What Is Public Diplomacy?

Main ideas / concepts

• Public diplomacy aims to reach people directly Cultural and education programs are designed to connect with publics and communities, helping the U.S. understand how people actually think and live.

• Understanding foreign populations improves foreign policy decisions Policymakers shouldn’t rely only on reports, cables, and calls. They must consider:

  • what is happening among foreign populations
  • likely repercussions of policy choices Public diplomacy staff help “feed” this on-the-ground understanding into policymaking.

• Public diplomacy representatives provide real-time insight and access In practice, public diplomacy officers often:

  • sit beside the ambassador
  • know what’s happening “on the street” and “on the ground”
  • can spread messages quickly
  • hear about developments early

• Programs must be tailored to local contexts Programs vary by country (e.g., what works in Indonesia vs. France). It would be difficult to list every program type—so context-specific design is essential.

• Examples of public diplomacy programming

  • Fulbright (scholarships)
  • initiatives using media and social media
  • sports and arts and music
  • entrepreneurship programs
  • makerspaces / “American centers”, where people experiment (including with 3D printers), even in communities with limited electricity access
  • justice-system dialogues: engaging audiences in Mozambique about how a justice system can be part of government yet independent and fight corruption

• Engagement includes allowing criticism of the U.S. A key lesson is that public diplomacy conversations can include criticism—sometimes by private citizens—and that this doesn’t undermine the work. The speaker frames it as consistent with American values like:

  • long-standing freedom of speech
  • open debate and discussion
  • learning through disagreement

• Building goodwill doesn’t automatically translate into policy alignment People may assume that after learning about America, they will “love America” and then support U.S. foreign policy—but the speaker says that doesn’t work that way. Outcomes can be slow and hard to measure.

• The influence of public diplomacy can surface during major decisions Even when results aren’t immediate, leaders (presidents, prime ministers, ministers, royalty) may have participated in U.S. programs or experienced U.S. culture earlier. Later, during critical choices—such as:

  • partnering with the U.S. on security alliances
  • deciding how to vote/support proposals at the United Nations —those experiences can influence their thinking more than expected.

Speaker/source (as stated)

• Kristin Khan — Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State