Key Studies in Diplomacy Us Cultural After the Cold War

This book provides an in-depth account of American cultural diplomacy in the post-Cold War era through a series of studies on key issues and fields of activity. US cultural diplomacy after the Cold War provides an in-depth account of American cultural diplomacy from the end of the Cold War through the start of the second Trump administration (1991–2025). The volume is principally concerned with investigating American cultural diplomacy through the lens of its programs, policies, and institutions. The various studies featured in the book offer a much fuller and current analysis of the subject than exists elsewhere. Drawing on a wealth of evidence, mostly untapped, they highlight the practical challenges, contradictions, continuity and change of US cultural diplomacy after 1991, and how these have been reflected through the use of dance, museums, films, music, and expos. The book also tackles specific questions, such as how the success of cultural diplomacy is assessed, how the State Department was able to promote cultural diplomacy during the post-9/11 period and the Covid lockdown, and how America’s cultural diplomats have sought to counter negative images of the United States due to its controversial climate change policies, racial equity issues, and fractious, polarised political landscape. Covering a period of US cultural diplomacy characterized by a post-Cold War decline followed by a post-9/11 recovery, the book anticipates a more negative scenario with the onset of the second Trump administration. In the decades following the USSR’s collapse, the United States has shifted from unrivalled hegemon to a position of relative decline. Although America appeared dominant after 1991, its culture—like its diplomatic, military, and economic power—faced little competition. Such favourable conditions reduced the perceived need for cultural diplomacy; the government saw little reason to promote a cultural product that seemed to sell itself. After 9/11, however, it became clear that global attitudes toward the United States were less positive than assumed, prompting a renewed emphasis on cultural diplomacy. Despite internal and external challenges, officials supported a range of cultural initiatives to strengthen the American brand abroad. Cultural diplomacy has since adopted new forms of expression to build positive foreign relations. The arrival of the second Trump administration in 2025 has signalled a retreat from using cultural diplomacy to promote empowerment and diversity, leaving its future uncertain.

Pagina's: 272, Hardcover, Manchester University Press