How Russia, China, and Other Countries Use Public Diplomacy to Compete with the US
BACKGROUNDER No. 2698 | JUNE 21, 2012 Challenging America: How Russia, China, and Other Countries Use Public Diplomacy to Compete with the U.S. Helle C. Dale, Ariel Cohen, PhD, and Janice A. Smith Abstract he circumstances that surround- Competing aggressively with the Ted President Barack Obama’s Talking Points United States for the “hearts and nomination last November of yet minds” of people around the world, another Under Secretary of State for ■■ The U.S. government is showing many state and non-state actors are Public Diplomacy were symptom- signs of fatigue and disinterest funneling significant resources into atic of a problem that has plagued in public diplomacy—a develop- ment that must be reversed if their public diplomacy strategies. America’s efforts to explain itself the United States is to maintain a The Chinese government announced to the world since the end of the global leadership position. in 2009 that it would spend almost Cold War. The nomination came ■■ Today, more people around the $7 billion on a “global media drive” after the position had been vacant world believe the “global balance to improve its image. The Russian for four months, and it would take of power” is shifting away from government allocated $1.4 billion for another six before the nominee, Tara the United States. international propaganda in 2010. Sonenshine, was sworn in. ■■ Many state and non-state actors Meanwhile, in the U.S., a confluence In all, the position has been are competing aggressively of issues, tightening budgets, and vacant 30 percent of the time since with the U.S.
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