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.
China’s new Cultural Revolution
Culture is critical to the future of the Party because it goes to the heart of the Party's hold on power. Economic growth has contributed to its legitimacy, but the public's belief that only the Party can make China a strong country is its real trump card. To maintain this illusion, the usual way is fulminating against the foreign forces that are trying to hold back China's rise with "Cold War thinking."
It’s time India got smart
In 2012, every country that has global clout, and every country that aspires to that status, will use smart power — a combination of soft and hard power — to achieve national goals. India is not doing badly, but it has to brace itself for hard battles in soft power in the years to come.
US elections have global implications
Country branding is founded (like disciplines such as public diplomacy) on the realization that, in an overcrowded global information marketplace, countries and political leaders are, in effect, competing for the attention of investors, tourists, supranational organizations, non-government organizations, regulators, media and consumers.
India airs American TV shows, but censors the sense out
Young Indians, who have embraced Levis, McDonalds and MTV, are hungering for Western television. In an effort to attract younger viewers without offending the older ones, Indian TV is now showing some of America's edgiest shows – but cutting out the edge.
Success of 3 Idiots breaks China’s Bollywood Great Wall
Few Indian films have made as deep an impact in China since the days of Raj Kapoor as Rajkumar Hirani's 2009 film, 3 Idiots. The film struck an instant chord with China's famously overworked students, so much so that some Chinese universities were even prescribing the film in their coursework as a kind of stress-relief in their classrooms.
Hu warns Chinese culture being Westernised
Hostile international powers are strengthening their efforts to Westernise and divide us," Hu wrote in an article, noting "ideological and cultural fields" are the main targets. "We must be aware of the seriousness and complexity of the struggles and take powerful measures to prevent and deal with them.
Laughter good diplomacy for India
Laughter is the best medicine, but it could also make good diplomacy. That’s what U.S. diplomats in India are hoping for with a State Department-sponsored comedy tour. The “Make Chai, Not War” stand-up tour is on a mission to break down religious barriers between Indians and promote U.S.-India cultural ties.
Lessons Kenya can learn from US in Iraq
Consequently, the government must be wary of the erosion of public diplomacy gains if Kenyan soldiers are perceived negatively. There should be a recognition that any negative profiling of Somalis will undermine the success of the incursion. Kenya should support Somalia without compromising its long-term relations with the country.
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