Assessment On American Cultural Diplomacy Phenomenon After Cold War

Cultural Diplomacy has become one of comparatively common diplomacy forms due to its more and more important role in coping with international affairs after World War II. Cultural Diplomacy as the most peaceful diplomacy form catches more people's eyes. The essence of Cultural Diplomacy as well as other diplomacy forms is for the sake of one's national interests.After Cold War, with the arrival of knowledge economy and the development of globalization, as the only super-power in the world, the United States is carrying out its Culture Diplomacy strategy in the whole world actively. The essence of American Cultural Diplomacy activities is for the sake of safeguarding American national interests and serving for American global cultural hegemony. The phenomenon of cultural Americanization has aroused many countries' discontentment and rejection, and then many critical arguments such as the viewpoint of American Cultural Hegemony, the viewpoint of Causes of International Conflicts have been proposed one after another. According to their different national situation, other countries need propose their own Cultural Diplomacy strategy in order to reply American powerful Cultural Diplomacy attacks.The first part of this essay mainly explains main respects of Cultural Diplomacy, including its definition and its characters and its effects.The second part of this essay presents the development of post-Cold War American Cultural Diplomacy, including its cultural and historical origin , its theoretical basis, international & national causes and the route of development etc. The core argumentation of this essay has been proposed in this part, which is whatever forms American Cultural Diplomacy carried into execution, its main purpose is setting up American Cultural hegemony and propagandizing American cultural values in the world and then promoting world culture Americanized.The third part of this essay depicts and analyses a case that can illustrate the core argumentation. Peace Corps is one of main American Cultural Diplomacy activities. Although its can show American "selflessness" and "charity", it serve for American national interests.The last part of this essay analyses and estimates American Cultural Diplomacy after Cold War in brief. Cultural Diplomacy plays more important role in American diplomacy strategy, but its essence has never been changed. People criticize and resist cultural Americanization. At the same time American Cultural Diplomacy also brings positive effects for the people in the world.