Battle for Hearts and Minds

Abstract

The post-9/11 public diplomacy campaign to win the hearts and minds of the Arab and Islamic world was one of the most intensive and expensive campaign in U.S. history. The early post-9/11 phase of public diplomacy (2001–2004) is particularly significant from a communication perspective because it set the tone and in some cases the parameters for how subsequent initiatives faired. U.S. public diplomacy launched ever more innovative initiatives to reach publics in the Arab and Islamic regions. Yet, rather than gaining audience’s trust, the initiative appeared to generate more distrust and further eroded America’s credibility. This chapter surveys the various initiatives as well as the public reaction.