|
 |
Principal Investigator: Kathy R. Fitzpatrick |
"Mutual understanding" has long been part of U.S. public diplomacy's official mandate. Yet, historical and contemporary public diplomacy practices have focused primarily on increasing understanding of the United States among foreign publics, while virtually ignoring the need to increase Americans' understanding of foreign nations and peoples. Why has public diplomacy's "second mandate" been neglected? And, more importantly, what must be done to advance mutual understanding going forward? This study attempts to answer those questions through a two-phased research study that will examine issues related to mutuality in U.S. public diplomacy.
The objective of Phase One will be to increase knowledge and understanding of U.S. public diplomacy's domestic mandate. This phase will involve an examination of the official underpinnings of mutuality in U.S. public diplomacy and an investigation of the factors that have influenced thinking and practices related to U.S. public diplomacy's charge to enhance Americans' knowledge and understanding of the world and its citizens. Research findings will be reported in a white paper on the scope and status of U.S. public diplomacy's domestic mandate.
The aim of Phase Two will be the development of a research and practice agenda that will advance U.S. public diplomacy's "second mandate" going forward. Specific objectives of this phase will be: (1) to identify research needed to establish a stronger conceptual foundation for thinking and practices related to mutuality in U.S. public diplomacy; (2) to identify public/private entities that will (should) play important roles in advancing U.S. public diplomacy’s domestic mandate; and (3) to develop recommendations and an action plan for advancing the domestic mandate.
|
