Computationally Intensive Content Analysis of Public Diplomacy Data: Understanding the Public Remarks of US Secretaries of State, 1997-2011

Abstract

This paper continues to test the ASSANA methodology for the computer-assisted analysis of large-scale, unstructured, text-based data in international affairs research. Traditional methodologies for exploring the role of the Secretary of State in projecting "soft power" have focused on reading and analyzing texts to uncover important themes and patterns. However, the increasingly large volume of data available presents a significant challenge for these traditional methods of analysis. We examine three data sets consisting of every remark by Secretary Clinton since taking office

Trends in U.S. Foreign Policy Prioritizations, 2000 – 2019

“…Inspired by Cogburn and Wozniak's investigation of public remarks of U.S. Secretaries of State (2013) [1] and the author's experience as a political transcriptionist, this study is interested in establishing how and to what extent U.S. foreign policy priorities change by president by looking at transcripts of foreign policy budget hearings. The annual budgets proposed by the Executive for agencies involved in foreign affairsthe State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, and othersmust pass relevant committees in Congress, and face scrutiny by lawmakers who approve agency funding.…”