Chapter Twelve. Networks Of Influence: U.S. Exchange Programs And Western Europe In The 1980s

Abstract

This chapter examines the use and effectiveness of exchange programs within U.S. public diplomacy strategy towards Western Europe during the 1980's. In doing so it makes the broader claim that since World War II exchange programs have provided a much underrated contribution towards meeting the objectives of U.S. foreign policy. The chapter specifically refers to the most prestigious of the U.S. government's exchanges, the Department of State's International Visitor Program (IVP). It presents two case studies that demonstrate how the International Visitor Program, in combination with other exchanges such as the Fulbright Program, was successfully employed to establish and build transatlantic channels of informal empire in support of U.S. foreign policy objectives. Both deal with the concentrated attempt by the U.S. public diplomacy apparatus to influence public opinion in key allies during the 1980's. Keywords: Fulbright Program; International Visitor Program (IVP); U.S. exchange programs; U.S. foreign policy; U.S. public diplomacy; Western Europe