The importance of public diplomacy:

Public diplomacy in the 21st century is hoped to be seen as the influence and informing of foreign publics from a state government. In most liberal democracies this is encouraged as it is seen to present an image and build relationships from governments to publics.

On the 8th of November Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, demonstrated a medium and long term dimension of public diplomacy. As part of President Obama’s 3-day visit to India he addressed the Indian parliament and peoples with a speech, which its key feature was to tighten ‘U.S. -Indian relations and raise the U.S. influence in Asia.’

The Indian public and government where spectacle about the President’s visit, due to the military collaboration of Pakistan, in Afghanistan. Through public diplomacy President Obama declared for the first time that the U.S backs India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations. Furthermore, Barack Obama also made a public statement to ‘ease restrictions off high-tech exports to India.’ Post visit, the Indian media said that it has been a positive visit, this illustrates the importance of public diplomacy and the success of public diplomacy as prior to visit the public were spectacle.

On the other hand one may see this proactive style of publicity to be propaganda and an attempt to get the Indian public on America’s side to pursue the U.S interests and undermine Indian government agendas. Some of the actors within the Indian state were critical. National secretary D. Raja said the U.S president in his address to Indian parliamentarians was " pursuing the known US positions and protecting the interests of his country."

Moreover, this is exampled by the fact that hat the 10 billion dollar deals with India would create 50,000 jobs back in the U.S. Here it must be noted that the lack of jobs in the U.S was a highlight of campaign during recent Congressional elections and Obama’s party lost seats due to this factor.

Another feature which should be noted about President Obama’s public diplomacy is the use of sound bites, and in particular the use of the adjective ‘incredible.’ Media reports have stated ‘In all it came up at least 19 times in six of his seven public events.’ It could be suggested that Obama’s aim was to leave the public of India an image of the U.S thinking that their state is ‘incredible.’ This is a part of a long-term dimension of public diplomacy as intentions are to improve existing relationships within India.

In conclusion, President Barack Obama’s visit to India was a clear illustration that public diplomacy is important within democracies in the 21st centuries, it allows foreign states to make clear what agenda they within a particular state and the type of relationship one state will have between another. One may argue that is can undermine states which do not agree on certain policies as public opinion may shift towards an idea which is not of interest to heads of states. In the contemporary world of politics it is crucial more than ever for transparency and creditability of government agendas between states, I think that public diplomacy is a good way of exampling this, however I also note there must be a credible media to complement this.

For further reading on Obama’s public diplomacy in India please follow these links:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/111081/text-president-barack-obamas-address.html
http://www.merinews.com/article/barack-obama-and-incredible-india/15834657.shtml

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/10/c_13599021.htm