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Does Public Diplomacy Sway Foreign Public Opinion? Identifying the Effect of High-Level Visits

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  • GOLDSMITH, BENJAMIN E.
  • HORIUCHI, YUSAKU
  • MATUSH, KELLY

Abstract

Although many governments invest significant resources in public-diplomacy campaigns, there is little well-identified evidence of these efforts’ effectiveness. We examine the effects of a major type of public diplomacy: high-level visits by national leaders to other countries. We combine a dataset of the international travels of 15 leaders from 9 countries over 11 years, with worldwide surveys administered in 38 host countries. By comparing 32,456 respondents interviewed just before or just after the first day of each visit, we show that visiting leaders can increase public approval among foreign citizens. The effects do not fade away immediately and are particularly large when public-diplomacy activities are reported by the news media. In most cases, military capability differentials between visiting and host countries do not appear to confer an advantage in the influence of public diplomacy. These findings suggest that public diplomacy has the potential to shape global affairs through soft power.

Suggested Citation

  • Goldsmith, Benjamin E. & Horiuchi, Yusaku & Matush, Kelly, 2021. "Does Public Diplomacy Sway Foreign Public Opinion? Identifying the Effect of High-Level Visits," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(4), pages 1342-1357, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:115:y:2021:i:4:p:1342-1357_16
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    Cited by:

    1. Endrich, Marek & Gutmann, Jerg, 2020. "Pacem in Terris: Are Papal Visits Good News for Human Rights?," ILE Working Paper Series 37, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    2. Becker, Malte & Krüger, Finja & Heidland, Tobias, 2024. "What Drives Attitudes toward Immigrants in Sub-Saharan Africa? Evidence from Uganda and Senegal," IZA Discussion Papers 16734, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Yu Wang & Randall W. Stone, 2023. "China visits: a dataset of Chinese leaders’ foreign visits," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 201-225, January.
    4. Akira IGARASHI & Charles CRABTREE & Yoshikuni ONO, 2024. "Beyond Language Proficiency: Understanding the Role of National Identification in Shaping Attitudes toward Immigrants," Working Papers 2312, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.

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