CRS Issue Statement on U.S. Diplomacy
Abstract
The United States conducts diplomacy to promote and protect U.S. national interests in the international arena. To advance U.S. interests abroad, the Department of State utilizes both the traditional tools of diplomacy and the use of new tools in its bilateral and international relations. These traditional tools include U.S. diplomats applying their skills in analyzing and reporting on events to U.S. policy makers, as well as advocating the U.S. position to counterparts in foreign ministries in order to develop agreements and form alliances addressing common concerns from nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction to trade agreements. Traditional diplomacy also encompasses using various tools to achieve strategic objectives such as training foreign military and security forces to help fight international crime and terrorism; providing grants and sales of military weapons on favorable terms; or using foreign assistance for other than development or humanitarian reasons. But diplomacy today also requires new skills and new emphasis. The need for public diplomacy is being re-emphasized, and a new appreciation for public diplomacy has developed with its use of academic, cultural, and leadership exchanges; America Center multi-media facilities; Internet social networking; and international broadcasting, to reach beyond governments and speak to a nation's citizens to establish new relationships. Many believe today's diplomacy requires a new relationship between traditional diplomacy and development assistance where the goals are no longer viewed solely to achieve strategic ends but serve to provide both humanitarian aid and an investment in the growth of developing countries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA513271
Entities
People
- Kennon H. Nakamura
Organizations
- Library of Congress