**GAO-10-767**                      Published: Jul 21, 2010. Publicly Released: Jul 21, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

Following budget cuts and attacks against U.S. embassies in the 1990s, the Department of State (State) began to close some public diplomacy facilities, such as American libraries, and move others onto secure embassy compounds. As a result, the number of visitors to these facilities declined and face-to-face interaction with foreign publics became more difficult. To improve its engagement with foreign audiences, State's new public diplomacy strategic framework calls for expanding outreach platforms. GAO was asked to (1) describe the outreach platforms State uses overseas, (2) examine the challenges and opportunities related to these platforms, (3) review State's plans for these platforms, and (4) assess the extent to which State has evaluated these platforms. GAO analyzed State's public diplomacy framework and planning documents; interviewed State officials; and conducted fieldwork in Brazil, China, and Indonesia. We selected these locations based on the mix of existing and planned platforms.

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## Topics

International Affairs

Data collectionDiplomatsEducationEmbassiesForeign governmentsInformation accessInternational relationsPublic diplomacyPublic relationsPublic visitor-centersSecurity threatsStrategic planningCultural awareness