But Nye noted that the current condition is not irreparable.

International opinion about the United States was similarly low after the Vietnam War, he said. He added that America was able to change its image by adjusting its policies and its presentation of them, exemplified by the human rights policies of former presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, which were attractive internationally.

Shorenstein Fellow Rebecca MacKinnon ’91 said she strongly supported Nye’s arguments. She said she had developed similar opinions on international relations during her 10 years in Asia as a CNN journalist.

“Dean Nye definitely has a very important point that the U.S. could be leveraging more soft power,” she said.

MacKinnon also said she agreed with Nye’s desire to spread democracy without imposing it.

“When I was in China I would meet people who weren’t happy with their government, who wanted democracy and freedom,” she said. “But then you ask them about America and they have strong anti-American feelings. You’ll frequently meet people who admire American ideals but dislike American actions.”

MacKinnon added that anti-American sentiment is much more apparent abroad than at home.

“Americans really fundamentally do not understand that other people do not like Americans. They say its the government, not the people. Yet when I was in Pakistan after 9/11, their government was our ally but the people were anti-American,” she said.