The Need for Citizen Diplomacy in “New America”
Swift changes have come to the international arena and the structure of the US government. We at Ipsos Public Affairs refer to these latter shifts as part of a “New America”, a moniker that can help explain and understand the historic framework of European-American relations and the idea that the “West” as a political and military alliance has been seriously challenged, if not torn down. Words matter more than ever, and many of the speeches by Trump administration officials at home and abroad have shaken NATO and the West to the core. If both are to endure, Americans must embrace the concept of “citizen diplomacy”, especially in their New America.
I first encountered citizen diplomacy in summer 2005 while backpacking through Europe after a deployment as a US Marine infantryman in the Iraq War. President George W. Bush and his controversial policies were a popular topic of conversation once people I met learned that I am a Texan and combat veteran. I like to think that I handled my fellow travelers’ interest with grace, surprising many with nuanced views of American politics and the Iraq War. I viewed each conversation as an opportunity to show that stereotyping people is a false way to judge them and that individual Americans’ views can be varied. This often changed the dynamics of discussions and perceptions of Americans writ large. Six years later, I encountered citizen diplomacy again in the more formal setting of my Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF). The program provided an opportunity to travel for nearly four weeks with other emerging leaders and to meet with politicians, academics, journalists, community activists, and business people in five European cities.
GMF defines citizen diplomacy in a post as the idea that all citizens, regardless of their professional position, can function as global representatives of their nations. Citizen diplomats may be anyone, including business people, students, athletes, and artists, who seeks an audience abroad. I believe regular travelers engage in some level of citizen diplomacy every time they cross a border.
I took this line of thought further through my involvement in the MMF network when I met Igor Goncharenko in 2016. He was one of the first Ukrainian fellows. On his US visit during the fellowship, Igor asked to meet to discuss our ability to help the Ukrainian government and NGO sector improve support infrastructure for returning veterans from the Donbas. This was right up my alley given my time working in the US government and the NGO sector to support veterans. What began as a conversation between two Marshall fellows turned into a multiyear project that culminated in a conference we hosted in Kyiv. The 2018 gathering brought together NGO and academic representatives from NATO member states with Ukrainians to help them plan for a future Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The Ministry, the first of its kind in Europe, was established later that year with a mission that has become increasingly important. A growing number of veterans of the war with Russia need advanced employment reintegration and health programs to ensure their successful return to civilian life once a just and lasting peace is achieved.
The American Role
Citizen diplomacy’s impact is evident worldwide, and my view is that Americans have a collective mission to be intentional in engaging in citizen diplomacy as we travel and, as we do, to relay the diversity of the American people. Public opinion may be more nuanced and less aligned with the mandate of the New America than many abroad realize. A recent Ipsos Public Affairs public opinion study confirm this.
According to that report, a majority of Americans (52%) say that international trade is going in the wrong direction compared to 28% who say it is headed in the right direction. On handling of the economy, 57% of Americans say that Trump’s moves are too erratic, and the country is split on whether they will pay off in the long run (41% say they will; 44% say they will not). On foreign policy, Americans are also split on US involvement in and foreign aid to other countries. Half of Americans (50%) support continuing to provide weapons and financial aid to Ukraine while 46% oppose it. Fully 53%, however, support cutting US aid in general. More than half (56%) say that Trump is too closely aligned with Russia, and a majority (54%) supports Ukraine’s use of US-supplied arms to strike within Russia. Over half (57%) disagree with the statement “The problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere.”
This New America is indeed more nuanced than the impression offered by the media and the administration. Americans’ attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs are not reflected in every Trump policy. In fact, many views contradict others. Still, citizen diplomacy becomes more important as Americans debate foreign aid as a source of “soft power” while the White House cuts it.
Effective citizen diplomats understand the importance of learning about history and other cultures, and being open to opposing political views. This helps bridge divides. Those who lack the ability to travel would be well advised to forge bonds with colleagues and others abroad to better understand their perspectives. Citizen diplomacy is not dependent on national institutions. Rather, it is an individual’s willingness to learn, absorb, and appreciate differences that is key.