(Week 2) Blog Response - Question 1:
In recent
years, many nation-state governments have embarked on new collaborative modes
of public diplomacy (PD) practice, to engage with foreign populations. These
new approaches, have transcended the traditional monologue, and dialogue layers
of diplomacy, by expanding even further in developing closer-ties and
co-partnerships with other nation-states, private sector industries, NGOs,
non-state actors, etc. By shifting away from engaging in PD
only on a official level, nation-states are exploring various types of 'power'
that can work well, and best suit various PD goals.
Two case
examples below on types of 'power' include: Soft and Smart power.
Example
1. Soft Power.
Since the
late-1990s to early 2000s, South Korean culture vastly grew in popularity when
it began to air some of it own TV Dramas (commonly known as K-Dramas) abroad in
Asia. Receiving accolades after its K-Drama debut showings, the Korean
Wave, or also known Hallyu manifested and snowballed into a mainstream
limelight success, with a globally expanding fan-base network. Taking the
initiative to utilize the popularity of K-Dramas, which portrayed both
traditional & modern-day Korean way of life, the South Korean
government promoted Hallyu as a soft power mode in portraying a positive image
of Korea.
Example
2. Smart Power.
For the
U.S. embarking on new collaborative modes of PD practice, has become a dire
facet for being at the forefront of the informational age. In a recent
news report, on the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference Gala
Dinner this past Wednesday (5/23/12) at the Tampa Convention Center, U.S.
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, spoke to an audience of Special Operations
Force leaders from around the globe (Altman 2012). At the dinner,
Secretary Clinton, applauded these leaders for exemplifying, and embodying the
smart power PD practice from their dedication toward forming closer
partnerships, by working together with one another. The smart power method of
choosing to engage in stronger relations, has become a commonly practiced
approach for many nation-states, including the U.S. The pursuit of
engagement via international cooperation, ties in closely as a counter
method in facing international threats, or global issues multilaterally.
These two
case examples of powers of PD, display the differences of PD, as well as,
each methods individual significance. According to Brian Hockings (2005),
PD certainly has become more important than nation-states had first realized,
especially in new PD methods being implemented that were not originally
assumed. In the examples provided, for South Korea, its K-Dramas opened
the doors for South Korea to portray itself to the global community and develop
a positive national image of itself. At the Special Operations
Forces Industry Conference Gala Dinner, all of the global leaders present,
signified their national openness toward engagement for future partnership, and
continued relations.
While
both of these modes of (soft and smart) power are distinct, when applied to the
practice of PD a new collaborative method of PD
is created. These collaborative modes of PD, do not deliver the same
level of effectiveness due to the differences in applied approaches, however
they mutually seek to engage in relations with foreign populations, and groups.
Works Cited:
Altman, H.
(2012, May 24). Clinton: U.S. emphasizing 'Smart Power'. The Tampa
Tribune. Retrieved from: https://bitly.com/JOR8Yl.
What's interesting about this post - I think - is how it considers military actors as practitioners of public diplomacy. This is an emerging trend, though the Pentagon prefers to term "strategic communication." Also, how do you think the Korean government is promoting hallyu? Do you think it's effective?
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