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.
Japan Quietly Seeks Global Leadership Niches
Japan's meteoric economic rise never led to a parallel surge in diplomatic clout. But today, as a pacesetter in everything from green cars to pop culture, it seeks to carve out a bigger role in world affairs as a "soft power." The country has had remarkable success in shifting the one-dimensional perception of Japan Inc. to a multifaceted image that many in the industrialized world are now hastening to emulate in key areas like energy innovation.
Why Germany Deserves to Win the ‘Destination Branding’ World Cup
African nations can learn plenty from Germany. The country has been the aggressor in two world wars, seen to one of the most shameful genocides in history and is the home of the most infamous man, one Adolph Hitler. No African nation brand carries such burden. Even South Africa with its apartheid system, Zimbabwe with Mugabe, Somali’s unending statelessness, Rwanda’s genocide, Nigeria’s crooked reputation and Congo’s unending conflicts all pale in comparison to Germany’s history.
U.S. Government Should Double Global Health Spending by 2012, IOM Report Says
According to the report's authors, increasing health assistance will demonstrate that the U.S. "fundamentally believes in the value of better health for all" (Bloomberg, 12/15). The IOM advisers said that the U.S. would be acting "in the global interest" by increasing global health aid and that "long-term diplomatic, economic and security benefits for the United States would follow." According to the report, international health funding will contribute to U.S. "soft power" abroad by building support among developing nations.
‘Cultural Diplomacy Can’t be Quantified’
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations was founded in April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country’s first education minister, to promote cultural and intellectual exchange with other countries. It is often considered the cultural diplomacy arm of the Indian government. ICCR President Karan Singh spoke to Business Standard on its relevance, challenges and plans: "We are concentrating a little more on the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operations, a club of eight South Asian countries) region which was neglected.
The Obama Administration Has No Need for Private U.S. Propaganda Radio and TV
Many independent experts and organizations, including the Public Diplomacy Council, have called for a major reform of U.S. public diplomacy. The Obama Administration should show that it wants U.S. public diplomacy to have a fresh start by abolishing the Broadcasting Board of Governors and un-privatizing Alhurra Television. The new Administration has no need for private U.S. propaganda radio and TV operating without proper supervision and accountability.
Diplomacy Expert’s Book Translated Into Korean
A Korean translation of "New Public Diplomacy: Soft Power in International Relations" by Jan Melissen, an expert on theoretical and practical diplomacy, was published in Seoul on Monday...[Melissen's] name is still new to many, but it isn’t for those who have followed the subject of public diplomacy. Indeed, he was in Korea earlier in the year to take part in a roundtable on soft power in Northeast Asia, organized by the Korea Foundation. This government-affiliated organization spearheads projects to raise public awareness of public diplomacy.
Public Diplomacy Moves Ahead
Mark Smith, a 27-year Foreign Service veteran who is now U.S. Public Diplomat in Residence at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy, said the dialogue that is possible on YouTube and Facebook is “poison to those who believe they have a monopoly on truth.” “One thing we have come gradually to realize since [Sept. 11, 2001] is that new interactive media technologies work in favor of open societies and against those preaching intolerance and extremism.”
Tehran-Tokyo Ties to be Promoted
Tehran and Tokyo emphasize they are resolute to expand bilateral ties in economy and among parliamentarians. Chief of Cultural Commission in Iran’s Parliament Gholam Ali Haddad Adel meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Tehran Akio Shirota on Monday asserted considering historic and cultural relations of Iran and Japan they must promote ties in politic, culture and economy between the two governments and parliaments...Akio Shirota on his part said Japan’s government is resolute to lift cooperation with Tehran and that bilateral relations must also spread to cultural and social sections.
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