Front Line Public Diplomacy ― How Us Embassies Communicate With Foreign Publics

This book presents the first-ever close and up-to-date look at how American diplomats working at embassies abroad communicate with foreign audiences to explain US foreign policy and American culture and society. Projecting an American voice abroad has become more difficult in the twenty-first century, as terrorists and parties hostile to the United States use modern communication means to criticize the country and as new communication tools have generally expanded the worldwide discussion of important issues, giving increased visibility to their voices. This book analyzes the communication tools US public diplomacy professionals use and examines how public diplomacy professionals employ interpersonal and language skills to engage critics. It shows how they overcome obstacles erected by unfriendly governments and demonstrates that US diplomats do not simply reiterate policy formulations - instead, they engage diverse groups in creative and varied ways.

William A. Rugh was a Foreign Service Officer for 31 years and served twice as US ambassador. He holds a PhD and has taught public diplomacy at the Fletcher School. He is the author of books and articles on public diplomacy and US foreign policy.