Cognitive Science 0223 - Public Diplomacy

Public diplomacy employs culture in international relations, whose principal means of exchange are political, economic and military. Increasingly, these traditional forms are augmented by culture, an important example of "soft power," a way of exerting global influence that appears to be unthreatening, even humanitarian. Examples include an occupying country's introduction of its political-cultural practices into a defeated country; exporting aspects of "modernization," like western journalism, to the Third World or countries "in transition"; or circulating art exhibits or musical performances as a way of repairing a damaged national image. Public diplomacy raises questions about cultural imperialism, claims that some cultural forms are universal, notions that some culture practices foster peace, etc. This course will explore mainly US public diplomacy but also efforts by multilateral organizations like the UN and by international NGOs. Students will write short, informal responses to readings and a mid-semester essay, and they will complete a final project and present it to the class.

Mind, Brain, and Information Independent Work Writing and Research