Description
This paper introduces the concept of "myth diplomacy", the role and function of myth as a tool in diplomacy, by studying how Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has use local political myths held by the audience in diplomatic speeches to build emotional connections and inspire action following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. It does this through a discourse analysis of President Zelenskyy’s speeches to UK audiences, in which he uses the myths of Churchill and WW2, and an interview with a member of President Zelenskyy’ speech writing and advisory team. From that, this paper illustrates the effectiveness of myth diplomacy in mobilising support. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding not just of Ukrainian diplomatic strategy in war time, but more generally of how myths can be employed in modern diplomatic practice, offering valuable insights for both scholars of Diplomacy Studies and diplomatic practitioners.
