The focus in public diplomacy is on the public.

When country A practises public diplomacy with the rest of the world then it is engaging global public by sharing with them more information, explanation of major policy decisions, replying to their genuine queries, it makes an effort to win global public opinion. So does country B when it practises public diplomacy. As a whole the world becomes a better place with various countries engaging citizens across the world. Public diplomacy promotes understanding of people about each other.

At the heart of public diplomacy is commitment on part of the nation-states to open up, reach out and engage people globally who are the ultimate beneficiaries of all public diplomacy efforts being made by a few key countries. But what about others who are yet to join the fray?
It is worth investing in public diplomacy - opening digital channels of communication which are not only democratic and global but also free, inviting students, scholars, media people, diplomats to visit one's country and so that long lasting bonds can be built.

Now contrast this with propaganda – one-way bombardment of information to shape the public opinion in certain quarters of the planet. The world as a whole would be a worse place with propaganda. Public diplomacy is a two-way street while propaganda is one-way highway. Public diplomacy has a positive impact while propaganda has a negative impact. Public diplomacy works better with multiple channels of communication including web 2.0 while propaganda cannot survive multiple channels and web 2.0 as it works best in information starved places.

More of international organisations need to practice public diplomacy so that the gap between the aspirations of the people across the globe and the decisions taken by the international organisations is reduced. Wouldn't be it amazing if key security and financial international institutions such as United Nations Security Council (UNSC), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) open accounts on Twitter or Facebook and listen to ordinary people in the streets of New York, Cochin or Perth before taking decisions that affect lives of millions across the world? They could then explain reasons behind those decisions. Multinational companies could also do well engaging people in countries they operate. We would be better off as a planet if we practice more public diplomacy.

In New Delhi, there is a multi-cultural space called Delhi Haat where one can take a walk and enjoy food or purchase art, crafts, apparels or jewellery from different states or regions of India. Delhi Haat is a treat, not only for the people of Delhi but also a large number of foreign tourists who visit the capital across the year. The stalls at Delhi Haat are rented by the exhibitors from different parts of India for 15 days or so on. Thus the visitors always find something new when they visit the Haat again. On occasions the administration of Delhi Haat organises festivals of dance, music or art that offers visitors extra incentive to visit it.

Idea of a multicultural space like Delhi Haat could be experimented on a planetary scale by creating Global Haat or Cosmopolitan Haat in different parts of the planet where food, music, arts and crafts, apparel from different nations, continents could be bought and sold. Such multinational, multicultural spaces will help people from one country familiarise themselves with other cultures. This would be a great step in public diplomacy on a planetary scale combining finest elements of cultural and gastro-diplomacy.

Public diplomacy is above all an area of imagination. People are themselves key actors in this emerging area along side governments, media, think tanks, universities and the global civil society. The whole planet is their playground.

[Writer is an author, artist and diplomat. Views expressed are his own.]