Global Communication Networks (Twitter) to Strengthen International Social Capital

Introduction: Twitter is a global communication network that has become an instrument of diplomacy and promotion of international social capital of countries in the current era. Twitter has played an important role in US foreign policy, especially after the JCPOA. The problem is that the JCPOA, as the most important achievement of Iranian diplomacy, is in danger. In the meantime, Iranian diplomacy has achieved a good result with the help of the growth of communication technology. The main question in this paper is “what role does Twitter play in the power of Iranian diplomacy in the JCPOA, a capacity to strengthen international social capital when the United States withdraws from it?”
Method: The research method of this paper is a qualitative content analysis of the tweets of the political leaders of Iran and the United States. A total of 5700 tweets were analyzed using Maxqda 18 software. Based on the strategic narrative approach and soft power, the analysis of the content of the tweets shows that Iran has defined an active diplomacy to influence the United States in withdrawing from the JPCOA to restore attitudes, trust, and identity, which are important elements in producing international social capital.
Findings: Promoting this important cause by relying on the sources of social capital production has created a new image of it in the international community. The main elements of social capital, i.e. participation and trust, have the ability to spread in the international space. The use of the same elements allows the concept of soft power, formed in the form of elements such as politics, culture and values, to be used with these resources. Finding and creating new dimensions. This has serious implications in the context of participation. The higher the level of government participation in international organizations, treaties and institutions, the greater the effectiveness of social capital, is worth considering (Mushirzadeh &Vaseinejad, 2018). Its dynamics is based on the goodwill of members to reciprocate positive interactions (Bigart & Deliberg, 2004). It is also a social capital for international security (Shirkhani & Vaseizadeh, 2012). Considering the importance of building trust, it is a ubiquitous category that can be effective in using international social capital for communication networks.The Iranian narrative about itself, the United States, and the JCPOA has been active in the context of generating soft power in the form of partnership development and trust as two effective factors for generating soft power. In other words, as international trust and the participation of countries in the international arena can be considered in the context of the soft power of these countries. Soft power is generated on the basis of trust and trust is a prerequisite for soft power (Moshirzadeh & Vaseinejad, 2018).
Conclusion: Iran ultimately seeks a position (of equality based on mutual respect) and seeks to create or promote an alternative order that serves its national interests rather than the prevailing order (acting in accordance with international law rather than coercion). The success of the Iranian narrative requires the deliberate creation and dissemination of the narrative in the new media ecosystem, on behalf of Twitter, and maximizing its impact on the audience (persuasion). This requires adopting a point of view and a method based on a systematic scientific method, because trial and error in the new media ecosystem-and especially in the current situation-can be costly not only for Iran but for the entire world. Iranian foreign policy relies on the triangle of nationalism, Islamism, and commitment to the structure of government in the modern world to explain self-awareness and to guide governments and nations toward a true image.