The Causes, Process And Impact Of The Enactment Of The Fulbright-Hays Act In 196

Educational and cultural exchange are an important part of the practice of American public diplomacy.The passage of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961 was a landmark event in the field of education and cultural exchange during the Kennedy era.Against the backdrop of the Cold War,which placed great emphasis on ideological battles,the Act’s central purpose was to promote “mutual understanding,”and it was established at a time when Kennedy’s presidency was well underway,ultimately gaining widespread support.Why did the Fulbright-Hays Act appear in1961? This article attempts to answer this question by tracing the antecedents and process of the Act’s establishment.It is found that many factors contributed to the establishment of the Fulbright-Hays Act,among which the key reasons are that the Kennedy-era emphasis on education and cultural exchange provided a background of political support,and that the content of the Act itself balanced the ideal vision with the pragmatic needs and reconciled the interests of all parties.The bill improves the legislative basis and practical mechanisms for educational and cultural exchange in the United States,and further emphasizes the place of educational and cultural exchange in U.S.public diplomacy.However,this impact is limited,and there are many gaps between the bill’s vision and reality in terms of congressional support and coordination among administrative agencies.In the longer term,the bill sets an example of U.S.public diplomacy that combines ideals with pragmatism,namely,the goal of promoting “mutual understanding,” but with a one-way push for American values that is characteristic of U.S.public diplomacy.