New Bridges Now More Than Ever
Resentment and mistrust toward America has been building among too many peoples of the world over time, over many administrations, and will continue to grow unless we take specific actions to reach out to other cultures in ways specifically intended to counter the ongoing decline in our global reputation.
It is not just a matter of our foreign policy. Other issues have a significant effect on how America is viewed around the world. Nor do fear and outright hatred of America come only from fanatics who corrupt their religion to justify terrorism. Friends and allies of America for decades no longer see us in the same positive light.
Globalization led by the U.S., while offering economic benefits and even great potential, is perceived especially in developing countries as exploitive and oppressive to the majority of their populations.
Popular culture, as successfully promoted by American entertainment to audiences around the world, is seen in many places as a corruptive influence.
And the American personality, long admired for its friendly openness and creative energy, is nonetheless broadly characterized as arrogant, insensitive, and ignorant about the rest of the world.
These are not just opinions. These are facts, consistently proved by research.
Re-building respect for America is essential to our long-term ideal of helping freedom and self-determination flourish elsewhere in the world.
But today, anti-American sentiment is dangerous to our national security, our economy, and our future as a leader in a global society.
While Business for Diplomatic Action does not take sides on foreign policy issues, we believe the U.S. business community can be uniquely effective in countering negative economic, social and cultural influences.
These are issues American business can and should address with new initiatives in a sustained effort.
This is the purpose of our organization. And we believe there is no time to lose.
What Makes America's Image the Business of Business?
If for no other reason, self interest. In most countries, public opinion influences government leaders who form and enforce policies that affect U.S. business. Negative beliefs about America among general populations are therefore contrary to the interests of American companies who seek to build their businesses abroad. And in the long run, American multinationals can only grow and prosper within governmental systems that mirror our business values, that protect fundamental business interests such as property rights, legal transparency and information flow, and do not use punitive regulations and controls as political weapons. Now and in the future, the global success of American business depends on how well our country is respected and trusted around the world.
Nothing else matches the reach and resources of business. When we consider the number of American multinationals with people and operations touching millions of lives in hundreds of countries throughout the world every day, U.S. business has enormous capabilities already in place to positively influence what people everywhere think of America. Many of our companies individually have global workforces many times greater than our State Department.
Within our multinational companies, there's a wellspring of sensitivity and goodwill across borders. Well over half of the millions of people employed by U.S. companies abroad are local nationals who make American management sensitive to host countries' cultures and mores. Added to the infrastructure investments made by our companies for the social and economic benefit of local people, the presence of our businesses can be better leveraged to improve our image all over the world.
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Our STARS Strategy - How Business for Diplomatic Action Makes a Difference
