I was skimming the Huffington Post this morning and found this interesting blog post by Kenneth Wollack, president of the National Democratic Institute, promoting a new era of American public diplomacy. In light of my recent post about Web 2.0 efforts in this area, I was struck by this comment:
In today’s interdependent world, where the free flow of information is a valued currency, we will need new communications tools as well. And that is where a revitalized public diplomacy effort comes in. We can foster connections and exchanges that can build trust, demonstrate our values, and blend people together in a web of relationships that cross borders and cultural divides. This is the best way to restore America’s reputation, to promote a sense of shared well-being, and to counteract the messages of hate and violence.
Perhaps we should launch a digital Web 2.0 version of the Peace Corps which asks Americans to volunteer and take an active role in not only representing the U.S. in international digital fora but also in helping to build the kind of networks in cyberspace that mirror the physical bridges, schools and libraries that Peace Corps workers may have built in the past.