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.

An Emerging Actor In Humanitarian Diplomacy

Besides goodwill, another major motivation behind humanitarian assistance is exerting influence. Influence can emerge through cultural, economic, or political means. Political means seeking to resolve a conflict through humanitarian assistance and institutions practicing humanitarian efforts can be identified as ‘humanitarian diplomacy’.

Tags: government pd, israel, turkey, aid diplomacy, syria, somalia, humanitarian aid, foreign aid, conflict, humanitarian diplomacy

Beijing’s Public Diplomacy Challenge

Every two years China’s quest to boost the popularity of its brand is marked by a well- publicized media event: the Beijing Olympics 2008, EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, the Miss World contest 2012 in Ordos. Looking ahead, China plans to host the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and a global tourist summit in 2014.

Tags: china, media, nation branding, public diplomacy, asia pacific, values, confucius institute

Project Xpat: What The World Thinks Of America

"America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room," observed British historian Arnold J. Toynbee. "Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair." And Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca said, "The only things that the United States has given to the world are skyscrapers, jazz, and cocktails." Opinions of America are like bellybuttons — everybody's got one.

Tags: united states, soft power, public opinion, image, migration, expatriate

The White House Sochi Delegation

Dear Mr. President: It is with great respect for you and your office that I write this open letter. I have covered the Olympic movement for 15 years. The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics will be my eighth Games. I will remind you that in 1980, the last time the Olympic Games were in what is now the Russia, what was then the Soviet Union, the United States team did not go amid intense pressure from the White House.

Tags: united states, russia, barack obama, image, vladimir putin, anti-gay, sochi, 2014 winter olympics

Obama Rightly Joins Political Boycott Of Winter Olympics

A growing chorus of voices calling for a political boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, began to gain traction this past week in reaction to the host country’s onerous crackdown on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. President Barack Obama heeded its calls by announcing a U.S. delegation of representatives that includes two openly gay athletes and excludes senior elected officials, their spouses and current Cabinet members. His decision should be applauded.

Tags: united states, russia, barack obama, human rights, gay rights, op-ed, anti-gay, boycott, sochi, 2014 winter olympics

The Red-Dead Agreement: Water Diplomacy In The Middle East

On December 9, 2013 at the World Bank senior officials from the Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly manage the shared water resources of the Red Sea, Jordan River, and the Sea of Galilee (commonly known as the Lake Tiberias or the Kineret).

Tags: middle east, science diplomacy, israel, water diplomacy, palestine, jordan, red sea, sea of galilee, levant, dead sea

Will The U.S. Strong-Arm Brazil To Keep Snowden Out?

On Tuesday, the world woke up to a new missive from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and no one quite seemed to know what to make of it. In an open letter to the people of Brazil in that country's Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, Snowden appeared to make a subtle appeal for asylum from the Brazilian government -- and maybe hinted that he would help Brazil fight back against NSA surveillance in exchange for their protection.

Tags: united states, brazil, surveillance, edward snowden, national security agency

India Trims Perks For US Embassy Staff Over Diplomatic Row

India took retaliatory measures against the United States on Wednesday in a row over an Indian diplomat who complained of being stripped and forced to undergo “cavity searches” while in U.S. detention. The measures included a revision of work conditions of Indians employed at U.S. consulates and a freeze on the import of duty-free alcohol.

Tags: united states, india, new delhi, diplomatic immunity, new york, u.s. embassy, reciprocity

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