In September 2009, Charles Rivkin, the U.S. ambassador to France, drove to northern Paris for the unveiling of a mural at the Collège Martin Luther King, a middle school in the suburb (or banlieue) of Villier-le-Bel.
 

Tags: hip hop, hip-hop, hip hop diplomacy, music diplomacy, charles rivkin, united states, Cultural Diplomacy, american music abroad, france

Most outsiders know the United Arab Emirates from Dubai’s accomplishments in international commerce, tourism, and indoor skiing. What is less known is that Abu Dhabi is investing a great deal of money in education, medicine, art, and music as a new kind of cultural diplomacy.

Tags: abu dhabi, Cultural Diplomacy, united arab emirates, new york university, exchange diplomacy, academic exchange, museum diplomacy, education diplomacy, middle east

Since its early days, train travel has been shrouded in an aura of romanticism. It has become emblematic of a bygone era of epic voyages, adventures, and discovery—the excitement and possibility of accessing vast new territories.

Tags: europe, france, turkey, tourism, history, cultural exchange, exchange diplomacy, orient express, transportation

The Department of State will be the first U.S. stop for FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola preceding the FIFA World Cup™ tournament in Brazil, which begins June 12. The United States will be among the countries fielding a team in the tournament.

Tags: u.s. department of state, united states, sports diplomacy, soccer diplomacy, fifa world cup, exchange diplomacy, u.s. sports envoys, cobi jones, julie foudy, d.c. united. u.s. soccer, #trophytour, Cultural Diplomacy, bureau of educational and cultural affairs

Under the slogan "Sidikewe! Vukani! Vote no!" (We've had enough! Wake up! Vote no!), more than one hundred veterans of South Africa's ruling party are calling for citizens to protest at the ballot box. Former government ministers are leading the campaign, accusing President Jacob Zuma and ANC leaders of corruption and complacency. 

Tags: south africa, africa, democracy, #voteno, campaign, african national congress, jacob zuma, corruption, elections, public opinion, internet, social media, sidikiwe

More and more young Spaniards, forced to leave home by crippling unemployment, are attracted to London by the prospect of work and the chance to learn English — but often run into a fresh set of problems. While debate is raging in Britain about newcomers from eastern Europe, this group has arrived almost unnoticed.

Tags: spain, united kingdom, emigration, immigration, employment, economy, europe, diaspora, youth

Despite much diplomatic effort, the situation in Ukraine worsens. A coordinated Russian campaign, including an invasion threat, special operations destabilization in eastern Ukraine patterned on the Crimea model, and warnings of gas cutoffs document ever more clearly Vladi­mir Putin’s aim to cripple the Ukrainian government and control much or even all of this strategically vital European country.

Tags: united states, ukraine, military diplomacy, russia, op-ed, vladimir putin, hard power, soft power, nato, europe, james jeffrey

The US government must increase diplomatic and financial support to help Colombia prepare for the possibility of a post-conflict scenario, stated a report published Monday by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

Tags: united states, colombia, farc, conflict, civil war, washington office on latin america, south america, auc, plan colombia, human rights, narcotrafficking