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.

World Cup Seen Damaging Brazil’s Tropical-Paradise Image

The World Cup was meant to be a celebration of a new Brazil -- powerful, prosperous and jubilant. When the ball starts rolling in three days the world may instead view images of violence and inefficiency. Seven years after gaining rights to host sport’s most-watched event, Brazil nears the tournament amid street protests, economic slowdown and a wave of strikes including subway and museum workers. 

Tags: nation branding, global image, FIFA 2014 world cup, brazil, non-state actors, qatar

EU Cultural Diplomacy Needs New Impetus

The European Union and its Member States stand to gain a great deal by using the 'soft power' of cultural diplomacy, with benefits for the economy through increased market access for European cultural and creative industries, strengthened cultural diversity and the wider sharing of European values. This is the conclusion of areport published today by the European Commission following an initiative by the European Parliament.

Tags: european union, Cultural Diplomacy, european commission, european parliament, soft power

The Drone Strike Narrative in Pakistan

The discourse surrounding drone strikes in the FATA region has always been complex. At least, that is what the New America Foundation’s Peter Bergen said recently, a revelation that was backed by a statement from an unnamed official in Islamabad. With a sharp decline in the number of drone strikes from 2010 onwards, and no strikes at all so far in 2014, it seems as if the Obama administration, ahead of a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2016, has finally decided to wrap up the CIA drone campaign in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA.

Tags: united states, pakistan, drones, obama, public diplomacy campaign, american militarism

Seven Decades of Soviet Propaganda – in Pictures

As the Minsk History Museum in Belarus holds an exhibition celebrating the USSR, we look back at some of the best Soviet poster art.

Tags: soviet union, propaganda, media, public diplomacy

Soft Power vs. Salami Slicing: China's Dilemma

China’s belated response to the oil rig crisis demonstrates the limits of its regional soft power.  Focusing on, negotiating over, and perhaps even solving one of its maritime disputes would go a long way toward enhancing China’s regional soft power.

Tags: china, soft power, east asia, conflict

Social Media to Boom During Soccer World Cup

Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are expected to be busy during the Brazil tournament, which an Adidas exec predicts will "undoubtedly be the most social World Cup ever and probably the most social event in history."

Tags: 2014 fifa world cup, social media, sports diplomacy, twitter, youtube, facebook, brazil

Veterans Think President Obama Made Wrong Call on Bowe Bergdahl

A new poll shows military veterans and their families say overwhelmingly that President Obama made the wrong call by trading five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. And a plurality of all Americans agree.

Tags: barack obama, united states, prisoner exchange, bowe bergdahl, public opinion

Iran's Rouhani in Turkey in Bid to Boost Ties

Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian president, has said that, Turkey and Iran are two important countries in the Islamic world and determined to stand against violence and extremism in the Middle East.  In a joint press conference with Rouhani, Abdullah Gul, the Turkish president, said that they discussed political, economic and cultural relations.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, government pd, turkey, iran, hassan rouhani

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