Abstract:

Similarity and continuity is observed between the widely and frequently used term “propaganda” and the more recent “public diplomacy” – the latter term having seemingly taken the place of the former in today’s world. Public diplomacy is usually defined as a government’s direct communication with the public of another country in an effort to promote its own foreign policy and cultivate the national interests of its country. As for propaganda, this is seen as a form of unilateral communication aimed towards influencing the attitudes of people. However, it is claimed by many that the term public diplomacy is employed as a euphemism for propaganda. After an inspection of the definitions made for these terms, and an analyzation of the acts explained by them, it becomes evident that this kind of evaluation does indeed have an important element of truth to it. It appears that the acts of many countries which were interpreted as propaganda in the past have carried on under the name of public diplomacy today.

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