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.

RI urges soft power to tackle terror

Counterterrorism efforts should, Marty said, address the local circumstances and conditions that give rise to terrorism such as political grievances, communal conflicts, economic and social marginalization, human rights issues and poverty

Tags: soft power, united nations, indonesia, terrorism, counter-terrorism, ban ki-moon, socio-economic development

Chinese Deal for Iceland Property Founders Over Distrust

The phrase “gets bandied about in various ways,” said Mr. Goldkorn. “It should mean that you have the power of attraction, and China’s been very bad at that,” he said, citing its lack of transparency, harsh treatment of dissidents, hard-line stance over claims in the South China Sea and food safety scandals.

Tags: china, soft power, europe, government, investment, iceland, private sector, narrative

ISRAEL: Trying classic, digital and celebrity diplomacy

Now lay practitioners of hasbara, or public outreach, are joining the ranks of the digital diplomats. The latest video making the rounds to illustrate Israel's position is "Israel Wants Peace - Friend Request Pending" (above). We're in a Facebook era, "like" it or not. Not everyone will agree with the video's message but most will understand its language.

Tags: public diplomacy, israel, united nations, facebook, palestine, digital diplomacy, celebrity diplomacy, hasbara

Strategic Posture Review: Indonesia

Despite its size, Indonesia is distinctly lacking in hard-power assets. The source of Indonesia’s influence is soft power, which it has used to create regional institutions such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote regional stability and pursue its key strategic objective of ensuring that Southeast Asia never fall under the hegemony of an outside power.

Tags: soft power, government pd, public diplomacy, indonesia, hard power, southeast asia, asean

Social Media and the Arab Spring: What Have We Learned?

The challenges posed by the new media landscape...will likely take years to fully comprehend. But as the contours of the role of social media in the Arab Spring and elsewhere begin to take shape in the academic and policy-making arenas, everyone seems to agree on one point: The revolution is far from over.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, public opinion, social media, new technology, non-state pd, us department of state, digital diplomacy

‘Israeli Idol’ Diana Golbi brings act and message to US

Golbi, 19, and the winner of the 2010 season of "Kochav Nolad" - the Israeli incarnation of "American Idol" - performed a short set of songs on behalf of ELEM, a nonprofit organization that assists and rehabilitates “distressed youth” in Israel with programs ranging from counseling and social services to vocation and job training.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, public diplomacy, israel, non-state pd, music diplomacy, youth

Jordan woos Gulf tourists

A promotional campaign urging visitors from the Gulf to visit Jordan appears to be paying off for the Hashemite Kingdom, whose hotels and attractions have been struggling with a drop in tourism from Europe and America. Jordan has been hoping to capitalize on its image of a relatively calm country amidst turbulent unrest to draw visitors.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, middle east, nation branding, government pd, arab spring, public diplomacy, tourism, economy, jordan

Chinese Internet Users Embrace ‘Neo-Colonialist’ U.S. Ambassador

Don’t be fooled, citizens of China: Newly arrived U.S. ambassador Gary Locke’s humble do-it-yourself demeanor is all part of a crafty neo-colonialist plot. Such at least is the message of a state media editorial that is making waves on the Chinese Internet. The response so far among Chinese Internet users: Bring it on.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, media, government pd, public diplomacy, public opinion, gary locke

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