The meteoric rise of electronic sports (e-sports) has transformed competitive gaming into a platform for geopolitical influence, cultural diplomacy, and digital governance. This article explores how e-sports reshape international relations and soft power, using frameworks from international relations, cultural studies, and political economy. It highlights how states like South Korea, China, Russia, and Arabian Peninsula leverage e-sports to project cultural capital, while Western markets promote corporate-led models that extend platform capitalism. It examines tensions between state-driven cyber sovereignty and corporate control over digital infrastructure. Regional dynamics from Southeast Asian cooperation to U.S.–China tech rivalries highlight e-sports’ role in economic positioning and international relations. As AI and blockchain reshape gaming's future, the article calls for deeper inquiry into e-sports’ implications for global governance, digital citizenship, and cultural diplomacy.
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