Understanding the Soft Power of Diplomacy

This book’s idea was inspired by the widespread coverage of public diplomacy in the wake of September 11, 2001; this is an ideal time for diplomacy students to investigate this issue.Early on, the book demonstrated that there was still a significant lot of mystery surrounding public diplomacy (that is, the interaction between diplomats and the foreign publics with whom they engage), notably in the United States, where debate on the subject was particularly fierce.Since September 11th and the start of the Iraq War, public diplomacy has been the number one subject of discussion among US diplomats and policymakers. There is remarkably little scientific literature on the subject in the years after the end of the Cold War, despite the fact that various American think tanks have produced guidance studies on public diplomacy (some more valuable than others). Those interested in this issue have to sift through a deluge of brief analyses and suggestions for policymakers. A lack of understanding of underlying trends and a perspective on how official communication with foreign publics should be seen in the context of larger diplomatic practice is, nevertheless, a problem.