Nicholas J. Cull Libri

The book explores the evolution of public diplomacy in the context of America's wartime strategies, tracing its roots back to the Revolutionary War while highlighting its modern significance post-September 11. It addresses the challenges posed by the United States' negative global image and the critical role of communication in reshaping perceptions. The increasing prominence of public diplomacy among practitioners and the general public reflects a growing recognition of its importance in international relations and image management.

The final decade of the United States Information Agency is explored through newly declassified archives and interviews, highlighting the pivotal decisions and actions that led to its disarray. Nicholas J. Cull uncovers the complexities of public diplomacy during this tumultuous period, providing insights into the agency's challenges and the broader implications for U.S. communication strategies.

Published at a time when the U.S. government's public diplomacy is in crisis, this book provides an exhaustive account of how it used to be done. The United States Information Agency was created in 1953 to "tell America's story to the world" and, by engaging with the world through international information, broadcasting, culture and exchange programs, became an essential element of American foreign policy during the Cold War. Based on newly declassified archives and more than 100 interviews with veterans of public diplomacy, from the Truman administration to the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nicholas J. Cull relates both the achievements and the endemic flaws of American public diplomacy in this period. Major topics include the process by which the Truman and Eisenhower administrations built a massive overseas propaganda operation; the struggle of the Voice of America radio to base its output on journalistic truth; the challenge of presenting Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, and Watergate to the world; and the climactic confrontation with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. This study offers remarkable and new insights into the Cold War era.