With a historical legacy of being a leading actor of cultural diplomacy since the time of the Cold War, in recent decades the Guggenheim has been very active in the international cultural arena through various global cultural activities implemented without control or support from the U.S. government. This book traces the Guggenheims development from a traditional cultural diplomacy actor to a nonpartisan player in the global arena, driven by institutional interests. Through analysis of international Guggenheim engagements, the book identifies and explores an emergence of a new type of museum diplomacy grounded primarily in institutional ambitions for global presence and recognition. This new "diplomacy" is based on strong museum commitments to cosmopolitan values and transnational issues, attracting a much larger international constituency and providing access to global economic, cultural and social resources.