Getting Uncle Sam’s Attention: Public Diplomacy in the Context of US-Finnish Relations

Getting Uncle Sam’s Attention: Public Diplomacy in the Context of US-Finnish

Relations

Molly BettieInstitute of Communications StudiesUniversity of Leeds

US-Finnish Friendship

“I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 1988 as National Year of Friendship with Finland. I call upon all Americans to observe the year with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Why Finland?

Neutrality

Long-standing friendship

Educational and Cultural Affairs, a means of engagement between neutral Finland and the US

Roots of Friendship

First World War Debt

Finland makes payments during the Great Depression

American press praises Finland in over 3,000 articles

Roots of Friendship

Impact of Goodwill

ASLA-Fulbright Program

• Fulbright Act, 1946

• Finnish Educational Exchange Act , 1949

• ASLA-Fulbright agreement, 1952

President Kekkonen and Senator Fulbright

Cultural Diplomacy: Performing Arts

• National Ballet tour, 1959: 63 performances around

the U.S.

• Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra makes US debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall, 1968

Program from the Orchestra’s performance at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Design as Culture

• Design Research International introduces Finnish design to USA

• ‘To Finland With Love’ Exhibitions include Alvar Aalto furniture and Marimekko fashions

Marimekko

Founded 1951 D/R brings to US in 1959 Jackie Kennedy wears

Marimekko 1966 Crate & Barrel

collaboration 1967 ‘To Finland With

Love’ exhbition

Further Research Directions The role of heritage organisations in

public diplomacy (Sons of Norway, Vasa, Finlandia, etc.)

Home design as culture—applying Ben Thompson’s concept of design to public diplomacy

Conclusions

• Relational public diplomacy activities in education and culture facilitated Finland’s engagement with the United States during the Cold War.