The Soft Power Currencies of US Navy Hospital Ship Missions1. Issue 4 (30th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forster, Larissa
• Is Part Of: International studies perspectives. Volume 16:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 367
• Page End: 387
• Publication Date: 2013-08-30
• Subjects: humanitarian assistance -- soft power -- US Navy -- hospital ship -- health diplomacy; International relations -- Periodicals; International relations -- Research -- Periodicals; International relations -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; 327
• DOI: 10.1111/insp.12057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1528-3577

Abstract

Abstract : The Tsunami in South‐East Asia in 2004 prompted the largest military disaster response in history. Encouraged by the success, increasing attention has been paid to the various humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities conducted by US armed forces. Since 2006, the US Navy deploys one of its two large hospital ships in annual missions to either Central and South America or the Asia–Pacific region to provide people in need with free care. These missions offer many opportunities to increase the soft power capital of the United States by forging ties with host nation governments and improving the image of the United States within the local population. However, this article argues that we need more research on the impact of humanitarian assistance to justify a continuation in a fiscally constrained environment.