After 9/11 U.S. Public Cultural Diplomacy may be accepted disappointing from several aspects. Although the channels of communication were accelerated but as critics argued that there are several problems with the public policy. Now United States has a new enemy: extreme Islamists. But although United States was a victim of 9/11, United States continue to have a negative image in the globe. The reason of that negative image further supported with Wikileaks scandal. International arena has negative towards United States. United States tries to explain her motives by emphasizing on 9/11 whereas she loses thrust with American popular culture, operation to Iraq and so on. Statistics show that there are other reasons of the failure with regard to public cultural policy:
1) USAID scholarship for foreign students declined from 20.000 to 900
2) Funding for cultural exchange programs declined
3) There is no a contra opinion in the State Department, i.e. no Muslim staff
So what can be done? United States should make cultural exports in order to change the perception of United States in Middle East. During Cold War United States used to be perceived as the representative of freedom but today she is perceived as an imperialist enemy. United States shouldchange that perception otherwise she will continue to suffer from negative attitude.
Bibliography
Ivey, B. and Cleggett, P. “Cultural Diplomacy and the National Interest: In a Search of 21st Century Perspective”. The Curb Center For Art. http://www.interarts.net/descargas/interarts673.pdf
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