Date of Graduation

Spring 5-23-2026

Document Type

Restricted Thesis - USF access only

Degree Name

Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS)

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Global Studies

First Advisor

Professor Nora Fisher Onar

Second Advisor

Professor John Zarobell

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, a new type of public diplomacy has emerged in San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley, utilizing technological innovation centers as its primary instrument. With the evolution of technology and the growing significance of issues linked to new innovations, it has become increasingly imperative for policymakers and diplomatic institutions to address these themes by adopting solutions and initiatives aimed at building a specialized international community to tackle the challenges associated with innovation. In the modern landscape of diplomacy in San Francisco, it is evident that numerous countries leverage the physical spaces of their embassies, or other venues designated for national representation.   This is a crucial factor in fostering the evolution of diplomatic and business relations, both with other nations and with major technology corporations.  The presence of these centers provides insight into the strategic importance of the tech sector within global geopolitical balances and how changing diplomatic practices are a current reality. The ultimate goals of these centers are manifold:ranging from promoting the country's image as tech-oriented and dedicated to innovation, to exporting domestic startups to logistical hubs such as San Francisco. This allows fostering international cooperation, and raising awareness regarding the regulations and issues associated with technological development.  This research will analyze how European technological innovation hubs operate in relation to themes concerning the diplomatic sphere. These centers are transforming the world of public diplomacy, shifting it from a generalist field to one grounded in technological optimism and innovation. By introducing new participatory formats that entail a "bottom-down" approach to event participation, as a student, I was able to easily take part in events promoted by  innovation centers. These initiatives underscore the open and democratizing nature that innovation centers bring to the world of diplomacy. In relationship with the missions of the Innovation Centers, this study analyzes how phenomena related to the world of European Union technological regulations are perceived. Two phenomena that emerged around the same time are Tech Diplomacy, defined in 2017, and the "Brussels Effect," coined by Anu Bradford in 2018. These phenomena fall within the scope of innovation hubs, as, in the context of San Francisco, they underscore a strong link between tech-related issues and the need for dialogue between technology companies and the EU. The “Brussels effect” has gained prominence in the field of EU legal scholarship.  The EU's capacity to influence countries and companies at the regulatory level is given,  in this field, by the attempt of EU Innovation Centers to clarify the nature of EU rules to Silicon Valley companies. Therefore, we can affirm that the innovation centers are a new tool to spread awareness of EU regulations, increasing the range of the Brussels Effect. This phenomenon has received both praise and criticism in recent years, highlighting a difference in perspectives between Europe and the United States regarding technological regulation. To understand how the dialogue between two institutions occurs in regulatory matters, it was possible to connect the Brussels effect, with the current evolution of diplomacy, in particular by connecting technological advancement with diplomatic practice, known in the scholarship field as tech diplomacy.  Through interviews and sources, I analyzed the perceptions and narratives present both among European representatives and among figures belonging to the Silicon Valley tech world.     These perceptions have led to an analysis of how Bay Area countries and actors relate to their counterparts and interact inside the field of Tech diplomacy with the Innovation Centers. With  new practices and new actors in relevant positions, Technology and diplomacy are phenomena that are playing a key role in the political changes that a state may face in the close future. Results:  Investments in the creation of innovation hubs in San Francisco underscore the importance of new trends aimed at transforming the evolution of the diplomatic world. Innovation hubs represent the new frontier of public diplomacy, oriented primarily toward the "tech-savvy" and toward fostering connections between private actors and incubators or between private actors themselves. In some instances, these connections are forged between private tech companies and states. These new innovation hubs possess a remarkably powerful connective capacity, which unfolds in a multi-directional and multi-dimensional manner. The role of innovation centers is crucial because it allows fostering dialogue between the EU and Silicon Valley perspectives. This is crucial for regulatory purposes and technological development.  Despite fast political changes, the presence of innovation centers in San Francisco underlines the political and strategic will to invest in this sector, leading to an exponential increase in tech diplomacy’s practices with new outcomes and solutions in the diplomatic relationship in the Bay Area with the big tech world.

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