Between three great powers: Russia’s digital public diplomacy with the US and China across 2011–2025
What did you study?
The dissertation analyzes Russia’s public diplomacy on digital platforms targeting both the American and Chinese publics from the language and communication perspectives during different periods: before the 2014 Sochi Olympics, in the early years of the Russo-Ukrainian war, and during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine up to Trump’s second US presidency.
What were the results of your study or what is its main finding?
The dissertation reveals the dynamics in digital content of Russia’s public diplomacy from peacetime branding to radicalized wartime footing across 2011–2025 and examines Russia’s foreign-facing strategic narratives and its country-specific strategies in the US and China.
How can the results be applied? What new insights did the research contribute to the topic?
The dissertation discusses the nature of Russia’s state messaging to foreign audiences: to secure Putin’s autocratic regime, especially during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It can be a good reference for all nations to understand how Russia influences diverse overseas publics through its digital public diplomacy, thereby defending global democracy and creating a peaceful future.
MA Yue Han defends his doctoral dissertation in Language and Communication Studies “Russia’s digital public diplomacy with the US and China during 2011–2025: An analysis of the digital practices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation from the language and communication perspectives” on 22 September 2026 at 12:00 in S212 Hall (University of Jyväskylä). The opponent is Professor Kapitolina Fedorova (Tallinn University) and the custos is Docent Vera Zvereva (University of Jyväskylä).
The event is held in English.
Contact information:
Yue Han
yue.a.han@jyu.fi
