Modification of the Agenda Setting as a Tool for Political Maneuver in International Politics: Twitter Diplomacy and International Politics of Donald John Trump

Abstract

From the past to the present-day studies on political communication have focused on the agenda setting influenced by the media tools being constantly evolving due to technological opportunities and their areas of use. In changing and developing processes, the agenda setting is determined not only by the media but also by public and political factors. As a result, each of the media, public and political agendas defines or modifies the agenda as factors and actors. While the power of agenda setting was left unilaterally to the media in the past, it is seen that politicians tend to take more initiative under this power ownership. On the other hand, politicians who see the power of setting the agenda in political communication, in addition to influencing the public and politics through the media, also realize the role of influencing the public through politics. New media, renewed every day since the beginning of the 21st century, have also made it easier for politicians to access the public in this race of power supremacy. The use of Twitter for political communication, which provides access to many more viewers and followers among the tools of the new media over the internet much more than classical media, has made Twitter important. The use of Twitter as a means of diplomacy and international politics by US President Trump has made it more popular among the new media. In this study, as emphasized the importance of agenda setting, Trump's ability to engage in diplomacy and international politics through Twitter and its influence on international markets was examined. In addition to the literature research, the study examines the tweets that Trump publishes periodically and gives examples of the issues that affect the media agenda. As a result, it is seen that Trump is effective in determining the political agenda via Twitter and pioneering information about Trump's foreign policy and diplomacy have been caught on the international agenda through his tweets.

Keywords: Agenda Settings, Twitter, Trump, Political Communication, Diplomacy.

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-8-12