How Does Foreign Policy Impact Americans?
At a time when polls show that international issues are rising in importance to the American people – even in comparison to stalwart concerns such as the economy – Meridian has partnered with the U.S. Department of State and the Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) of the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) to explore the tangible impacts of foreign policy across the United States.
With a roundtable discussion on April 28, 2015, project partners launched the “Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Americans” initiative to address this timely question. Key stakeholders from global engagement NGOs, industry, academia, and the U.S. diplomatic corps began the conversation on the real outcomes of diplomacy for those living beyond the Beltway. Examination of the topics raised – including economic development, trade, and job creation; educational exchanges and global understanding; and peace and national security – will continue over the coming months and culminate in a joint report shared on all partners’ platforms in Washington and beyond.
Meridian, the State Department, and FPI were joined by a host of distinguished voices, including President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of America, Bill Clifford; U.S. Executive Director of The ONE Campaign, Tom Hart; Partner at K&L Associates, Congressman Bart Gordon; President and CEO of Sister Cities International, Mary Kane; Senior Fellow at the RAND Corporation, Ambassador Richard Solomon; and James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Dr. Chester Crocker. All engaged in a dynamic discussion on the primary case studies, examples, and metrics that capture the impact of foreign affairs on Americans, as well as innovative ways to share that message across the country.
Meridian looks forward to sharing updates and future programming around this important initiative. Stay tuned via #ForegnPolicyMatters, and read more on Meridian’s LEAD blog and the U.S. State Department’s DipNote blog. Comments and questions are welcome at diplomacymatters@state.gov.
