UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AFTER 9/11
The report focuses on renewed attention to public diplomacy (PD) and its importance in creating foreign public opinion about the United States (US). The report provides a historical background of PD tools such as the creation of the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the role of the Voice of America (VOA), together with other PD policies.
The negative perception of the Bush Administration in entering the Iraq war, as well as refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol and Chemical Weapons Ban created a negative perception of the US and increased the importance of PD particularly coupled with the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Over time it became clear that it was necessary to co-operate and introduce America to the world to prevent negative perception. The report mainly focuses on the efforts on Islamic countries to renew the image of the US. In general the US always used PD to formulate public opinion. The Voice of America and the creation of USIA to administer the broadcasting and information programs, which had a huge influence on societies, are some examples. The US spent huge funds on PD but by the end of the 1990s the budget for PD was reduced, partly because of the abolishment of USIA and partly for budget austerity. However, its importance and the budget increased after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 attacks pushed the US to reconsider their policies on Islamic countries, specifically on Arabic countries. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which was created during the 108th Congress, aimed to promote free media in Islamic countries and create scholarships for Muslims to attend American sponsored schools. Every possible tool has been used to influence Muslim and Arab populations to combat terrorism. The International Information Programs (IIP) is just one of the diplomatic steps taken by the US. To reach larger Muslim and Arab populations the IIP developed new programs such as printing in Arabic three times more than before 9/11 and promoting an Arabic magazine and the creation of a Persian language website targeting the Iranian society. Similarly the 9/11 attacks forced Congress and the Administration to use Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) more efficiently.
Since the 9/11 attacks the importance of exchange programs has increased. According to the Department of State, about $175 million in funding has supported exchange programs in Islamic and Arabic countries. Similarly 49 Arab women who were politically or socially active in their own countries were brought to the US where they participated in many congressional and political issues. According to reports, religious tolerance has increased. Again, after 2001, the importance of broadcasting and communicating with the Islamic world was reconsidered. For example, the VOA increased its focus onto Afghanistan and the Middle East. Programs were run in Arabic to communicate with Arab society and try to win their hearts and minds. According to a survey conducted by VOA, 80% of adult males in Afghanistan listen to VOA and rank it highly for credibility and objectivity.
Today PD structure has changed and is used as a dialogue rather than a monologue to reach deeper and to rebuild long term relationships and mutual trust between the US and the Islamic world. Again US officials realized that positive public opinion can be very influential in combating terrorism. The efficiency of PD is a debatable subject. Today the importance of the internet and increasing numbers of educated people helps in the understanding of US policies and encourages people to question the reasons behind US efforts in Islamic countries. It seems that the 9/11 attacks cannot change the perception of Islam and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the subsequent response of Bush as, “Operation Enduring Crusade” will not change the Islamic perception of the US.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Epstein. S. B. 2006, US Department of State: U.S. Public Diplomacy: Background and the 9/11 Commission Recommendations, Available from: http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/66505.pdf, Accessed (11.05.2011)
The negative perception of the Bush Administration in entering the Iraq war, as well as refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol and Chemical Weapons Ban created a negative perception of the US and increased the importance of PD particularly coupled with the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Over time it became clear that it was necessary to co-operate and introduce America to the world to prevent negative perception. The report mainly focuses on the efforts on Islamic countries to renew the image of the US. In general the US always used PD to formulate public opinion. The Voice of America and the creation of USIA to administer the broadcasting and information programs, which had a huge influence on societies, are some examples. The US spent huge funds on PD but by the end of the 1990s the budget for PD was reduced, partly because of the abolishment of USIA and partly for budget austerity. However, its importance and the budget increased after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 attacks pushed the US to reconsider their policies on Islamic countries, specifically on Arabic countries. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which was created during the 108th Congress, aimed to promote free media in Islamic countries and create scholarships for Muslims to attend American sponsored schools. Every possible tool has been used to influence Muslim and Arab populations to combat terrorism. The International Information Programs (IIP) is just one of the diplomatic steps taken by the US. To reach larger Muslim and Arab populations the IIP developed new programs such as printing in Arabic three times more than before 9/11 and promoting an Arabic magazine and the creation of a Persian language website targeting the Iranian society. Similarly the 9/11 attacks forced Congress and the Administration to use Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) more efficiently.
Since the 9/11 attacks the importance of exchange programs has increased. According to the Department of State, about $175 million in funding has supported exchange programs in Islamic and Arabic countries. Similarly 49 Arab women who were politically or socially active in their own countries were brought to the US where they participated in many congressional and political issues. According to reports, religious tolerance has increased. Again, after 2001, the importance of broadcasting and communicating with the Islamic world was reconsidered. For example, the VOA increased its focus onto Afghanistan and the Middle East. Programs were run in Arabic to communicate with Arab society and try to win their hearts and minds. According to a survey conducted by VOA, 80% of adult males in Afghanistan listen to VOA and rank it highly for credibility and objectivity.
Today PD structure has changed and is used as a dialogue rather than a monologue to reach deeper and to rebuild long term relationships and mutual trust between the US and the Islamic world. Again US officials realized that positive public opinion can be very influential in combating terrorism. The efficiency of PD is a debatable subject. Today the importance of the internet and increasing numbers of educated people helps in the understanding of US policies and encourages people to question the reasons behind US efforts in Islamic countries. It seems that the 9/11 attacks cannot change the perception of Islam and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the subsequent response of Bush as, “Operation Enduring Crusade” will not change the Islamic perception of the US.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Epstein. S. B. 2006, US Department of State: U.S. Public Diplomacy: Background and the 9/11 Commission Recommendations, Available from: http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/66505.pdf, Accessed (11.05.2011)
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