An alien for Putin: are emojis changing the face of diplomacy?

Emojis could be the promised land of diplomatic history: they have the potential to speak across borders to a new, global citizenry.

By India Bourke

Three sets of side-eyes, a tears-of-joy face, a sunglasses face, a Japanese ogre, a goblin, an alien face, a thumbs up, the peace sign, and an arm muscle clench. These were the emojis that Walid Joumblatt, the 67 year-old Lebanese politician and ex-warlord, tweeted to mark the instatement of The Arab League’s new secretary-general.

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India Bourke

@india_bourke

India Bourke is the New Statesman and Spotlight's environment correspondent. She writes on issues such as nature restoration, climate justice and water pollution, and interviews leading green thinkers and writers. You can find her writing in the Spotlight and Environment sections.