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.
Turkey Opening its Culture to the World Through Yunus Emre Centers
The much-anticipated Yunus Emre Foundation, finally opened in the Turkish capital this month. Dedicated to promoting Turkey, its cultural heritage and language overseas, the foundation will open and coordinate cultural institutes around the world and will be the equivalent of Germany's Goethe Institute, Spain's Cervantes Institute and the United Kingdom's British Council.
Turkmenistan Cultural Days
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information and the Embassy of Turkmenistan are presenting a cultural show under the theme “Turkmenistan Cultural Days”. “Through such activities, encounters and cultural exchange programs, we will have a better understanding and appreciation of other people and of their customs."
Brazil Looks East: Lula’s Trips Abroad
Last week was a busy one for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In one week, the Brazilian leader visited China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, on a tour intended to strengthen Brazil's diplomatic and economic ties with those three nations. It is also symbolic of Brazil's commitment -- as well as the region's in general -- to increase partnerships with other parts of the globe.
Kremlin Launches ‘School of Bloggers’
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently made a foray into Web 2.0 with the launch of his own blog. Now it looks as if the Kremlin’s embrace of social media is tightening. With backing from Medvedev, the Kremlin seems to view the Web as more of an instrument of soft power.
Random Thoughts on “Public Diplomacy”
What is public diplomacy (PD), defined by the State Department as "engaging, informing, and influencing key international audiences"? It covers programs ranging from the Fulbright educational exchange to information about US foreign policy directed to overseas audiences. Below are a few random thoughts from a former practitioner of the PD trade, based on his experiences in Eastern Europe during the last decades of the previous century.
Ma Ying-jeou, First Lady Depart on Central America Trip
President Ma Ying-Jeou left on a 10-day state visit to Central America yesterday, along with first lady Chow Mei-Ching and a 159-person delegation, including local government heads, student representatives, college principals and a performance group. The government has billed the trip as “grassroots diplomacy” and “cultural diplomacy.”
Going Global Means Thinking Domestic Too
This shift is about more than the trajectory of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. This is about the future relevance of the State Department and about a civilian counterbalance to the Defense Department. This is about transforming the Department of State into also being the Department of Non-State.
The Widening Public Diplomacy Chasm
Permit me, if you please, to put on my hat as a former White House staffer and USIA manager to tell you what I read into Judith McHale’s becoming the next Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
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