A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
Why Obama does not want a multipolar world order
In any case, it is clear why the US does not embrace the rhetoric of a multipolar world that would place it on an equal footing with other important world actors. There is no reason for Washington to accept such a reconfiguration of the global order when it continues to hold an appreciable advantage over other countries in all three areas. It makes sense that the Obama administration prefers to speak in terms of partnerships rather than multipolarity.
Isolationism among Americans is at highest level in 40 years
Roughly half of Americans now say the United States should "mind its own business" and let other countries hash out problems on their own, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. The survey, conducted every four years with the Council on Foreign Relations among CFR members and the general public, finds America's perennial inward-looking strain at its highest level since pollsters first queried Americans about isolationist tendencies in 1964. Back then, just 18 percent of Americans supported a "mind our own business" approach.
Cultural Exchange and the Cold War: How the West Won
When cultural exchange with the Soviets is mentioned, most people think of Soviet dancers, symphony orchestras, ice shows, and circuses that came to the West and filled our halls with admiring spectators. But cultural exchange consisted of much more--exhibitions, motion pictures, and most important, exchanges of people.
Al-Jazeera English Sets up Shop in Canada
Al-Jazeera English (AJE) will soon be available on cable and satellite providers throughout Canada, reports The Canadian Press. AJE is the sister network to the leading Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera. The network, which is based in Qatar, leveraged its popularity in the Middle East by launching an English language news channel to compete with BBC and CNN.
Al-Hurra Thriving?
Brian Conniff, president of the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), the non-profit that controls Hurra and Sawa, recently reiterated his belief in the potential of the Al-Hurra satellite station, reports Trading Markets. The Arabic language satellite TV station beams into 22 countries in the Middle East from its headquarters in Springfield, Virginia, and claims to cater to all audiences by offering news, talk shows and an array of documentaries.
White House Announcements to More Key Posts Create Further Controversy
President Obama recently nominated a new bipartisan slate for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency in charge of all US civilian international news broadcasting, reports Free Media Online. If confirmed by the US Senate, the eight new appointees would completely replace the current BBG Board, with the exception of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who serves as an ex-officio member.
Can Tho hosts Mekong-Japan Tourism and Culture Days
More than 300 people and representatives of international organisations and travel agents from six countries in the Mekong sub-region and Japan attended the opening ceremony of the Mekong-Japan Tourism and Culture Days in Can Tho city on December 2. The event will help promote the co-operation mechanism for the Mekong sub-region and the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership in the future, said the deputy PM.
Robotic cultural exchange wows crowds at university
Having long pioneered and dominated futuristic technology, Japan proudly leads the global robot march; it already boasts numerous automated assistants playing various everyday roles – with plenty more on the way. The metallic models that paraded at the exchange event, hosted by the Japanese embassy and its Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre in late November, were the mechanised brainchildren of Tmsuk. This unpronounceable company somewhat ominously claims on its Web site to want to "create a safe and comfortable society in which people and robots can coexist".
Pages
Visit CPD's Online Library
Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.