Saudi Soft Power in the USA

This book unpacks the distinctive dynamics of public diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and the United States in the post‑9/11 period by examining the "King Abdullah Scholarship Programme (KASP)", launched in 2005, which has largely escaped academic scrutiny. The September 11 attacks underscored the importance of public diplomacy as a key instrument for repairing lost trust between Saudi Arabia and the United States (US). A central challenge for the Kingdom is pursuing an approach to public diplomacy beyond the Muslim world without undermining core national interests. Unlike the US, Saudi Arabia has historically had limited soft power and lacks robust public diplomacy tools or experience beyond Arab and Muslim societies.