Book
Home Engagement in Diplomacy
In this book, Jan Melissen and other authors explore how governments engage domestic citizens in global affairs through the emerging practice of 'home engagement' in diplomacy, highlighting its growing importance in an interconnected and politically turbulent world.
- Author
- Jan Melissen, HwaJung Kim, and Githma Chandrasekara
- Date
- 26 February 2026
- Links
- Read the full book here
The volume argues that diplomacy is no longer confined to interactions between states but increasingly involves direct engagement with domestic societies. Governments seek to communicate foreign policy issues to citizens whose daily lives are affected by global developments such as conflict, migration, and environmental change. This shift reflects growing public expectations and the recognition that citizens, social movements, and other non-state actors can influence diplomatic practice. However, such engagement remains experimental, varies across political systems, and is shaped by cultural and institutional contexts.
At the same time, the book highlights a broader transformation in diplomacy driven by politicisation and societal pressures. Public opinion is becoming more relevant, particularly in contexts marked by populism and declining trust in elites. This creates both opportunities and challenges for governments: while engaging citizens may enhance legitimacy and responsiveness, it also complicates policy-making and requires new forms of dialogue. The authors emphasise that understanding these evolving state–society dynamics is essential for analysing contemporary diplomacy, calling for more empirical and theoretically diverse research into this underexplored dimension of international relations.