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.

American ‘rock diplomacy’ struggles to be heard in Pakistan

Rock music first developed in the United States in the 1950s and has evolved into an art form that celebrates the American value of free expression. Rock music also gives young people a voice with which to express themselves. The program is part of the U.S. Department of State’s ongoing cultural exchange programs.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, pakistan, us department of state, music diplomacy

A Design Nation is to Revive Again

Nonetheless, Austad believes Norwegian design going in a positive direction. He suggests that it has a growing number of young and ambitious designers all eager to identify how Norwegian design should be in the 21st century. He also adds Norwegian design has a strong cultural foundation and hopes that Norway will be able to continue to brand itself as a design nation in the future.

Tags: nation branding, culture, innovation, norway, design, country brand

The soft power of happiness

On Monday 2 April 2012, the UN will implement Resolution 65/39 which places 'happiness' officially on the global agenda....This is a major triumph for Bhutan's soft power. Forty years ago, the King of this nation established Gross National Happiness (GNH) as an alternative to Gross National Product (GNP)

Tags: soft power, united nations, bhutan, happiness, gross domestic product, gross national happiness

The Necessity of Showing Iran’s Soft Power

Our most important shortcoming in foreign policy is the lack of an integrated, up-to-date, and above all, an initiative and creative program in image-building and confronting the organized efforts of the West in destroying the system’s reputation.

Tags: government pd, iran, human rights, image building, image, reputation

Creativity and policy II: Future plans for Korean soft power

This has been the study tour of follow up questions, so why not writing a follow up post? After hypothesizing about the role that governmental action might have played in the Korean creative brand, why not comment on what we learnt about their future plans?

Tags: soft power, south korea, image, government policy, creativity

Nigeria’s Brand Image and global competitiveness

Nigerian government and people have been called upon to buy into the concept of nation rebranding and affirm the idea...Governor Amaechi says Nigerians sense of aculturisation is strong but Nigerians must be ready to be pragmatic and deliberate in the act of nation branding.

Tags: nation branding, nigeria, nollywood, good governance

Cool Balkania? Nation branding and the rest of Europe

However, the EU video So Similar, So Different, So European is slightly, well, different. It doesn’t originate from the global province towards the center, not even the other way round. It is a narrative the EU is telling to itself.

Tags: nation branding, europe, european union, balkans, simon anholt, eu enlargement, southeast europe

New Report Gives a Behind-The-Scenes Look at State’s “Digital Diplomacy”

Time and again, though, critics and analysts bring up the same question: What has this accomplished? And how do you even measure accomplishment online in the first place? A new report from the Lowy Institute, an Australian international policy think tank, delivers a remarkably detailed look behind the scenes of State's digital democracy efforts, and ends with precisely that query.

Tags: united states, social media, digital diplomacy, innovation, alec ross, e-diplomacy

Pages

Stay in the Know

Public Diplomacy is a dynamic field, and CPD is committed to keeping you connected and informed about the critical developments that are shaping PD around the world. 

Depending on your specific interests, you can subscribe to one or more of CPD's newsletters >.

Visit CPD's Online Library

Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.