Malcolm Rivera
The future of US diplomacy is a topic that has been widely discussed, especially in the context of the 2024 presidential election. While Americans do not want a radical change to US foreign policy, the world has changed over the past several decades, and the United States must adapt to practice effective twenty-first-century diplomacy. This includes addressing the rise of China and its increasing influence, as well as technological advancements such as the incorporation of artificial intelligence. The Biden administration has made health diplomacy a priority, creating the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy to strengthen health systems and prevent future pandemics. Additionally, the State Department has focused on recruiting and retaining diverse talent, making job opportunities more inclusive, and investing in its workforce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Adapt to the 21st century | Effective diplomacy |
| Counter Chinese influence | Remind countries of the benefits of ties with the US |
| Reinvigorate engagement with institutions, countries, and individuals | Advance US interests |
| Redouble efforts to engage frequently and personally with countries influenced by China | Compete with China |
| Reinvest in strategic communications, information statecraft, and public diplomacy | Lead in the digital age |
| Strengthen health systems, fight deadly diseases, and prevent future pandemics | Prioritize health diplomacy |
| Strengthen energy security | Reduce European Union partners' dependence on Russian gas |
| Recruit and retain the best talent | Make job opportunities more inclusive |
| Support alliances, international trade, and the global presence of the US military | Support for traditional American foreign policy |
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What You'll Learn
Adapting to the 21st century
The world has changed over the past several decades, and the United States must adapt to practice effective twenty-first-century diplomacy. The rise of China and the current technological revolution have significantly impacted the context in which the United States conducts its diplomacy. To adapt to these changes, the US must focus on two key areas: technology and engagement.
Firstly, the US State Department needs to improve its technological capabilities and get smarter with tech. This includes cultivating a creative and diverse workforce, providing improved training on technology and science, and investing in potential areas such as artificial intelligence. The State Department should also address the impact of new technology on its public diplomacy strategy, considering both the opportunities it presents and how it forces a reevaluation of traditional ways of operating.
Secondly, the US must reinvigorate its engagement with institutions, countries, and individuals. This includes reasserting US leadership in multilateral bodies, especially in shaping norms for new technologies and challenging China's growing influence. The US should also increase its engagement with countries and regions where China is attempting to increase its influence, drawing them away from China's orbit through sustained and personal efforts. This can be achieved through frequent personal diplomacy, strategic communications, and public diplomacy.
Additionally, the US should advance partnerships with like-minded nations, leveraging smaller pacts such as the Quad and potentially creating new formal alliances centered on technology leadership. Health diplomacy has also become a priority, with the creation of the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy to strengthen health systems, fight diseases, and prevent future pandemics.
To support these adaptations, the State Department has made efforts to recruit and retain the best talent, making job opportunities more inclusive and accessible. These initiatives aim to build a robust and diverse pipeline of diplomats for the next generation.
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Countering Chinese influence
The rise of China has been the most salient change in the international balance of power, and the US must adapt its diplomacy to counter Chinese influence.
US diplomacy must be predicated on steady, sustained, and personal engagement to nourish relationships and remind countries of the benefits of ties with the United States. This involves reasserting US leadership in multilateral bodies, especially on shaping norms for new technologies, and challenging China’s authoritarian influence. The US must compete with China across all areas of engagement, including the technology realm, where the US must persuade allies and partners to reject Huawei-built 5G digital infrastructure. This is because Huawei-built 5G digital infrastructure invites a severe security threat and exposes recipient nations to coercion, espionage, and sabotage in the future.
The US State Department has built the "China House", an office that brings together experts from across the Department and other agencies to better coordinate and manage the complex and consequential relationship with China. The US has also achieved a level of strategic convergence with allies and partners across the Atlantic and Pacific in addressing the challenges posed by China.
To adapt to 21st-century diplomacy, the US State Department must get smart on tech, including by cultivating a creative workforce with diverse skills, improving training on technology and science, and investing in the potential of technology to transform diplomacy.
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Revitalising American diplomacy
Firstly, the United States should recommit to personal diplomacy and frequent engagement with countries worldwide. This involves a steady and sustained presence in the international arena, fostering relationships and highlighting the benefits of strong ties with the US. A clear understanding of the interests and needs of partner nations is essential, especially in competing with the growing influence of China. The US must also adapt to technological advancements, leveraging them to strengthen its diplomatic efforts and counter the security threats posed by Huawei-built 5G infrastructure.
Secondly, the State Department should prioritise health diplomacy, as seen with the creation of the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy to address health crises and prevent future pandemics. Additionally, the department has established the "China House," bringing together experts to manage complex relationships with China. Investing in workforce development and diversity is crucial, with initiatives like paid internship programs and online applications enhancing inclusivity and attracting top talent.
