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.

Chinese culture centres spark propaganda fears

The cultural institutions of most countries are autonomous, unconnected with any local educational facility. But China’s Confucius Institutes are different, leading to criticism from some teachers, education authorities and parts of the media.

Tags: china, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, confucius institutes, switzerland, confucius institutes project

The BRICs hegemony in a post-American world era – analysis

In this world, the United States will not use dicta or hegemon power to shape or control the world order. Instead, the United States has a more humble role with a soft-power advantage, and hence the superpower will not be at the center of global issues ...

Tags: united states, soft power, public diplomacy, hard power, brics

Can public diplomacy be non-partisan in bipartisan Washington, D.C.?

The priority of PD is set by one’s definition of it...Whether we decide to advocate for PD within or outside the bureaucracies of the U.S. government, they will undeniably affect us in one way or another throughout our careers in PD. The key will be to understand the interagency relationships and strive to remain nonpartisan in our approach to PD.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, us department of state, interdependency

3 lessons on the wrong ways to use social media to create change

How do you use online and offline strategies to change, not just policy or corporate practice, but hearts and minds? Everyone might have made their Twitter pictures green during the Iranian elections, but when it comes to really changing the world, the experts say it’s going to take a lot more than a few tweets.

Tags: public diplomacy, social media, non-state actors, new technology, twitter

China’s public diplomacy at crossroads

It has been at least five years since Zhao Qizheng introduced public diplomacy to China at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body in China. However, this form of unofficial, cross-cultural communication faces a rather uncertain future with Zhao's retirement this year as CPPCC spokesman.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, government pd, public diplomacy

If Syria becomes like Libya, the ME region will be singed

Turkey, the only democratic government in the region, is included among the countries that will be affected by developments in Syria. Trying to exert more influence in the region by means of its “soft power strategy” and economic ties, Turkey may leave this strategy behind and take bold action to protect its interests.

Tags: soft power, middle east, iran, turkey, syria, libya, geopolitics

Critics Worry About Influence of Chinese Institutes on U.S. Campuses

...Dickinson State College in North Dakota became the most recent university to turn down a Confucius Institute — a cultural outpost of the Chinese government that already has 350 branches on campuses around the world, from Paris Diderot University to Penn State University, and from Argentina to Zimbabwe.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, confucius institutes, universities, confucius institutes project

Joan Burton: Voting No would be a reckless gamble for us

This Government has put painstaking effort into rebuilding Ireland's reputational capital in Europe, in the USA and the emerging global powerhouse that is China. There are some indications that this effort is bearing fruit, notably in the confirmation by leading international companies that Ireland continues to be as much a magnet for inward investment as it was a decade ago.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, national image, ireland, reputation

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