David Görömbölyi*
Digital Diplomacy and Narrative Evolution in an Emerging Eurasian Connectivity Initiative
Suggested citation:
Görömbölyi, D. (2026). Digital Diplomacy and Narrative Evolution in an Emerging Eurasian Connectivity Initiative. Lex Portus, 12(2), 40–52. https://doi.org/10.62821/lp12203
Published online: 29.05.2026
*Senior Lecturer, Budapest University of Economics and Business (Budapest, Hungary)
ABSTRACT
This paper examines how Web 2.0-driven digital diplomacy manifests itself within the emerging diplomatic ecosystem surrounding the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, a decentralized connectivity initiative linking Europe and Asia. Approaching the corridor through a constructivist framework complemented by strategic narrative theory and network diplomacy, the study explores whether broader transformations identified in contemporary digital diplomacy are also observable within this multi-actor connectivity structure. The analysis demonstrates that Web 2.0 tools have transformed the corridor into not only a logistical project, but also a digitally mediated arena of strategic communication, visibility-building, narrative competition, and decentralized coordination. The findings suggest that real-time interaction, digitally amplified strategic narratives, and new forms of horizontal accountability increasingly function as integral components of connectivity governance. At the same time, the paper highlights vulnerabilities linked to disinformation, cyber risks, and platform dependency. The study concludes that the corridor represents a particularly illustrative example of how contemporary diplomacy increasingly unfolds through intertwined online-offline communicative networks in the digital age.
Keywords: digitalization, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Web 2.0, network diplomacy, digital technologies, cyber risks, strategic communication.
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