Lorbach, Johanna2013-04-172013-04-172013-02https://hdl.handle.net/1794/1284451 p. Examining committee chair: Dr. Patricia DeweyThe goal of this master’s research capstone is to speculate how international performing arts touring and presenting in the United States might stimulate international understanding. It first introduces the context and impact of globalization and the resulting increasing importance of cross-cultural communication competence. It then explores the environments of and factors surrounding cultural diplomacy and the performing arts industry, considering whether one specific area of the performing arts industry–international performing arts touring and presenting–might also be effective if employed more intentionally as a cultural diplomacy tool, increasing cross-cultural communication competence and encouraging meaningful international cultural interaction. An exploratory paper, it raises some of the questions and issues that arise at the intersection of these broad conceptual areas and lays groundwork for future research that is focused on a specific location or situation.en-USrights_reservedPerforming artsCultural diplomacyInternational cultural interactionGlobalizationCross-cultural communicationOther