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.
British Council adopts strategic thinking
A one day conference on The Cultural Relationship between the UK and South Caucasus was held in the ballroom of the Tbilisi Marriott hotel on October 27. Facilitated by head of the British Council in Georgia Paul Doubleday, it was attended by representatives of the education and arts fields, journalists and Government officials from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Thumping camaraderie
When the Lumumba Theatre Group performed at Kamani auditorium recently as one of the numerous programmes under the Delhi International Arts Festival, they filled the air with cheer as the five troupe members played several percussion instruments and sang, accompanying the music with swinging and dancing and mimed scenes.
Global PR: National Branding - Reputation Of A Nation
The value of a country's reputation is not hard to understand. It can attract people and money through foreign investment, trade, tourism and immigration, as well as provide 'soft power' in the shape of political, diplomatic and cultural leverage. Argentina handed a near seven-figure account to Bell Pottinger in March to improve its reputation in Europe and the US. Russia is using Ketchum to challenge its reputation of secrecy and Dubai is using a range of agencies to help repair its battered financial reputation.
Hospitality Crucial for Positive Nationalism
Well into the realization of a fully-developed South Korean society, democracy and economy, the country's brand image continues to lag behind these and other related indicators. Why such a discrepancy? The primary issue is that there are two "Koreas" in international media-one, to put it simply, good, and the other, bad. This dual usage and identification often confuses foreigners and thus the name "Korea" is found to have baggage in terms of word-association.
Obama sends Rabin memorial video, in bid to woo Israelis
U.S. President Barack Obama has videotaped a message to be shown Saturday night at the annual memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. This is another step in Obama's attempt to speak directly to the Israeli public in light of the very low level of support he has among the Israeli public. Several polls over the past few months show the American president has won the support of only 6 percent to 10 percent of the Israeli public, with people saying Obama does not support Israel.
Clinton vows US will stand by Pakistan
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended US policy and said Washington would not abandon the fight against the Taliban as she faced critical questions from Pakistani students Thursday. On a day devoted to public diplomacy, Clinton covered her head and chest with a royal blue scarf to visit the shrine of a Muslim saint in the capital Islamabad before touring the 16th century Badshahi mosque in Lahore.
Keynote Address by NATO Secretary General Rasmussen, “NATO-UAE Relations and the Way Forward”
Finally, NATO is working on a new Strategic Concept to better define its own role and responsibilities in the emerging security landscape. This is a unique process in which we are reaching out to the strategic community – think tankers, academics, journalists – but also to the general public, including by using new media in ways we have never done before. In my consultations with ICI partners these last few months, I have noticed considerable interest in this exercise.
America’s new crusader castles
In Kabul, Baghdad, Jakarta, Cairo and beyond, in "allied" cities such as London and Berlin, Washington is building, reinforcing or expanding slab-walled, fortress-like embassies that act as regional overseas HQs, centres of influence and intelligence-gathering, and problematic symbols of superpower. Historically speaking, these formidable outposts are the 21st century equivalent of crusader castles, rising out of the plain, projecting superior force, and grimly dominating all they behold.
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.