Reputational damage (diplomacy)

German war crimes in Belgium were cited in anti-German propaganda during World War I, causing reputational harm.[1]

In diplomacy, reputational damage is harm to a country's diplomatic relations based on adverse events. Lack of human rights[2] and perceived lack of concern for allied or partner countries[3] may cause reputational damage. Scorecard diplomacy depends on countries wanting to minimize their reputational damage from poor compliance with international norms.[4]

References

1. Debruyne, Emmanuel. "Intimate Relations between Occupiers and Occupied (Belgium and France)". International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1). Retrieved 2 June 2021. the collective image and reputation of Germans abroad, as well as in the occupied territories, became that of barbarians and sexual brutes. The "rape of Belgium" was not only a symbolic image used to denounce the Germans' non-compliance with international law, but also echoed the rape of the Belgians themselves.
2. Walker, Tony. "Will the diplomatic aggravation and reputational damage to Turnbull and Australia have been worth it?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
3. Park, Bill (May 2015). "Turkey's isolated stance: an ally no more, or just the usual turbulence?". International Affairs. 91 (3): 581–600. doi:10.1111/1468-2346.12280.
4. Kelley, Judith G. (May 2017). "Scorecard Diplomacy and Reputation". Scorecard Diplomacy. Cambridge University Press: 31–63. doi:10.1017/9781108186100.003. ISBN 9781108186100.