Thirdly, the US should re-engage with multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, which were established to promote peace, stability, and cooperation. While these organisations have faced scepticism and hostility from Americans and politicians, collaboration with them can effectively address global challenges like war and disease. This includes shaping norms for new technologies and challenging authoritarian influences.
Lastly, educational exchanges, American Centres, and international broadcasting efforts under the Broadcasting Board of Governors remain essential tools for public diplomacy. Maintaining a firewall between programming and the government is vital, especially in wartime. As technology evolves, the US must continually reevaluate its strategies and seize the opportunities presented by new technologies to enhance its diplomatic efforts.
By implementing these strategies, American diplomacy can adapt to the changing global context and effectively pursue its interests and values in the 21st century.
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The role of technology
Technology plays a pivotal role in the future of US diplomacy. The State Department has made significant strides in this regard by investing in its workforce and incorporating artificial intelligence into its operations. This modernization agenda strengthens American diplomacy and enhances its effectiveness in addressing international affairs.
In the digital age, US diplomacy must adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies. This includes shaping norms for emerging technologies and addressing the security threats posed by Huawei-built 5G infrastructure, which has influenced countries within its orbit. The US must persuade its allies and partners to reject such infrastructure to safeguard against coercion, espionage, and sabotage.
The State Department has also recognized the importance of a diverse and skilled workforce. By launching a paid internship program, the department is attracting talent from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. This initiative, along with the online Foreign Service application process, contributes to a more robust and inclusive pipeline for the next generation of diplomats.
Additionally, the State Department has reorganized its structure and prioritized health diplomacy, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The establishment of the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy demonstrates a commitment to strengthening health systems, fighting deadly diseases, and preventing future health crises.
Moreover, technology has had a profound impact on public diplomacy. It has led to a reevaluation of strategies and future visions, presenting both opportunities and challenges. The use of international broadcasting, for instance, has been a critical tool for the State Department, the Defense Department, and USAID in their public diplomacy efforts.
In conclusion, technology plays an indispensable role in shaping the future of US diplomacy. By embracing technological advancements, investing in its workforce, and adapting to the digital world, the State Department enhances its effectiveness in addressing global challenges and promoting American interests on the world stage.
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Public opinion and foreign policy
Public opinion polls suggest that Americans remain strongly committed to their international alliances, with a particular focus on maintaining a robust US military presence globally. This commitment to alliances stems from the belief that they amplify US influence by strengthening diplomatic and military efforts. Despite policy shifts between the Trump and Biden administrations, support for these tenets of US foreign policy has endured over the past decade.
While Americans express concerns about the costs of their country's global role, they generally continue to support international trade, viewing it as beneficial for the United States and their daily lives. This marks another area of stability in American foreign policy opinions, alongside the recognition of the importance of alliances.
However, there are growing divisions between Democrats and Republicans regarding the role the United States should play in the world. These differences are evident in partisan disagreements on issues such as assisting Ukraine and Israel. Despite these diverging views, Americans overall still seem to support a continued global presence for their country.
Public opinion surveys conducted by the Chicago Council in 2024 reveal that, when it comes to foreign policy, Americans tend to be more aligned than imagined, particularly on long-standing pillars of US foreign policy. This suggests that, despite the contrasting worldviews presented by the Democratic and Republican candidates in recent presidential elections, the American public's stance on foreign policy may be more nuanced and less polarised than the political campaigns suggest.
The impact of public diplomacy, which involves direct engagement with foreign publics, has been recognised by both sides of the political aisle. It is seen as an indispensable component of foreign policy, distinct from traditional diplomacy's exclusive contact with foreign governments. Public diplomacy initiatives in education and culture have proven effective in fostering international support for the United States. Additionally, international broadcasting has been championed as a tool for advancing public diplomacy goals.
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Frequently asked questions
The US has struggled to adapt to a more complex, decentralised world where its power is diluted. It has also faced challenges in its relationships with multilateral organisations, which it once viewed as essential for effective management of global challenges. The rise of China and the current technological revolution have also affected the context in which the US conducts diplomacy.
The US has achieved a level of strategic convergence with allies and partners across the Atlantic and Pacific in relation to China. It has also built a "China House" office, which brings together experts to better coordinate and manage the relationship with China. The US must compete with China across all areas of engagement, including technology, and persuade allies to reject Huawei-built 5G digital infrastructure due to security threats.
The US government is modernising its diplomacy by investing in its workforce and making job opportunities more inclusive. It has launched a paid internship program and moved the Foreign Service application process online. The State Department is also a leader in the federal government for incorporating artificial intelligence into its work.
