"Nothing like looking somebody in the eyes and shaking their hand"

Dominique Lopes

Applied Public Diplomacy

9/27/12

How does Vanc describe the importance of “dialogue” and “dialogic principles” to public diplomacy? What are her conclusions about US efforts?

It has been long acknowledged that public diplomacy needs to utilize the tool of communication. As previously understood, this meant that a public diplomacy officer was to disseminate American policy to a foreign public using “one-way” processes, public speeches or meet-and-greets where one smiles and nods and, without caring what the other has to say, waits for their turn to speak.  This attitude towards “communication” was fine during Cold War public diplomacy, but cannot be sustained in today’s world. As Vance quotes, “people want to have dialogue, people want to have their opinions [heard and] valued.” The importance of dialogue and “dialogic principles” is that they are “two-way” processes, “essential for building mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its public”.

Using interviews with foreign officials, such as, public diplomacy officers on the ground, ambassadors, etc., Vance establishes not only the importance of dialogue but its inherent quality within public diplomacy on the ground. A diplomat in a foreign country who wants to be a meaningful force in his host country must utilize dialogic principles to further his understanding of the country and its people. Furthermore, they do so without noticing that they are doing it. Dialogue, for most people, is a natural instinct. We talk to further relationships, whether as a means to an end or the end in itself.  While these public diplomacy officers used media and technology, typically “one-way” processes, the person to person was a necessary component of the job, the “last three feet” if you will. It is kind of a shame that a report had to be made to prove that we need to talk and listen with foreign publics to further relationships, but at least we are acknowledging a lack of it and a hope for a move in the right direction.