The article discusses approaches to the study of propaganda as a
foreign policy tool from the point of view of the formation of globalization and the
development of the information society and information and communication technologies,
propaganda theories, the emergence of new actors in international relations and areas of
diplomacy. The factors that contributed to the formation of propaganda as a tool of foreign
policy include the ideological confrontation between States, the development of social
engineering and PR technologies and their impact on mass consciousness, manipulation of
consciousness; the growth of civil activity of the population and the emergence of public
diplomacy as a way of soft involvement and influence on target groups. The role of
research centers (thought factories) in shaping international political discourse is
highlighted, as well as the modernization of foreign policy departments, taking into
account the need to promote public diplomacy, interact with non – state actors, and
develop digital diplomacy. The research of network propaganda discourse is highlighted
as a promising direction.