ABSTRACT
Public diplomacy covers an array of different activities, all of which function at various distances from and combinations with the practice of foreign policy and its specific objectives. Among these activities, exchange programs are an interesting case. Whereas most forms of public diplomacy work involve the presentation of image and information, exchanges directly involve the “human factor,” where an engagement with the personality and psychology of the participants is central. This chapter will provide an overview of some of the features of exchanges that lend them a special value within the public diplomacy toolbox. Although the inspiration for many of the comments is the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), on the whole these are general observations on the practice of exchanges in toto.
