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During the last month, the world has been inundated with tragic images from the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. Scenes of complete devastation at the capital of the impoverished nation have been seared into global consciousness.
The world's heart, as well as its pocketbook, has gone out to Haiti. Millions of dollars were sent to various aid organizations to facilitate the distribution of food, clothing, and medical care. More money will contribute to the building and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.
These actions by governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are an aspect of public diplomacy known as "aid diplomacy." Public diplomacy seeks to facilitate the creation of mutually beneficial relationships, and the earthquake in Haiti has motivated many nations to put aside their differences and join together to provide disaster relief for the country.
Many are impressed by the flood of food and supplies donated by more than 100 governments. However, aid diplomacy is not a purely altruistic action on behalf of governments--it is a tool of public diplomacy. Foreign aid is a staple of public diplomacy strategies of many countries. The world is watching to see which nations step up in times of crisis--and which are absent. The countries deemed the most altruistic -- ones with no apparent ulterior motives -- stand to gain the most.
A prominent example of effective aid diplomacy was the Israeli Defense Forces' rapid response to the disaster in Haiti. Israel sent doctors and soldiers to set up a field hospital almost a week before most other nations were able to coordinate relief efforts. Former President Bill Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen praised the Israelis for saving thousands of lives. U.S. news outlets commended Israel's quick and effective response--sentiments that are not often expressed towards Israel. This aid diplomacy may or may not have improved Israel's global image, but Israel was (and still is) covered a positive light, and saved thousands of Haitian lives.
Whether altruistic or a strategic foreign policy move, the fact remains that foreign aid is a huge part of diplomacy. It not only provides assistance to countries in need, but can facilitate foreign policy goals of the donor nation. And whatever their intentions are, the doctors, aid workers, soldiers, NGOs and the hundreds of volunteers in Haiti are doing incredible work.
Naomi Leight is the Social Events Chair for the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars (APDS). She is the Managing Editor of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy's periodical, PDiN Monthly and a second year master's candidate in the Master of Public Diplomacy program.
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