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.
Guerrilla Diplomacy: The Revolution in Diplomatic Affairs
With the dismal record of the Bush administration fresh in mind, assessing the first nine months of the Obama administration's international relations performance evokes a mixture of admiration and trepidation. The substantive signals have been important, but arguably less so than the tone and the carefully choreographed style, which seem painstakingly designed to offer something for everyone. [Subscription required]
Cultural Diplomacy: It’s the Culture, Stupid
The word "culture" conveys multiple meanings. Alyse Nelson, president of the non-governmental organization Vital Voices, which promotes women's empowerment globally, notes that "culture" in the anthropological sense is often evoked as a rationale for limiting women's roles in society, while "culture," meaning creative expression, can present a vision of an attractive alternative lifestyle or solution that can break the stranglehold of tradition. [Subscription required]
Ronald McDonald in heart of French culture
A new McDonald's is scheduled to open at [the Louvre] in November to coincide with the chain's 30th anniversary of its first French restaurant - unit No. 1,142 in that country. As one might expect, not everyone in a country noted for its art and fine cuisine is happy with the prospect of a McCafe in the heart of French culture.
Iraqis Visiting Upstate Will Take Lessons Home
On Tuesday, a group called Women for FUTURE greeted a group of Iraqi women to the Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport. The women will spend the week here and enjoy a significant cultural exchange. FUTURE stands for Families United Toward Universal Respect. This group of Iraqi women came to the Upstate to learn about volunteerism and many other aspects of our culture: including education, health care and family dynamics.
How to politicize a book fair
The annual Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest trade fair for books, normally serves as a week-long stage for literary events. This year, though, the book fair has a broader agenda. By inviting China to be the annual national “guest of honor” during the five-day event starting Wednesday, the organizers of the fair unwittingly transformed it into a platform for politics only tangentially related to books.
How the Pakistan aid bill backfired
First, Pakistan's military leadership is clearly using the conditionalities contained in the U.S. assistance package as a hammer with which to beat the country's unpopular (and pro-American) civilian president, Asif Ali Zardari. That this is a manufactured rather than a genuine crisis should provide little comfort, however, for it demonstrates how well-intentioned U.S. congressional efforts to strengthen civilian governance in Pakistan can backfire.
British Diplomat Offers Advice on Approaching Public Diplomacy
“All of diplomacy – public diplomacy included – is about building up the power to influence,” said Hailey, addressing the core of the subject. According to Hailey, the UK’s approach to public diplomacy includes removing a wall between public and private diplomacy; knowing key players thoroughly by listening as much as talking; not focusing heavily on nation branding; building the right team; and building credibility through transparency.
Social Media, Virtual Worlds and Public Diplomacy
Over the past few years the State Department has introduced Twitter feeds from other U.S. embassies around the world, as well as Facebook groups and even blogs. It's excellent news that Ambassador Ranneberger and others are exploring these new tools for outreach. But are they using them in context? And are they reaching their intended audiences? ... [Subscription required]
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