University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh THE NON-STATE ACTORS IN THE NEW PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: A CASE STUDY OF GHANA BY BERNICE BOAMAH (10211855) THIS DISSERTATION IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LEGON JULY 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, Bernice Boamah, author of dissertation, do hereby declare that this is the result of an original research conducted by me under the supervision of Dr. Boni Yao Gebe during my period of stay at the Legon Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) for the award of a Master of Arts in International Affairs, and that no part of it has been submitted anywhere else for any other purpose. Additionally, all references in the work of other persons or bodies have been duly acknowledged. …………………………. …………………………… BERNICE BOAMAH DR. BONI YAO GEBE (STUDENT) (SUPERVISOR) ……………………….. ……………………………. DATE DATE i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ofori-Boamah for all the sacrifices you made for me since I was born; and also to my nephews, Nana Adjoa Agyeiwaa and Papa Kwesi Nhyiraba, you are my source of inspiration. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To God be the glory, great things has He done! My heartfelt gratitude goes out to God Almighty for His endless grace and mercies upon me throughout my life and my educational pursuits. I am particularly grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Boni Yao Gebe for his guidance, assistance, encouragement and fatherly affection which enabled me complete my dissertation successfully. I wish to express my sincerest appreciation to Mr. Isidore Kpotufe, the Communications Manager and Project Director of IMANI Francophone; as well as Amb. Francis Tsegah, Dr. R.E.V. Gyampo and Mr. Kwesi Jonah, all Senior Research Fellows of CDD Ghana, IEA and IDEG respectively who took time off their busy schedules and provided me with the relevant data for the research. I am deeply indebted to Franklin Akosa and my two special friends, Esther and Tina for their relentless support and encouragement. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Comfort Markin, Eric Edem Mensah and Gyan Awuku Sao for painstakingly tiding up the work for me. It is also significant to acknowledge the contributions of the Director and lecturers at LECIAD for deepening my knowledge and understanding, in diverse ways, in grappling with global issues. The contributions, immense support and help of the administrative staff and librarians, particularly Mr. Eric Amartey and Theophilus Korankye cannot be overlooked. Finally, I say a big thank you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the sponsorship to pursue the program, my parents, siblings and my entire family. To all my colleagues at LECIAD, especially Rosemary and Grace, I say you have been wonderful. God bless you all. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACBF - African Capacity Building Foundation AGI - Association of Ghana Industries ASDR - African Security Dialogue and Research BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation CDD - Center for Democratic Development CEPA - Center for Policy Analysis CIDA - Canadian International Development Agency CNN - Cable News Network CODEO - Coalition for Domestic Election Observers CSO - Civil Society Organization DANIDA - Danish International Development Agency DFID - Department for International Development EU - European Union EPA - Economic Partnership Agreement GCG - Ghana Cyber Group GDP - Gross Domestic Product GTZ - German Technical Cooperation ICTS - International Center for Transnational Justice IDEG - Institute for Democratic Governance IEA - Institute for Economic Affairs IGF - Internally Generated Fund IMF - International Monetary Fund INGOs - International Non-Governmental Organizations IPA - Institute of Policy Alternatives ISODEC - Integrated Social Development Center MIFOR - Multi-National Implementation Force iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh MNCs - Multi-National Corporations NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization NDC - National Democratic Congress NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations NPD - New Public Diplomacy NPP - National Patriotic Party NSAs - Non-State Actors OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OSIWA - Open Society Initiative for West Africa PD - Public Diplomacy PNDC - Provisional National Defence Council SAP - Structural Adjustment Programme SAPRI - Structural Adjustment Programme Initiative TWN - Third World Network UK - United Kingdom UNPROFOR - United Nations Protection Force USAID - United States Agency for International Development US - United States v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION … … … … … … … … … i DEDICATION … … … … … … … … … ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS … … … … … … … … iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS … … … … … … … iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ... … … … … … … … vi ABSTRACT … … … … … … … … … … ix CHAPTER ONE RESEARCH DESIGN: 1.1 Background to the Research Problem … … … … … … 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem … … … … … … 3 1.3 Research Questions … … … … … … … … 6 1.4 Objectives of Study … … … … … … … … 6 1.5 Rationale of Study… … … … … … … … … 7 1.6 Scope of Study … … … … … … … … … 7 1.7 Hypothesis … … … … … … … … … … 7 1.8 Theoretical Framework … … … … … … … … 8 1.9 Literature Review … … … … … … … … … 10 1.10 Sources of data … … … … … … … … … 20 1.11 Research Methodology … … … … … … … … 21 1.12 Arrangement of Chapters … … … … … … … … 21 Endnotes … … … … … … … … … … 22 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh CHAPTER TWO: OVERVIEW OF THE NEW PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 2.0 Introduction … … … … … … … … … 23 2.1 Evolution of Public Diplomacy … … … … … … … 23 2.1.1 Realist View of Public Diplomacy … … … … … … 27 2.1.2 Liberalist View of Public Diplomacy … … … … … 29 2.1.3 Sociologist View of Public Diplomacy … … … … … 32 2.2 Old versus New Public Diplomacy … … … … … … 34 2.3 Characteristics of the New Public Diplomacy … … … … … 37 2.4 Actors in the New Public Diplomacy … … … … … … 42 2.4.1 State Actors … … … … … … … … … 43 2.4.2 Non- State Actors … … … … … … … … 44 Endnotes … … … … … … … … … … 49 CHAPTER THREE: THE PRACTICE OF THE NEW PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN GHANA 3.0 Introduction … … … … … … … … … 52 3.1 The Concept of the New Public Diplomatic Practice … … … … 53 3.2 Actors of the New Public Diplomacy in Ghana: Emphasis on Non-State Actors (Think Tanks) … … … … … … … … 55 3.2.1 Non-State Actors … … … … … … … … 56 3.3 Think Tanks in the New Public Diplomacy … … … … … 57 3.3.1 The Emergence of Think Tanks in Ghana … … … … … 59 3.3.2. Characteristics of Think Tanks in Ghana… … … … … 60 3.3.3 The Role of Think Tanks in Public Diplomacy … … … … 62 3.4 Data Analysis (Responses from Interviews) … … … … … 65 3.4.1 Definition of Public Diplomacy … … … … … … 66 3.4.2 Difference between the New and the Old Public Diplomacy … … 67 vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 3.4.3 Relevance of Non-State actors in the New Public Diplomacy … … 69 3.4.4 Collaboration of Non-State Actors (Think Tanks) with State Actors in the New Public Diplomacy. … … … … 70 3.4.5 Engagement of Think Tanks in the New Public Diplomacy … … 72 3.4.6 How the Activities of Think Tanks in Today’s Public Diplomacy Enhance the National Interest… … … … … 74 3.4.7 Achievements Accredited to Domestic Think Tanks Having Engaged in the New Public Diplomacy … … … … 76 3.4.8 Challenges of Think Tanks in the New Public Diplomacy… … … 77 3.4.9 Solutions to Help Think Tanks Survive the Difficulties they Face … 80 3.4.10 Ghana’s Public Diplomacy Tomorrow Considering the Engagement of New Actors … … … … … … 80 3.5 Discussions … … … … … … … … … 83 Endnotes … … … … … … … … … … 88 CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.0 Introduction … … … … … … … … … 91 4.1 Summary of Findings of the Research … … … … … 91 4.2. Conclusions … … … … … … … … … 94 4.3 Recommendations … … … … … … … … … 95 4.3.1 Establishing a Fund for Non-State Actors… … … … … 95 4.3.2 Partnership with State Actors … … … … … … 95 4.3.3 The Use of Modern Technologies … … … … … … 96 4.3.4 Engagement of other Actors in the Public Diplomatic Process … … 96 Bibliography … … … … … … … … … … 98 Appendix … … … … … … … … … … 105 viii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Diplomacy, in past centuries, consisted of the mechanisms and practices adopted by states to communicate effectively and conduct meaningful relations with one another. This form of diplomacy, as standard and traditional as it needed to be, was characterized by secrecy and was mostly practiced by state officials. Public diplomacy has remained an important instrument used by states to practice diplomacy. With the arrival of the information age, the world has become more intertwined and the practice of diplomacy has had to adjust to the changing international environment. Public diplomacy, until the 9/11 attacks had little or no attention from states. Its practice has been redefined to include new actors such as non-state actors which are engaging with publics, be it local or foreign, in pursuit of a nation’s foreign policy goals. The new public diplomacy, which is a completely new field, has paved the way for new players, apart from the state, as well as the use of new communication technologies in the public diplomatic process. This study investigates how prominent non-state actors, chief of them being think tanks, are developing capacities to address issues of national concern as well as creating the avenues for policy analysis. In doing so, the research gathers relevant data from four renowned think tanks in Ghana namely: IMANI Ghana, CDD, IEA and IDEG. These institutions revealed that the public diplomatic practice of today involves the emergence of new actors who are now being given recognition and are playing feasible roles which were hitherto performed by state actors. They are developing growing interest in how government conducts its foreign policy aims as well as building an inclusive opinion in the public diplomatic process. Again, the think tanks recommended the need to create a broader platform where both the state, non-state actors and donor states can work harmoniously to achieve common goals. It finally considered the possibility of engaging other new actors, apart from think tanks to attain an effective practice of public diplomacy. ix