U.S. Public Diplomacy: Interagency Coordination Efforts Hampered by the Lack of a National Communication Strategy

In 2003 and 2005, we recommended the Secretary of State develop a strategy to engage with the private sector in pursuit of common public diplomacy objectives to help ensure private-sector resources, talents, and ideas are effectively utilized in support of U.S. strategic communications. In 2005 we reported that State had engaged the private sector in the area of international exchange programs, but other efforts led by State's Under Secretaries for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs had not yielded significant results. Since then, a former under secretary established an Office of Private Sector Outreach for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, which has partnered with the private sector on various projects, hosted a Private Sector Summit on Public Diplomacy in January 2007, invited private-sector experts to assist U.S. government officials in marketing public diplomacy programs, and identified action steps the private sector can take to support and improve U.S. public diplomacy. However, the office has not worked with the private sector to implement those additional action steps. While State's efforts thus far have merit, their effect may be limited if not backed by the type of comprehensive strategy to engage the private sector we have recommended.