The importance of public diplomacy in the contemporary world

The importance of public diplomacy:

In the present contemporary world with the spread of democracy has created a new environment in the international system to win hearts and minds of people by governments. This is what public diplomacy does by trying to influence foreign nationals and the public with values, policies and actions of their governments to be supported. Public diplomacy can be defined as the efforts of one nation to influence public or elites of the next nation for the purpose of using foreign policy to its target. Governments always attempt to communicate with foreign public to export their ideas, its institutions and culture, as well as national goals and current policies.

Public diplomacy looks at promoting its culture for long term aims while short-term when it comes to current foreign policies and can also be looked at as propaganda for a nation state by improving its image abroad which will be favourable to the state. The importance of foreign public diplomacy is that it is influenced by soft power rather than use of force or hard power and has brought dependency of citizens on their governments and the local press for information on foreign events and increased potential targets for direct communication of diplomatic messages.

Another important point is that distribution of information around the globe is not restricted due to new technology that can transmit messages around the world in seconds like with fighting terrorism in an age of global real-time television and the internet. Public diplomacy also serves both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy in the sense that they are intended for national interest like in the quest of investment, promotion of trade, and international tourism which is also referred to as branding and also creates cooperation and interaction. Example can be seen in the Canadian and Norwegian experience with the Ottawa process on landmines which shows how collaboration between the domestic and international policy arenas and the public and private spheres.

link to resent event through public diplomacy

Foreign Policy Blogs Network: AfghanistanAfricaAmerica in TransitionBangladeshBrazilCaucasusCentral AsiaChildrenChinaClimate ChangeCorruption and AccountabilityCubaCurrent ConflictsCybersecurity and Internet CommunicationsEast AsiaEnergyEuropean UnionForeign Policy AssociationForeign Policy BlogsGlobal CurrentsGlobal EngagementGlobal Film ReviewGlobal Food SecurityGlobal MarketsGlobal PostsHuman RightsIndiaIranIraqIsraelLatin AmericaLaw and Security StrategyLebanonMedia and Foreign PolicyMexicoMiddle EastMiddle East MediaMigrationMusic and Global AffairsPakistanPhilanthropyPublic DiplomacyReligion and PoliticsRising PowersRussiaSoutheast AsiaTerrorismThe ArcticTransatlantic MediaTransitional StatesU.S. DefenseU.S. DiplomacyU.S. Role in the WorldVenezuelaWar CrimesWomen and Foreign Policy
Public Diplomacy
The World Affairs Blog Network
FPB HomeAboutBloggersResources
U.S.-Muslim Engagement ProjectBy Melinda Brouwer Monday, October 13 1:38 pm EST
The Washington-based non-profits Search for Common Ground and the Consensus Building Institute have produced a major new leadership group report on improving U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Titled “Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World,” the two groups released the report last month to a packed house at the National Press club.



The report presents the consensus of 34 American leaders in the fields of foreign policy, national security, politics, business, religion, education, public opinion, psychology, philanthropy, and conflict resolution on how to improve dialogue between the U.S. and the Muslim world. Some of these include former diplomats Madeleine Albright, Richard Armitage, Dennis Ross, among many other distinguished leaders.

According to the report's authors, “the primary objective of the report is to provide new strategies for reducing tensions with Muslim countries and communities around the world. The core point of the report is that it is possible to meet both U.S. interests and the interests of the vast majority of Muslims around the world who seek peaceful coexistence, by addressing the main sources of tension in new ways.”

From the Executive Summary:

1. Elevate diplomacy as the primary tool for resolving key conflicts involving Muslim countries, engaging both allies and adversaries in dialogue

•Engage with Iran to explore the potential for agreements that could increase regional security, while seeking Iran's full compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments
•Work intensively for immediate de-escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a viable path to a two-state solution, while ensuring the security of Israelis and Palestinians
•Promote broad-based political reconciliation in Iraq, and clarify the long-term U.S. role
•Renew international commitment and cooperation to halt extremists' resurgence in Afghanistan and Pakistan
•Provide top-level U.S. leadership to resolve regional conflicts and to improve coordination with international partners
2. Support efforts to improve governance and promote civic participation in Muslim countries, and advocate for principles rather than parties in their internal political contests

•Build the capacity of government institutions to deliver services, and of citizens to participate in governance
•Advocate consistently for nonviolence, pluralism and fairness in political contests
•Use U.S. leverage with authoritarian governments to promote reforms in governance
•Assess the value of engagement with political representatives of armed and activist movements case-by-case, based on their principles, behavior, and level of public support
•Support political transitions and the consolidation of reforms in countries at critical "turning points"
3. Help catalyze job-creating growth in Muslim countries to benefit both the U.S. and Muslim countries' economies

•Support policy reforms to secure property rights, facilitate transactions and promote investments
•Partner with governments, multilateral institutions and philanthropies to make education a more powerful engine of employment and entrepreneurship
•Use public-private investment partnerships to reduce risk, promote exports and fund enterprises
•Use trade agreements to reward economic reform and spur investment
•Manage energy interdependence and diversify resources
4. Improve mutual respect and understanding between Americans and Muslims around the world

•Use public diplomacy to reinforce changes in policies and actions
•Dramatically expand cross-cultural education, people-to-people and interfaith exchange
•Promote greater depth and accuracy in news coverage and programming
•Invest in cultural diplomacy through arts and entertainment programs, to deepen mutual understanding and challenge stereotypes
•Involve the Muslim-American community as a bridge
Here's a great documentary video about the present state of U.S.-Muslim relations, and the engagement project on media partner LinkTV.

This is a very important report that couldn't come at a better time in U.S.-Muslim relations. I look forward to following the actions of this group.