Special Report: Cultural Diplomacy at a Crossroads

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Building America's Strategic Influence for a New Era

The United States faces a critical inflection point: as global rivals dramatically expand their cultural influence, America's soft power—the capacity to persuade through attraction and shared values—is stagnating. Cultural diplomacy, the strategic use of arts, media, education, and exchange programs to foster international understanding and advance national interests, has traditionally relied on inconsistent government funding and models that no longer meet the demands of the new age of diplomacy. To remain competitive, America must embrace Open Diplomacy, a new decentralized model leveraging the strengths of the private sector, subnational leaders, and cultural innovators alongside traditional diplomatic channels. It now requires urgent diversification to enhance geopolitical resilience, bolster U.S. competitiveness, and strengthen alliances and partnerships vital to our national security and economic prosperity.