US Soft Power: Changing the World Through the Open Hand

Joan Dassin is Executive Director of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program. She's been involved since the beginning, coordinating the program's initial design process in 1999 and becoming Executive Director when the organization was created in 2001. Prior to her current position, she served as the Ford Foundation's representative to Brazil and as Regional Director for Latin America. Rob Buchanan is President of the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation, having previously served as Managing Director of International Programs for the Council on Foundations. He spent ten years with Oxfam America, five of those as program Director for the horn of Africa. His resume also includes staff positions with the US Senate and House of Representatives.

When we think of a nation's power and influence in world affairs, we often look at military or economic might as primary measurements. But when it comes to addressing chronic problems and promoting social justice, it takes more than the clenched fist, the exercise of soft power comes into play. Often below the radar of headlines and breaking news, companies, foundations, universities, and other institutions of civil society are hard at work addressing a range of problems and challenges in ways that can create long-term and systemic change. This week host John Milewski speaks with two such foundation directors, Joan Dassin of the Ford Foundation and Rob Buchanan of the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation.