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.
Brand Manmohan rising
In fact, we have seen two things happen simultaneously: the old brand Manmohan, reformer of the 1990s, has been quietly demarketed, and a new brand, a touchy-feely-honest-to-god Manmohan, has arisen in its place. The new brand is androgynous, not macho. It appeals across the gender barrier, and that is probably the prime reason for its success.
British Council opens state-of-the-art centre in Dubai
His Royal Highness, The Duke of York, today unveiled the British Council's new centre at its Bur Dubai site, designed to provide educational opportunities, enhance cultural relations, and promote greater mutual understanding between the UK and the UAE. The launch of the state-of-the-art offices comes as the British Council celebrates its 40th anniversary of cultural relations in Dubai and a just a week before the British Council marks its 75th anniversary worldwide.
Cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy (part 2)
Does it matter in Public Diplomacy terms if an organisation with which you partner is heavily criticised in an official report? This post continues from an earlier post on the British Council’s partnership with weapons manufacturer BAE Systems. The earlier post focused on the considerations which must exist alongside the potential benefits of partnership in Public Diplomacy. Specifically, the need to identify those things an organisation will not give up at any price.
Exchange invitations from China reach fever pitch: Taipei official
China's invitations for cultural exchanges with Taipei have reached fever pitch, the city's deputy mayor said Wednesday. "China's demand for cultural exchanges with us far outpaces what we can provide, " said Lee Yong-ping, who concurrently heads the city's Department of Cultural Affairs. "If I were to accept every invitation from various Chinese cities, I would have to spend a whole year in China," she added.
Black belt jonesing: American martial arts culture’s roots in the black community
The fact is, African Americans were the first community to embrace martial arts in the U.S., and without that community's active support, Asian fighting disciplines would never have gained the foothold they now have in the American consciousness, as both a practice and a pop-culture influence. "The story of martial arts in black communities is part of a much bigger narrative of African American interest in Asian culture," says Amy Obugo Ongiri, author of the forthcoming book "Spectacular Blackness."
Young Saudis, Americans exchange views
Young Saudi and American students exchanged viewpoints and discussed their experiences on Monday in a cross-cultural meeting at the King Abdullah National Dialogue Center (KANDC). The “Ambassador” project makes every single boy and girl an ambassador of his or her generation, gender and culture to the other.
JET and 日本
Why Japan? As nerdy as it sounds, I first became interested in Japan when I bought an import Dreamcast wayyy back in the day. The language was fascinating, mostly because they didn’t use Roman letters. Later, I played Final Fantasy XI, which is an online RPG, and there I actually got to talk to Japanese people, albeit through a rudimentary auto-translate system. The culture of cooperation and community really impressed me, especially in contrast with the North Americans, who were ruthless and often rude.
US defense bill approves money for Sons of Afghanistan
Tucked within the sprawling $680 billion defense bill (which runs to more than $1 billion for each of its 650 pages) that President Barack Obama signed into law on Wednesday afternoon is a provision that allows the Pentagon to dip into a pool of about $1.3 billion “to support the reintegration into Afghan society of those individuals who have renounced violence against the Government of Afghanistan.”
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