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.
Movement Established To Protect RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Broadcasts
A movement to protect RFE/RL's Kyrgyz broadcasts and its listeners' rights has been established in Kyrgyzstan. The leader of the movement, Ondurush Toktonazarov, says the organization's main goal is to protect the rights of tens of thousands of RFE/RL listeners to continue to receive independent information. Toktonazarov said the Kyrgyz government has restricted RFE/RL broadcasts into the country.
How Iran’s Blogs Saw Ahmadinejad’s Homecoming
Much has been written about how Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad received a hero's welcome after returning from the divisive anti-racism conference in Geneva. But while the state-controlled news agency and conservative papers portrayed Ahmadinejad's speech as a victory for Iran, plenty of commentators said that in fact the speech about Israel was damaging to Iran.
Old Military Hardware In a New Bottle
Obama's call for a fresh approach to Afghanistan and his promise of allocating greater resources have all but obscured the fact that Washington remains focused on its strategic military interests and the exit strategy, goals not synonymous with the interests of Afghans or long-term stability in the region. The added danger this time round is that the use of soft power - diplomacy and aid initiatives that kept a counterbalance to the military perspective - may now be reduced to handmaidens in the aid of strategic military aims.
RI’s Elections: The Regional Dividend
The recently held general election in Indonesia demonstrated convincingly that plural societies in Southeast Asia can be trusted to express their popular will without resorting to violent conflict. For many years it was argued by conservative ruling elites that the fullest expression of popular sovereignty through untrammelled electoral processes posed a threat to nation building as it would allow groups of people in conflict with the state to destabilize society and eventually vote their way to separation.
Israelis and Palestinians Want Peace
George Mitchell, US special envoy to the Middle East, visited Israel and Palestine last week, trying to jumpstart a stalled peace process. He carries with him the weight of the Obama administration's stated commitment to brokering a two-state agreement, but what sort of mandate does he have from those on the ground, those who will be most affected by the outcome of his efforts – the Israeli and Palestinian peoples?
Can America change hearts and minds?
Few US government activities have been more maligned in recent years than public diplomacy, defined by the US state department as "engaging, informing and influencing key international audiences". Dozens of reports, from all sides of the political fence, have argued that the US had failed to make its case overseas.
Muslim Woman’s Appointment as Obama Advisor Draws Cautious Optimism
Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, was appointed this month to Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Arabs are closely watching for signs that the new leadership in Washington is making efforts to improve relations with Islam, which many Muslims believe were severely damaged during the eight years of the Bush administration.
Sheikh Zayed Book Award Holds Seminar on Indo-Arab Cultural Ties
Sheikh Zayed Book Award, an independent cultural award established in the memory of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, held Wednesday a seminar called the "Indo-Arab Cultural Relations" at the London Book Fair. Dr Ali Al-Noaimi, member of Sheikh Zayed Book Award advisory council, kick-started the seminar with a brief introduction of Award's role in world literature and highlighted the strong Indo-Arab relation which is built on a common interest to create a cultural model and show it as a lead example to the world.
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.