Prioritizing Efforts to Improve Foreign Public Opinion of America: Applying a Business Model to Discover and Create Customer Value
Abstract
The U.S. National Security Strategy contains objectives that involve winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the foreign public. A study of literature and polling data reveals worldwide resentment toward America, indicating that America may be losing this battle. Given the reality of fiscal and resource constraints, America could not possibly address all of the concerns of the foreign public; rather, America must focus its efforts on the factors that are likely to make the greatest impact. This study identifies negative factors that interfere with favorable foreign pubic opinion and suggests an analytic framework for prioritizing those factors. Based on the theoretical output, America's top priorities should consist of minimizing the visible presences of U.S. troops in Arab nations; increasing understanding and consideration of how U.S. activities are perceived to impact Arab-Islamic culture; and readdressing recent unilateralist policy decisions that create a wedge between America and its European allies. Further in-depth research is required in order to establish more operationally realistic and actionable output, which takes into account the variables that this study excludes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA475817
Entities
People
- Anthony J. Sampson
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School