A Review of Public Diplomacy
Hyde Schedules Thursday Oversight Hearing on
U.S. Public Diplomacy Abroad; Karen Hughes to Testify 

BACKGROUND:  Public diplomacy is the promotion of America's interests, culture, and policies to foreign populations. Currently, U.S. public diplomacy efforts include: (1) international information programs; (2) educational and cultural exchange programs; and (3) international nonmilitary broadcasting. The Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs administers the Bureau for International Information Programs and the Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs, while the Broadcasting Board of Governors manages and oversees international broadcasting. Other public diplomacy efforts involve the White House, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Defense (DoD). After the 1999 consolidation of the United States Information Agency (USIA) into the U.S. Department of State and the terrorist attacks two years later, the U.S. Government stepped up its public diplomacy efforts to augment the country’s struggle against terrorism. In her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee three months ago, Karen Hughes outlined her views on public diplomacy and described changes which she intends to pursue. She noted that the United States is involved in a “generational and global struggle of ideas.” She indicated that she intends to “listen... and travel and reach out to citizens and leaders of other countries and mobilize our government to do more listening.” In her testimony, she spoke of four strategic pillars of public diplomacy: 1) engagement, 2) exchanges, 3) education, and 4) empowerment. Hughes spoke of “engaging more vigorously” and included partnering with other people, as well as improving the U.S rapid response to “confront hateful propaganda, dispel myths, and get out the truth.”  

WHAT:                                 Full Committee Oversight Hearing:
                                              An Around-the-World Review of Public Diplomacy

WHEN:                                10:30 a.m., Thursday, November 10, 2005

WHERE:                              Room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

WITNESS:                           Karen P. Hughes,
                                              Under Secretary, Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs,
                                              U.S. Department of State.