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Section 501 of the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of1948 (Smith-Mundt Act) prohibits domestic dissemination ofinformation designed for foreign consumption, ostensibly to ban"domestic propaganda." In the war on terrorism, this amounts toself-sabotage. Until Congress relegates this piece of legislationto the dustbin of history, the U.S. cannot expect to conduct publicdiplomacy effectively.
Competing aggressively with the United States for the “hearts and minds” of people around the world, many state and non-state actors are funneling significant resources into their public diplomacy strategies. The Chinese government announced in 2009 that it would spend almost $7 billion on a “global media drive” to improve its image. The Russian government allocated $1.4 billion for international propaganda in 2010. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a confluence of issues, tightening budgets, and changing foreign policy directions compound the challenges that Americans face. The purpose and priorities for U.S. public diplomacy are being pulled in many directions. The result of this misalignment is that today, more people around the world believe the global balance of power is shifting away from the United States.
To reverse America's declining image abroad, both public diplomacyand related international broadcasting agencies need a clear chainof command as well as adequate personnel and financial resources.