Effective Public Diplomacy in India?

By Patricia Lee Sharpe

WhirledView has taken a generally dim view of public diplomacy leadership in the State Department over the past few years.  Nor have we been impressed, so far, with the pronouncements of Judith McHale, who assumed the portfolio not so long ago.

However, a report by David J. Karl which appears on Asia Times Online says this of Hillary Clinton’s recent trip to India, noting importantly that the media in general confined itself to reporting agreements on nukes and disagreements about global warming.  Herd and horse race journalism!  All too alive and well!  Be that as it may, Karl has studied her schedule in detail, and he's impressed by the breadth and depth of her engagement with India:

Clinton was very attentive to the private-sector and societal linkages that are the foundation for the new era in US-India affairs. Headlines about nuclear cooperation, expanding military ties and convergent geopolitical interests obscure the critical role that these non-governmental connections play in building ties. [During her visit] Clinton spent a good part of her visit away from the Indian capital and made a conscious effort to engage a wider range of people than traveling secretaries of state usually do. For example, corporate chieftains, film stars, village artisans, educators, agricultural researchers, green technology enthusiasts and university students.

All in all, concludes Karl, the trip accentuated

the often-ignored factors that create an important stake in enduring ties, and which limit the risk that momentary political and diplomatic aggravations could disrupt the overall US-India partnership.

I couldn’t have made a better case for persistent, well-balanced public diplomacy myself.

Obviously the mission in New Delhi and its consulates did a good job for Clinton.  I hope she noticed and will work to rebuild PD on the Washington end so that field work can be properly supported.  Even when the boss isn’t around to be impressed.