Soft Power at a Crossroads: Public Diplomacy, US Credibility, and the Future of Global Influence

For decades, the United States has shaped the international system not only through military and economic strength, but through soft power—the ability to attract, persuade and build legitimacy in the eyes of foreign publics. Public diplomacy has been one of the primary tools through which this influence is cultivated, from educational exchanges and international broadcasting to development partnerships and alliance engagement.

Today, however, the foundations of U.S. soft power appear increasingly contested. Reductions in foreign assistance, strained relationships with long-standing allies, and domestic political polarization are raising questions about the durability of America’s global appeal and credibility.

This symposium convenes practitioners and subject-matter experts to evaluate whether U.S. soft power is eroding, how changes in public diplomacy practices are shaping that trajectory, and what these shifts may mean for the broader structure of international order.

The event will take the form of a forward-looking, moderated discussion that emphasizes professional insight, real-world experience and informed predictions about the future.

Panel Participants

• George Bogden, senior counsel at Continental Strategy
• Joshua Darr, senior researcher at the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship
• Kristen Patel, Donald P. and Margaret Curry Gregg Professor of Practice in Korean and East Asian Affairs
• Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs

Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m.

Lunch will be provided.

Hosted by the public diplomacy and global communications graduate program.