Can Fans Be Public Diplomats? Participatory Diplomacy at the Eurovision Song Contest

Project report

Carniel, Jessica. 2026. Can Fans Be Public Diplomats? Participatory Diplomacy at the Eurovision Song Contest. United States. USC Center on Public Diplomacy.
Title

Can Fans Be Public Diplomats? Participatory Diplomacy at the Eurovision Song Contest

Report TypeProject report
AuthorsCarniel, Jessica
EditorsCull, Nicholas J. and Dubbins, Andrew
Institution of OriginUSC Center on Public Diplomacy
Number of Pages70
SeriesCPD Perspectives
Year2026
PublisherUSC Center on Public Diplomacy
Place of PublicationUnited States
Web Address (URL)https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/
Abstract

Using the portmanteau concept of participatory diplomacy (Carniel, 2024), this article explores how Eurovision fans understand and experience the politics of the song contest, and how they see the song contest as a site for enacting their diplomatic agency as members of a transnational global public. Participatory diplomacy is a concept that describes the intersection of the fan studies concept of participatory culture with the political concept of public diplomacy. It argues that the way that fans and audiences interact with a popular culture text like Eurovision can and is used as a site of political expression and, more importantly, political agency.

KeywordsEurovision Song Contest; participatory diplomacy; public diplomacy; cultural diplomacy; popular culture; fan studies
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020440808. International relations
470210. Globalisation and culture
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Byline AffiliationsSchool of Business, Law, Humanities and Pathways
Centre for Heritage and Culture
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