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.

Zim local government officials conclude US tour

As part of growing business relations and exchanges between Zimbabwe and the United States, eight Zimbabwean local government officials today in Chicago concluded a ten-day visit to three U.S. cities.

Tags: united states, government pd, cultural exchange, city diplomacy, people-to-people, zimbabwe

A Misunderstanding of Smart Power

Yesterday, Al Jazeera English aired a segment discussing the use of “smart power” in the Middle East. Smart power is the combined application of hard and soft power resources to accomplish an objective. It recognizes that neither hard nor soft power strategies are effective on their own in certain situations, and that these elements must complement each other in an effort to achieve a goal.

Tags: united states, al jazeera, syria, smart power, obama administration

Madeleine Albright ready to play drums at Monk Institute gala honoring her ‘jazz diplomacy

Tom Carter... felt it was appropriate to honor Albright and “highlight the role of jazz as a diplomatic tool” in the same year that the institute worked with UNESCO to establish the first International Jazz Day. “Madeleine understands the importance of jazz not only as an art form but as a means of bringing people together around the world,” Carter said in a telephone interview.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, non-state pd, music diplomacy, unesco, jazz diplomacy, madeleine albright

Mikhail Saakashvili is going to restore relations with Russia through public diplomacy

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is going to restore relations with Russia through public diplomacy. He said this at a meeting with the Gordi villagers in Khoni district. According to him, many Russian tourists began to come to Georgia, who was surprised to observe that process of construction, which is conducted in the country.

Tags: government pd, public diplomacy, russia, tourism, azerbaijan, infrastructure

Language law: liberal rhetoric, radical agenda

Furthermore, political movements such as the youth group Nashi have harassed Estonia’s diplomats and vandalized its websites, while “soft-power” organizations like Russkiy Mir (Russian World) actively work to promote cultural and linguistic ties to the homeland.

Tags: soft power, russia, language, ukraine, cultural influence, eastern europe, cultural heritage

Has the UN Security Council lost its ‘soft power?’

The deteriorating political and security situation in Syria, viewed in the light of the failure by the Security Council to facilitate an inclusive political dialogue between President Bashar Al Assad and the rather fragmented opposition rebel forces, reinforces the impression that this most pre-eminent organ of the UN may have lost its most important ‘soft power’ resource: its moral authority.

Tags: soft power, public diplomacy, syria, united nations

Liberia: Ngafuan hails outgoing Egyptian ambassador

The attraction of significant players in the Egyptian private economic sector such as the Arab Contractors and Engineering Consultants Group, both of which have now opened offices in Liberia. Others include the visit of the Egyptian Culture Troupe whose performances entertained Liberians and further solidified the cultural ties between the two countries.

Tags: Cultural Diplomacy, government pd, public diplomacy, egypt, africa

Soft power in a hard time: A cultural perspective on cross-strait relations

Recognizing Taiwan's potential to share the global cultural spotlight, Lung entered public service as Taipei City Government's first minister of culture in 1999. She quickly earned a reputation for implementing practical projects that successfully transformed rundown buildings into artist villages, literature houses and museums.

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, taiwan, art diplomacy

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