How the Arab spring countries former regimes used Public and Cultural Diplomacy to defend their positions?

This paper outlines the measures taken by government in the Middle East, during the Arab spring, to minimize or stop the uprisings. It will conclude that the use of soft power tools were apply to late and therefore caused no affect.

The ‘Arab Spring’ or ‘Arab Revolution’ as used by many to describe the ongoing process in the Middle East impacted the region deeply. The transformation it brought about affected the region’s domestic politicsas well as the outside word perception of it.

Governments around the world are increasingly making use of soft power tactics to promote their foreign policies (and also domestic policies), especially in regions where other forms of diplomacy have failed to succeed.   In this sense, cultural diplomacy as well as public diplomacyare an effective way to go to achieve a country’s interest (Nye, 2008). 

The governments overthrown during the Arab Spring used these soft power tools for two main reasons: First, it intended to persuade its own peopleto find other means to resolve the conflict. They sought to reach a mutual understanding between their people by suggesting changeson the law and regulations and holding democratic elections. Second, the governments believed that those suggestions would alleviate the international pressure and raise their profile by the international community, therefore, counter balancing the pressure they were facing internallyand the impact that it could cause on their position as governments (The Economist, 2012).

Cultural and public diplomacy are very effective tools to use in order to pursue a country interest abroad and internally. However, the efforts of the Arab Spring countries’ governments to re-brand their state and achieve their object to remain in power failed to work. And it did so because the government efforts were demonstrate too late and foremost, because people’s pledges for transformation were stronger and they were determined for regime change.

 

 

 

Bibliography

Nye J., Public Diplomacy and Soft power, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2008; p.94

 

The Arab spring – The Islamists’ long march. The Economist, Feb, 2012.