What is megaphone diplomacy?

Last Friday, BBC published a report titled ‘Bangladesh leader's 'megaphone diplomacy' irks India. Since then this ‘megaphone diplomacy’ has been at the center of discussion in Bangladesh.

What is this megaphone diplomacy?

When a state or its representative speaks about political and diplomatic issues openly in the media or in public instead of secret or formal discussions, it is called megaphone diplomacy. The purpose of doing so is to exert pressure or attract public attention. So that instead of compromise, their position can be highlighted strongly. In this type of diplomatic process, instead of directly negotiating between the two parties, they put pressure on each other by giving statements through the media.

A ‘megaphone’ is literally a device, which amplifies the human voice to reach the public. From this concept comes the term ‘megaphone diplomacy’.

It is difficult to pinpoint a specific time or place for the origin of the term megaphone diplomacy. However, this concept is said to have started gaining popularity in diplomatic contexts from the 1970s and 1980s when the war of nerves was going on between the Soviet Union and the United States. Both sides were bitter enemies of each other. At that time, both sides used such methods to threaten each other. Mainly the spread of mass media and the active role of mass media in political and diplomatic affairs is the cause of the spread of megaphone diplomacy.

In general, the purpose of this method is to put pressure on each other by giving statements through the media rather than directly discussing between the two parties. The goal is to strengthen their position, to influence public opinion. And this sometimes publicly embarrasses the opposing side. Such as the case of chief adviser of the interim government Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the members of his advisory council.

Yunus recently gave an interview to Indian news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). In the interview Yunus asked Sheikh Hasina to refrain from making political statements while staying in Delhi. Analysis of that long interview is going on in the country and world media. Former Indian diplomats termed it ‘megaphone diplomacy’ as he told India through the media, rather than through direct diplomatic talks, that Sheikh Hasina should be restrained from making political statements during her stay in Delhi. He said that India is embarrassed by Yunus’s statement.

Apart from Yunus, various members of his advisory council have expressed different views in the media on the issue of floods and hilsa fish export.

Although India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not officially responded to these statements, the country’s officials are said to be ‘disappointed’.

An official of the country told the BBC on condition of anonymity, “India is watching what is happening in Bangladesh and what kind of speeches and statements are being made by the government and dignitaries from Dhaka.” This is also an example of megaphone diplomacy. Because, they could have informed the reaction of Yunus’s statement in the diplomatic process instead of via media.

In other words, putting pressure on each other by giving statements through the media instead of having the opportunity to talk directly between the two sides is megaphone diplomacy.