Strategic humour: Public diplomacy and comic framing of foreign policy issues

This article explores persuasive applications of humour in public diplomacy. I propose a new concept strategic – the use by state and proxy actors to promote instrumental interpretations contested international events foreign domestic publics. Through humour, states frame ways that advance their interests, deflect external criticism, challenge narratives other actors. In an entertaining form, delivers serious message is simple, accessible, memorable, suited media ecologies, competitive capturing news attention. focus on Russia as recently involved range major controversies demonstrate its three case studies. argue fast-emerging, multi-format tool diplomacy, facilitated rise social post-truth politics less dependent state’s broader power resources.