Breaking Ground: First Africa-US Public Diplomacy Conference

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy was pleased to co-host with the University of the Witwatersrand the First Africa-U.S. Public Diplomacy Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 10, 2018.

The conference marked the establishment of the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) at the Wits University. The public diplomacy program at the Centre is the first of its kind in Africa and will lead a variety of collaborations on research, teaching and engagement. The first major such gathering on public diplomacy in Africa, this event brought together African, American and other global practitioners and academics from diverse fields. 

Agenda

Conference Chair: D Bob Wekesa, Lecturer, Wits Journalism and Media Studies/Public Diplomacy Project, African Center for the Study of the U.S.

8:00am - 8:30am | Conference Registration

8:30am - 9:10am | Welcome and Opening Speeches

Panelists: 
Prof Tawana Kupe, Vice Principal, Wits University
Ms Elizabeth McKay, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in South Africa
Prof Jay Wang, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Mr Arnold Lyle, Director, Directorate of the United States and Canada (invited)

9:10am - 10:00am | "Public Diplomacies:" Conceptual understanding, history and global practice
Speaker: Prof Nicholas Cull, Director, Public Diplomacy Program, University of Southern California (speaker)

10:00am - 10:20am | Break

10:20am - 11:05am | Pathways for the research and teaching of public diplomacy in Africa: Lessons from the USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD)
Main speaker: Prof Jay Wang, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Discussant: Prof Tawana Kupe, Wits Vice Principal & Deputy Vice Chancellor

11:05am - 11:50am | Perspectives on Africa-U.S. engagements in public diplomacy: Past, present, and future
Main Speaker: Prof Adam Clayton Powell, III, President, Public Diplomacy Council, U.S.
Discussants: 
Elizabeth Mackay, Deputy Head of Mission, U.S. Embassy in South Africa
Amb Mxolisi Nkosi, Deputy Director General, Global Governance and Continental Agenda (invited)     

11:50am - 12:30pm | The place of citizens and digital technologies in diplomacy
Main Speaker: Dr. Carlton McIellan, Founding Director, Global Ties South Africa and Sr. Advisor, Global Ties U.S.
Discussants:
Mr. Ross Sergeant, Managing Director, Bartley Insights, South Africa/UK
Mr. Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa & CEO Brand Leadership (invited)

12:00pm - 2:00pm | Lunch

2:00pm - 2:40pm | The role of public diplomacy in African peace and security
Main Speaker: Representative of the United States African Command (invited)
Discussant: Prof Gilbert Khadiagala, Director, African Center for the Study of the USA

2:40pm-3:30pm | Media as tool of public diplomacy in the Africa-U.S. relations: Contestation versus consensus
Main Speaker: Mr Clayson Monyela, Head of Public Diplomacy, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa
Discussants:
Mr Chris Maroleng, Chief Operating Officer, South African Broadcasting Corporation
Mr. Brian T. Neubert, Director, Africa Regional Media Hub, U.S. Department of State
Representative of American media in South Africa (invited)

3:20pm - 3:40pm | Break 

3:40pm - 4:10pm | Brainstorming joint Africa-U.S. public diplomacy projects, strategies, and partnerships
Moderator: Prof Nicholas Cull, Director, USC Master of Public Diplomacy program
Panelists: 
Mr. Clayton Monyela, Head of Public Diplomacy, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa
Prof  Adam Clayton Powell III, President, Public Diplomacy Council
Prof Jay Wang, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy
Dr Bob Wekesa, Journalism and Media Studies Department, Wits University

4:10pm - 4:20pm | Closing Remarks
Prof Tawana Kupe, Vice Principal, Wits University

This conference was supported by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), U.S. Embassy in South Africa, Global Ties U.S., The USC Masters in Public Diplomacy program, and the Public Diplomacy Council.

Click here to read more about the Centre.