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.
The Remaking of America
Mr. Obama's first attempt at soft power is the nifty new White House Web site, complete with a White House blog. In his Inaugural Address, Mr. Obama focused on soft power alongside hard power: "Our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."
Hunger strike launched in SA in solidarity with starving Zimbabweans
A rolling hunger strike in solidarity with Zimbabwe’s starving citizens has been launched in South Africa, with a number of high profile South African’s pledging their support by giving up food for at least one day a week. The action, which was launched in Johannesburg on Wednesday, is the first offensive of a new solidarity movement called ‘Save Zimbabwe Now’ set to raise awareness and draw attention to the severe food shortages in Zimbabwe – a crisis that has left almost an entire nation at threat of starvation.
World Media Reacts to Obama’s Inauguration (Round-Up)
Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th U.S. president was followed across the world almost as keenly as at home. In Europe, many newspapers welcomed - often in euphoric terms - the change in the White House. However, there were corners of the world, where there was hope the Obama presidency would build on relationships forged by his predecessor.
Editorial: President Obama and Pakistan
There will be problems no doubt, especially in relation to Pakistan’s and India’s willingness to reengage in peace talks, not merely to resolve old disputes but to move quickly to trade and cultural relations. Pakistan’s growing suspicion of a US-Indian “conspiracy” to beat down Pakistan and get hold of its nuclear assets is going to throw up psychological barriers.
Obama to Europe: Ich bin ein listener
Yet Obama’s popularity is also a potential pitfall if we allow ourselves to think that a new messenger will be enough to restore America’s global standing. Even if European leaders want to cooperate with the new administration, they must still make the case for why their citizens should shoulder new burdens in difficult times. Their success is more likely if Obama demonstrates that he is willing to listen to allies’ concerns and understands their domestic politics...Obama will convince wary Europeans to contribute more in Afghanistan not by “selling” U.S.
Social media and the Gaza conflict
As its air campaign ramped up in late December, the Israeli military debuted its own YouTube channel to broadcast clips of surveillance and airstrikes, eager to portray its weapons as precise and show off its technological command of the battlespace. Hamas has also sought to use the media. In Gaza, a group of Hamas fighters allowed Algerian journalist Zouheir Alnajjar to videotape the inside of their homemade rocket factory...Government officials also got into the act.
Russia Must Deploy ‘Soft Force’ Against the West’s ‘Soft Power,’ Moscow Analyst Says
Having discovered that economic power does not immediately translate into political influence and may in fact alienate those it is supposed to attract, the Russian government needs to identify new ways to influence the West but finding that its options are not nearly as good as many in Moscow had thought, according to a Russian analyst.
Obama Soft Power, Smart Power II
We have left the Age of Bush, which emphasized the sticks approach to power and entered the Age of Obama, the age of attraction and cooption, more popularly known these days as soft power. Can we now officially release ourselves from the post-9/11 era?
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