Chapter Four. Understanding Public Diplomacy: Toward A Common Identity

Abstract

This chapter examines the confusion surrounding the concept of public diplomacy, looking at the factors that have contributed to the lack of conceptual clarity in the field and questions that must be addressed as the definition of public diplomacy is refined. It identifies the need for a common vocabulary that would contribute to the advancement of public diplomacy research and professional practice and considers the implications of diverse functional perspectives on public diplomacy practices. Interdisciplinary study of public diplomacy is a good thing. The public diplomacy literature is enriched by diverse perspectives on matters of common interest. The aspect of the new public diplomacy that distinguishes it from the old public diplomacy is the view that public diplomacy is not an inherently government enterprise. The definitional analysis demonstrates considerable confusion about how public diplomacy's function, purpose, and strategies are distinguished.Keywords: common identity; functional perspectives; interdisciplinary perspectives; public diplomacy