Promotion of EU Liberal Democratic Discourse in the Post-Soviet Space through the Tools of Digital, Education and Science Diplomacy (2014-2023)

The ambition of this research is to analyze how the EU utilizes specific diplomatic tools to advance its liberal democratic values and principles in the post-Soviet countries Those values include fostering democratic governance, human rights protection, and the rule of law as understood within the liberal democratic discourse. The study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing a combination of the analysis of primary sources, the literature review, and case studies to examine the effectiveness and challenges of digital, educational, and science diplomacy in advancing the EU liberal democratic discourse in the post-Soviet space. By exploring specific initiatives and projects implemented by the EU in the examined region, the paper seeks to identify used practices and lessons learned while promoting democratic values through innovative diplomatic channels. The findings of this research contribute to the existing literature on diplomacy, democratization of the EU foreign policy, shedding light on the potential of digital, educational, and science diplomacy as tools for advancing liberal democratic discourse particularly in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and, to some extent, in Ukraine. The study concludes and suggests a comparative analysis of the influence of the EU's diplomatic efforts in the post-Soviet space, emphasizing the importance of strategic communication, capacity-building, and cross-sectoral cooperation in promoting democratic values through innovative diplomatic means and the main objectives within the narrative and objections of the EU foreign policy.