DefinePK

Abstract

The role of celebrities as opinion leaders has been well-documented. However, relatively little is known about the role of influencers in Pakistan on support for foreign policy. This article analyzes the juncture of celebrity influence and foreign policy, specifically among Pakistani celebrities who discuss politics in the realm of international relations. By means of a mixed-method design with content analysis and surveys, we explore how celebrities' endorsements or public statements can change or legitimate government foreign policy decisions. Through examination of ad hoc probleprobability models for categorical data of policy issues toward such countries as India, Afghanistan, and United States about which the public can know more or less directly what level of approval is acceptable to media personalities determine national attitudes regarding foreign policy support. The implications are that enhanced public support for foreign policy in the wake of celebrity advocacy can be especially influential when their stories converge with or defend state narratives. This article has the benefit of adding to political science in linking celebrity culture with international relations theory, having a specific focus on how non-state actors like influencers can influence politicial legitimacy within non-democratic states. Finally, the research contributes to soft power in contemporary geopolitics and provides policy implications for both states and media.
Keywords: Celebrity Influence, Foreign Policy, Public Opinion, Pakistan, Soft Power, Political Legitimacy, International Relations