The United States faces an urgent task in confronting discontent around the globe. Resentment and distrust has grown most vociferously in Islamic societies, but the increasingly pressing question, “Why do they hate us?”, is being asked almost as frequently regarding Europeans. Harnessing the power of the arts can actually be a cost-effective way to help ensure U.S. national security. Cultural initiatives—partly by displaying the complex diversity of opinion in America—can help break down stereotypes and combat hostile disinformation, while keeping open the lines of communication between the United States and other nations when official ties are strained or broken.

Cynthia Schneider, ambassador to the Netherlands under President Clinton, found that strategic use of culture can also pay off in business terms. She invited high-ranking Dutch military officials to view the film Saving Private Ryan. That event led to closer ties with the American military, a bond she claims helped enlist Dutch support for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter jet.