Big anthropological surveys are feats of cultural diplomacy...And when regular diplomacy breaks down because of hostility or instability, museums feel the impact. We were reminded of this last spring, when Asia Society’s exhibition of Buddhist art from Pakistan was delayed for six months.

Through the International Security Assistance Forces AFPAK Hands program, detailed in my previous post, we have learned that much of the efforts towards Afghan media, on the part of ISAF and the international community, are directed towards the Afghan media who have the largest audience

Through the International Security Assistance Forces AFPAK Hands program, detailed in my previous post, we have learned that much of the efforts towards Afghan media, on the part of ISAF and the international community, are directed towards the Afghan media who have the largest audience. Much of this feedback was received from media outlets themselves. However, there are many other media outlets who communicate to specific audiences.

Last month was my third trip to Pakistan as a violinist and the founder of Cultures in Harmony, a US-based NGO that promotes cultural understanding through music. One of the two words that best describe this trip is “frustration.” Pakistan has a vibrant and compelling culture, yet who sees this side of it?

While the media still face many problems, as does the country itself, the creation of the media landscapes can be a powerful tool to counter forces of instability from dominating the country. Thus, if protected and utilized properly, the “Afghanistan Effect” can be one of the most powerful counterweights to a pre-2001 Taliban and Al Qaeda once again taking hold.

In his book, The Al Jazeera Effect, Philip Seib states that “Al Jazeera is a paradigm of new media’s influence,” similar to the way CNN had been the first to influence foreign policy throughout the world. Al Jazeera, Seib writes, goes further by using new media as a tool that ranges from democratization to terrorism, in addition to creating ‘virtual states’.

A new study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project poses the question: Does humanitarian relief improve America’s image. The answer is “not much,” or “not as much as one might hope.” While this may seem unfair, given that the United States spends some $4 billion annually on humanitarian relief, it is perhaps not surprising.

The use of violence to curb violence is a dangerous trend and through such means violence can’t be curbed, as only people-to-people contact and cultural diplomacy can bring long-lasting peace, said renowned American professor and teacher of digital video production Dr Brian Bailey.