U.S. Public Diplomacy: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight
Abstract
Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has spent at least $10 billion on communication efforts designed to advance the strategic interests of the United States. However, foreign public opinion polling data shows that negative views towards the United States persist despite the collective efforts to counteract them by the State Department (State), Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Defense (DOD), and other U.S. government agencies. Based on the significant role U.S. strategic communication and public diplomacy efforts can play in promoting U.S. national security objectives, such as countering ideological support for violent extremism, we highlighted these efforts as an urgent issue for the new administration and Congress. To assist Congress with its oversight agenda, we have enclosed a series of issue papers that discuss long-standing and emerging public diplomacy challenges identified by GAO and others.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- AD1101693
Entities
People
- Audrey Solis
- Emily Gupta
- Eugene Louis Dodaro
- Jeffrey Baldwin-bott
- Joseph Carney
- Leah Dewolf
- Marcus Corbin
- Martin de Alteriis
- Michael T. Kate
- Robert Alarapon
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office