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.
Police Detain 59 in Tibet, China Reports
The police have detained 59 people in Tibet on charges that they sought to foment unrest by spreading ethnic hatred and by downloading and selling banned songs, Chinese state media reported Thursday...Since Dec. 4, public security officials have been sweeping the markets of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, looking for compact discs that contain “reactionary songs,” according to the China News Service.
A Foreign Face Beloved by Afghans of All Stripes
Mr. Cairo, once a debonair lawyer in his native Turin, Italy, is almost certainly the most celebrated Western relief official in Afghanistan, at least among Afghans. To the generation who have been beneficiaries of his relief work for the International Committee of the Red Cross, he is known simply as “Mr. Alberto,” a man apart among the 15,000 foreigners who live and work in this city.
Current Crisis Boosts Russian Internet and Kremlin Efforts to Control It
One of the consequences of the current economic crisis in Russia is that the Internet is becoming a more important player in the media there, but precisely because of that, the web is attracting greater attention from Russian officials who view it as a threat to their ability to shape public attitudes through their control of television.
Promoting Peace in Afghanistan – with a Lighter Touch
A provincial reconstruction team (PRT) has landed in remote Barge Matal, and everyone – from the elders up the mountain trails to the girls who usually spend their days hidden from view – wants to make requests, lodge complaints, and generally be part of the action. Born out of the mantra that the war in Afghanistan cannot be won by military means alone, the mission of these small units – 26 in total – is to coordinate with local leaders and do development work – thus winning Afghan hearts and minds.
On the Web, a Year of Dialogue With Russian Readers
A year ago, around the time of parliamentary elections here, I took part in a question-and-answer session with readers of our Web site...The blog has received more than 26,000 comments, and has become an important tool for the newspaper to better understand and explain Russia. The title of the blog is, “Tell Americans and the World about Russia,” and Russians have done just that.
Jordanian Students Rebel, Embracing Conservative Islam
Across the Middle East, young people like Mr. Fawaz, angry, alienated and deprived of opportunity, have accepted Islam as an agent of change and rebellion. It is their rock ’n’ roll, their long hair and love beads. Through Islam, they defy the status quo and challenge governments seen as corrupt and incompetent.
A Tweet in Foggy Bottom
Not that long ago, communicating diplomat-to-diplomat was enough...In fact, the public was by and large an afterthought. But the proliferation of democracies and the emergence of the round-the-clock media environment has brought an end to those days. Now, governments must communicate not only with their people but also with foreign audiences, including through public diplomacy. In short, public diplomacy is the art of communicating a country's policies, values and culture. If diplomats want to engage effectively with people, we first need to listen, then connect and then communicate.
What does Zimbabwe mean for 2010?
Beyond threatening to invalidate the 2010 brand promise, does the Zimbabwe crisis affect SA’s brand image, and could it deter potential visitors from attending the 2010 World Cup?...Does this mean the only relevance of the Zimbabwe crisis to 2010 is the potential threat of Zimbabweans crossing the border to SA in an effort to partake in the world’s biggest soccer event? Do we really want to close our eyes and pretend that “celebrating Africa’s humanity” has nothing to do with political oppression and disregard for basic human rights?
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