The concept of a social trend towards a certain state practice can be seen in the waves of
democratization post World War II. Different norms emerge and states are socialized into these
behaviors. For example, positive views of democracy can be seen as a general social trend
amongst states, but rationalists contend that there is a rational calculus often beyond being part of
the democratic trend such as the benefits of more state aid. In contrast, a non-rational social
trend towards public diplomacy appears to lack these immediate benefits; states do not reward
the states that try to influence their publics. In examining the possible non-rational, social trend
motivations, it will be necessary to see a general trend towards the increased practice of public
diplomacy and some outlier cases to the rational perspective. One would expect to find a general
trend of increased public diplomacy without prevailing interest calculations.