Public Diplomacy in Ireland and Japan

Public diplomacy enables private citizens to be involved in international relations either through initiatives sponsored by governments or through direct people-to-people contacts in areas such as culture, business, education, tourism and sport. Public Diplomacy in Ireland and Japan traces the evolution of this growing branch of diplomacy and examines the role it has played in the foreign policies of Ireland and Japan, and in their bilateral relationship. It concludes that public diplomacy has contributed significantly to strengthening the links between the two countries.

John Neary is a former diplomat who served as Ireland’s Ambassador to Japan and the Netherlands. A graduate of University College Dublin (UCD), he joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1974. Following his retirement in 2016, he was appointed Adjunct Professor in UCD. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chester Beatty in Dublin.