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THE UNITED STATES, CHINA, AND INTELLECTUAL CONTAINMENT
FEB 2, 2012
 Posted by Philip Seib
All posts by Philip Seib


During the past several years, Chinese audiences have flocked to see American movies such as Kung-Fu Panda, much to the alarm of China’s political leadership, which has recently made clear that it is not inclined to surrender any terrain on the global cultural battleground. In an essay published in the magazine Seeking Truth (which was founded by Mao Zedong), China’s president Hu Jintao wrote, “We must clearly see that international hostile forces are intensifying the strategic plot of Westernizing and dividing China, and that ideological and cultural fields are the focal areas of their long-term infiltration.” Hu added, “We should…... Full Text
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PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND THE ARAB ISLAMISTS
JAN 10, 2012
 Posted by Philip Seib
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For years, Hosni Mubarak and other Arab leaders relied on a straightforward mantra: “It’s me or the Islamists.” American presidents and other Western leaders shuddered at the word “Islamists” and embraced their thuggish allies. What could be worse than Islamists? U.S. public diplomacy followed that pattern. Over the years, there was some splendid rhetoric from Condoleezza Rice, Barack Obama, and a few others, but the “public” at which public diplomacy was aimed was always carefully limited to exclude the Islamist community. Now that the events of 2011 have turned Arab politics upside down, U.S. policymakers are facing what they hate…... Full Text
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A STRATEGIC CONTEXT FOR CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
JAN 4, 2012
 Posted by Philip Seib
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Cultural diplomacy encompasses everything from training in modern dance to training in modern politics. At first glance, it seems a relatively non-threatening way to project identity and influence, but its impact can be profound. China’s President Hu Jintao recently warned that “international hostile forces are intensifying the strategic plot of Westernizing and dividing China,” and added that “the international culture of the West is strong while we are weak.” Hu’s speech was part of an intensifying Chinese focus on “cultural security,” which the government hopes to achieve by restricting cultural imports and expanding China’s own production of films and other…... Full Text
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THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AS PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
DEC 31, 2011
 Posted by Philip Seib
All posts by Philip Seib


We Americans tend to take our presidential campaigns lightly. We see them as fodder for Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show, and we become so enamored with the incessant polling that we watch the candidates as if they were race horses approaching the finish line. But for people in many other parts of the world, the American presidential campaign is a thing of wonder. No troops are in the streets; voting irregularities occur but are nowhere near the scope of those in numerous other countries; and when the balloting is completed an orderly succession takes place (rarely marred as…... Full Text
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MEXICO SEEKING A PUBLIC DIPLOMACY STRATEGY
NOV 21, 2011
 Posted by Philip Seib
All posts by Philip Seib


MEXICO CITY --- While attending a meeting here recently, I referred to Mexico as a “major power.” A government official said he was surprised. “We are a major power,” he said, “but nobody knows that.” Mexico is the 11th largest nation in the world, with 114 million people. Its GDP of $1.6 trillion is 12th largest in the world. It has a labor force of 47 million. But it is still dismissed by many as an inconsequential player in world affairs. A principal reason that few recognize Mexico’s current and potential strengths is that the nation has done a poor…... Full Text
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