The Peace Corps and the Popular Perception of the United States in Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID6445405
AuthorsThomas Jay Nisley (Kennesaw State University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume53
Issue6
Publication date2025-11-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitics & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-5623 • E-ISSN: 1747-1346
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/polp.70101
OpenAlexW7105834710
LanguageEN
References cited29

This article examines the role of the Peace Corps in U.S. foreign policy in improving the popular image of the United States in Africa. This study builds on earlier research that empirically tested the hypothesis that the presence of a Peace Corps program enhances a positive view of the United States held by the people in countries of Latin America. This study extends the research to the countries of Africa. Using logistic regression analysis, I test whether the presence of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in a country positively influences individuals' views toward the United States. I analyze survey research from the region of Africa using datasets from the Afrobarometer public opinion survey. Whereas the earlier study of the role of the Peace Corps in the popular perception of the United States in Latin America showed a positive relationship, the results from this study in Africa are mixed. Related Articles Nisley, Thomas. 2013. “Send in the Corps! The Peace Corps and the Popular Perception of the United States in Latin America.” Politics & Policy 41(4): 356–362. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12027 . Perez, Loarre Andreu, Myoung‐Gi Chon, Kelly Vibber, and Jeong‐Nam Kim. 2021. “Classifying Foreign Publics: Examining the Relationships Behavioral Experience, Symbolic Environment, and Communication Behaviors among Key Foreign Publics.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1308–1322. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12439 . Fong, Ware, and Nazmus Sakib. 2021. “A ‘Good’ Country without Democracy: Can China's Outward FDI Buy a Positive State Image Overseas?” Politics & Policy 49(5): 1146–1191. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12428

Foreign policy · International relations · Latin Americans · Perception · Public opinion · State (computer science · Test (biology · Diaspora, migration, transnational identity · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication

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