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.

Economic Development As Public Diplomacy

Successful public diplomacy is based on providing foreign publics what they need, be it information, a vaccination program, or help in securing economic well-being. A good example of working toward the latter can be found in a speech delivered by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Patterson in Jordan on February 25, during which she outlined some of the steps the United States is taking to “enhance regional trade and investment that will spur growth and jobs.” 

Tags: development, economy, employment, entrepreneurship, overseas private investment corporation, united states

India: Drawn To The Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Dmitry Fedorovich Mezentsev, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO), visited New Delhi on a two day visit from February 23 to 25. The visit failed to attract any meaningful media attention. Nonetheless, the visit is significant and highlights the importance of the SCO in India’s larger relations with Central Asia and South Asia.

Tags: afghanistan, asia pacific, china, diplomacy, economy, foreign policy, india, shanghai cooperation organization, south asia

Exceptions To The Democratic Rule

In 2012, after having been sentenced to 11 years in prison for "terrorism" for illegally entering Ethiopia from Somalia in the presence of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye took the advice of their legal council, confessed to their "crimes" and requested an official pardon. It was a pragmatic move - both journalists vehemently denied the charges and considered any confession to be a charade - taken to save their own skins.

Tags: democracy, diplomacy, ethiopia, human rights, journalism, media, sweden

What's Gone Wrong With Democracy

The protesters who have overturned the politics of Ukraine have many aspirations for their country. Their placards called for closer relations with the European Union (EU), an end to Russian intervention in Ukraine’s politics and the establishment of a clean government to replace the kleptocracy of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Tags: autocracy, corruption, democracy, european union, history, politics, protest, russia, ukraine, values

Are We Witnessing The Demise Of Venezuela's Soft Power?

As much of the world’s media continues to focus on the politics of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the continued violent protests in the Ukraine, another country closer to home threatens to descend into civil war. Street demonstrations throughout Venezuela, now entering their second week, have turned a country already suffering from high rates of violent crime and murders into a battleground.

Tags: conflict, hugo chavez, leopoldo lopez, nicolas maduro, protest, soft power, south america, venezuela

Why Are U.S. Taxpayers Funding Homophobia In Uganda?

So, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni doesn’t like gays. In fact, he thinks they’re “disgusting.” Oh, and he doesn’t think much of the West either. And he says Uganda would be just fine without Western aid. So why haven’t we halted — in a New York minute — the $450 million a year or so in foreign aid we give this clown and his country?

Tags: africa, aid diplomacy, anti-gay, diplomacy, foreign aid, john kerry, lgbt, uganda, united states, yoweri museveni

India's Influence In Southern California: How Religion, Culture And Politics Collide

Neon Tommy is hosting short stories on Indian culture, religion and politics by reporters in the Knight Program on Media and Religion, headed by Diane Winston at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The multi-media short stories are pieces of a larger reporting project and are window's into Southern California's diverse Indian communities. In March, the class will travel to Pune and Mumbai, where they will cover religion, economics and politics.

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When Terrorism (That Never Happened) Made Headlines In Sochi

The XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, ended just as they began: with an ostentatious, exhaustive, and carefully scripted celebration of Russian heritage and culture. The 17 days of athletic competition featured all the riveting performances, unexpected disappointments, and weather-related updates that one would expect.

Tags: 2014 sochi winter olympics, media, media analysis, russia, sochi, terrorism, united states, vladimir putin

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