The Analytical Triangle: A Framework for Studying Tech Diplomacy

As tech diplomacy emerges as a distinct field of academic inquiry and policy practice, scholars and practitioners require systematic frameworks for analyzing its complex dynamics. The rapid pace of technological change, the diversity of actors involved, and the multifaceted nature of governance challenges have exposed the inadequacy of traditional diplomatic analysis tools, which were designed for state-centric international relations and struggle to account for the polylateral nature of technology governance.

In response to these limitations, leading scholars have developed the analytical triangle framework—a comprehensive approach to understanding tech diplomacy through three interconnected dimensions: technology, agency, and order. This framework provides both theoretical coherence and practical utility for examining how technological innovation, actor relationships, and institutional structures interact to shape contemporary governance. By offering researchers and policymakers a structured methodology for navigating this complex landscape, the analytical triangle has become an essential tool for advancing both the study and practice of tech diplomacy in an era of unprecedented digital transformation.

The Technology Dimension: Innovation Processes and Technological Ecosystems

The technology dimension of the analytical triangle focuses on the specific technologies that constitute the subject matter of tech diplomatic engagement and the complex processes through which these technologies evolve and impact international relations. This dimension encompasses critical technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, semiconductor technologies and advanced computing infrastructure, 5G and next-generation telecommunications networks, quantum computing and quantum communication systems, robotics and autonomous systems, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, Internet of Things and connected device ecosystems, augmented and virtual reality platforms, synthetic biology and biotechnology innovations, and additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies. Each of these technology domains presents distinct governance challenges, development trajectories, and geopolitical implications that require specialized understanding and diplomatic engagement strategies.

The framework emphasizes that studying tech diplomacy requires examining not only the technologies themselves but also their evolutionary trajectories, disruptive potential, and interconnected development processes. Technologies do not exist in isolation but form complex ecosystems where advances in one area enable innovations in others, creating cascading effects that reshape economic structures, security environments, and social organization. Understanding these technological dynamics is essential for effective diplomatic engagement and policy development in an era of accelerating innovation. The technology dimension also encompasses the geographic and institutional concentration of technological innovation, including the role of technology hubs, research networks, and innovation ecosystems in shaping global technology development and deployment patterns.

The Agency Dimension: Actors, Relationships, and Power Dynamics

The agency dimension examines the diverse range of actors involved in tech diplomacy and the complex relationships among them, reflecting the field’s fundamentally polylateral character that distinguishes it from traditional state-centric diplomacy. State actors include national governments and foreign ministries, specialized technology agencies and regulatory bodies, military and intelligence organizations, and subnational entities such as regional governments and cities. Non-state actors encompass multinational technology corporations and startup companies, venture capital firms and investment networks, civil society organizations and advocacy groups, academic institutions and research centers, international organizations and multilateral forums, technical standards bodies and professional associations, and hybrid entities such as public-private partnerships and multistakeholder initiatives.

The framework recognizes that these actors possess different types of expertise, represent varying interests, and operate according to distinct organizational logics and power structures. Technology companies bring technical expertise and market influence but may lack democratic accountability, while governments possess regulatory authority and democratic legitimacy but may lack technical knowledge and agility. Civil society organizations contribute public interest perspectives and advocacy capabilities, while academic institutions provide research expertise and neutral forums for dialogue. Tech diplomacy involves negotiating relationships among actors with asymmetric resources, competing priorities, and different temporal orientations, requiring sophisticated understanding of how diverse expertise, interests, and power dynamics are negotiated within tech diplomatic processes to achieve effective outcomes in technology governance initiatives.

The Order Dimension: Institutions, Governance Structures, and Normative Frameworks

The order dimension explores the institutional and structural context within which tech diplomacy operates, including both formal rules and informal practices that shape technology governance outcomes and constrain or enable actor behavior. Formal institutional structures include international treaties and agreements on technology cooperation, bilateral and multilateral technology partnerships and frameworks, regulatory frameworks and compliance mechanisms at national and international levels, international standards organizations and technical committees, diplomatic protocols and institutional procedures adapted for technology engagement, and emerging governance mechanisms such as multistakeholder forums and public-private partnerships. These formal structures provide the legal and institutional foundation for tech diplomatic activities and international cooperation on technology governance issues.

Informal practices encompass background knowledge and shared understandings among practitioners, power relations and influence networks that operate outside formal institutional channels, regulatory gaps and governance deficits that create uncertainty and conflict, cultural norms and professional practices within technology communities, and epistemic communities that shape understanding of technology governance challenges and solutions. This dimension recognizes that tech diplomacy operates within existing institutional landscapes while simultaneously contributing to the creation of new governance mechanisms adapted to technological realities. The framework emphasizes the dynamic relationship between formal and informal governance structures and their evolution in response to technological change and diplomatic innovation, highlighting how institutional adaptation occurs through the interaction of established practices with emerging needs and opportunities created by technological transformation.

Interconnections and Analytical Applications in Research and Practice

The analytical triangle’s strength lies in its recognition that technology, agency, and order are interconnected dimensions that must be analyzed in relationship to one another rather than as isolated variables, reflecting the systemic nature of technology governance challenges in contemporary international relations. Technological developments reshape actor relationships and governance requirements, creating new opportunities and constraints for diplomatic engagement and international cooperation. Simultaneously, institutional frameworks and actor strategies influence technological development trajectories and deployment patterns, demonstrating the co-constitutive relationship between technological and social systems. The framework provides researchers and practitioners with a systematic approach to examining these complex interactions and identifying key leverage points for diplomatic intervention and policy development.

Practical applications of the analytical triangle include policy analysis that examines how changes in any one dimension affect the others, strategic planning that considers the full range of technological, actor, and institutional variables affecting policy outcomes, and institutional design that accounts for the complex interactions among diverse stakeholders and governance mechanisms. The framework has been applied to analyze various technology governance challenges including artificial intelligence ethics, cybersecurity cooperation, data governance, and innovation policy, demonstrating its utility for both academic research and practical policy development in diverse technology domains and international contexts.

Framework Utility and Future Research Directions

The analytical triangle framework provides essential theoretical structure for the emerging field of tech diplomacy studies while offering practical guidance for policy development and diplomatic practice. Its systematic approach to examining technology, agency, and order dimensions enables more sophisticated analysis of tech diplomacy’s complex dynamics and more effective strategies for technology governance that account for the full range of factors affecting policy outcomes. The framework’s flexibility allows for application across different technology domains, geographic contexts, and policy challenges while maintaining analytical coherence and comparability across cases and studies.

Conclusion

The analytical triangle framework offers essential theoretical structure for the emerging field of tech diplomacy studies while providing practical guidance for policy development and diplomatic practice. By systematically examining technology, agency, and order dimensions and their interactions, scholars and practitioners can develop more sophisticated understanding of tech diplomacy’s dynamics and more effective strategies for technology governance. As the field continues to evolve, this framework provides a foundation for cumulative knowledge development and evidence-based policy innovation in the critical area of technology and international relations, enabling both academic research and practical policy development that can address the complex governance challenges of an increasingly technology-dependent world.