A Tentative Analysis Of U.S. Cultural Diplomacy-A Case Study Of Sino-U.S. Fulbright Program

Cultural diplomacy has been an important part of American foreign policy since WWⅡ. This thesis intends to illustrate the aim and nature of American cultural diplomacy with a case study. It starts with defining cultural diplomacy, then analyzes the underlying logic, development in WWⅡ, the Cold War and Post Cold War era and the characteristics of American cultural diplomacy, and finally comes to the conclusion that behind the claimed goal of American cultural diplomacy to promote mutual understanding is its real intention—to win the hearts and minds of other peoples, realize its national interests and safeguard its hegemonic status. This is further testified with a case study of Fulbright program, particularly its operation and effect in China from 1948 to 1949 and after 1979. It is desirable that this paper could be instrumental to the cultural policy making in China.