study and evaluate engagement with the public. On the other hand, engagement in public diplomacy is still a vaguely defined and conceptualized term. Public diplomacy scholarship still relies largely on other disciplines’ theoretical research to understand how engagement connects and applies to its activities. This conceptual paper advances the understanding of engagement in public diplomacy by suggesting a typology that connects it with public diplomacy outcomes. This “Ingagement” typology aims to contribute a new range of perspectives on how engagement processes and derived outcomes could be identified and evaluated, and provides a practical framework for public diplomacy practitioners to assess the level and quality of their policies across diverse communication environments.