Storella Explains How “Soft Power” Diplomatic Instruments Yield Strategic Results
In an episode of the American Diplomat podcast, released on March 12, 2026, Professor of the practice of diplomacy Mark Storella discussed the importance of leveraging the full spectrum of U.S. diplomatic tools. Highlighting examples such as President George W. Bush’s PEPFAR anti-HIV initiative, public diplomacy efforts, and democracy‑promotion programs through USAID and the National Democratic Institute, he emphasized how these instruments advanced U.S. strategic interests in mineral‑rich Zambia.
Storella noted that military power is not always the most effective or cost‑efficient option, underscoring the enduring value of American “soft power.” In conversation with Ambassador Dan Rosenblum and Laura Bennett, he explained how health diplomacy, governance programs, and engagement with civil society helped reshape the U.S.–Zambia relationship, ultimately weakening China’s monopoly on security ties in the country. These efforts built broad partnerships across Zambian society, from church leaders to political figures, opening doors for U.S. businesses and culminating in Zambia’s decision to host the U.S. Africa Endeavor military exercise.
Storella concluded by stressing that, in an era of growing global competition, the United States must continue to use every tool in its diplomatic toolbox to sustain and strengthen its influence around the world.
The podcast episode can be listened to here.
Mark C. Storella is the professor of the practice of diplomacy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. He served as a United States Foreign Service Officer for more than three decades. Besides being an ambassador to Zambia, he was a deputy assistant secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella has several honors and awards to his name, including the Presidential Rank Award and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award. To learn more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.