The Political Economy of Economic Diplomacy in Times of Pandemic

“A sharp and timely scholarly work, this book offers a fresh perspective on the power of economic diplomacy in an era of turbulence, while providing practical lessons for Vietnam on its path toward proactive and sustainable international integration.”

—Mr. Thang Le, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance

“This book makes a timely contribution to understanding how developing countries, particularly Vietnam, can build adaptive, evidence-based, and future-oriented economic diplomacy strategies in the post-pandemic world. It will serve as a valuable reference for scholars, diplomats, and policymakers seeking to strengthen resilience and competitiveness in an increasingly unpredictable global environment.”

—Prof. Dieu Tien Bui, Leader of the AI & Sustainability Lab, University of South-Eastern Norway

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of economic diplomacy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, offering strategic insights for Vietnam’s economic recovery and long-term development. Through comparative case studies of developing and developed economies in the Asia–Pacific and Europe, the book examines how countries employed economic diplomacy to manage crisis responses and adapt to the “new normal” period. The book assesses key initiatives, achievements, and limitations in economic diplomacy, with particular attention to vaccine, green, digital, and technology diplomacy, while identifying the underlying factors shaping these outcomes. By integrating theory with empirical evidence, the book proposes policy recommendations for Vietnam to strengthen international economic cooperation, attract foreign direct investment, and expand export markets amid heightened global uncertainty. The book serves as a valuable reference for policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and students of economic diplomacy and international political economy.