Changes and Enduring Principles

Abstract

For nearly 80 years, the US government has systematically undertaken programs abroad that serve the national interest by communicating with foreign publics. We call that public diplomacy. During these eight decades public diplomacy has in some ways undergone significant changes. At the same time, certain basic principles have evolved and endured among practitioners who have learned best practices in the field. This chapter briefly reviews the fundamental changes and then lists some of the enduring principles of public diplomacy