leader image
![Image courtesy of the East Asia and Pacific Media Hub U.S. Department of State via Flickr](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/rsz_aung_san_suu_kyi_at_the_suu_foundation_launch_13037737374.jpg?itok=1hlgYvyH)
Nafay Choudhury looks at the soft power behind the Nobel Peace Prize and its importance in the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
The Rohingya may be at the brink of facing genocide. Despite widespread international outcry, the pro-democracy Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has remained deafeningly silent while the military continues its onslaught of the Rohingya. Worse yet, her title of Nobel Laureate serves to legitimize her continued (in)actions, while Rakhine State goes up in flames.
![Image courtesy of the President of Russia](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/rsz_x6vuxeiq7vjfvyn9i09g3wvl8nta6aqf.jpg?itok=2BAT8TUa)
Olga Krasnyak looks at how the actions of diplomats can impact national image.
![Image courtesy of Narendra Modi via Wikimedia Commons Prime Minister Modi & President Rouhani](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/rsz_prime_minister_narendra_modi_with_president_of_iran_hassan_rouhani.jpg?itok=bgLvGopO)
Ilan Manor explores the relationship between a country's national image and the image of its leader.
![Photo reprinted courtesy of En.Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons Viktor Bondarev and Vladimir Putin, by En.Kremlin.ru](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/kremlin-ru_-_viktor_bondarev_a%20%281%29.jpg?itok=qPwTy5n9)
Has Putin's use of hard power created a soft power appeal?