We thought a lot about anti-Americanism after 9-11, but the discussion has seemed to wane, perhaps out of frustration. What can be done, anyway? The modern-day Tocqueville, Bernard-Henry Lévy writes an open letter to the next President, touching on higher ed, the case of Russia and IR, and public diplomacy:
Anti-Americanism, Mr. Future President, has become a new planetary religion. And unfortunately it will take more than four or even eight years to get rid of this kind of religion. But if you did try, if you agree, on these sensitive matters, to speak with the language of truth and courage, you would right away give your country a face that would already no longer be quite the same. That too is exceptionalism. And that too is what the world expects from that “shining city upon the hill.”
If you’r interested in exploring this topic, watch the BYU Kennedy Center lecture by Peter Katzenstein, one of the best scholars working in the field, from Mar 2004 (link, then search by name). Also, Sophie Menuier addresses France’s unique take (of course), and Abdelmahdi Alsoudi focuses on the Arab world.
And don’t miss Nick Cull (11 Apr 2007)–one of the best minds working on public diplomacy–who gives a useful overview of how anti-Americanism fits within this framework….as well as Kenneth Osgood (3 Oct 2007) for a historical view of America’s campaign for ‘hearts and minds’ in the Cold War.
Globo Diplo 