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.

Social Media: Lessons for Public Diplomacy?

Some of the bloom is "off" the social media rose. Two years have passed since the initial demonstrations in Tahrir Square, and today not many journalists or other “new media” enthusiasts still claim that Twitter started, sustained or steered the 2011 Egyptian uprising. Indeed, many of the participants vociferously challenge the idea that Twitter or Facebook were anywhere nearly as important as their own determined efforts.

Tags: arab spring, public diplomacy, social media, twitter

All American Baseball & Softball Coaching Camp at Imphal

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has teamed-up Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley as U.S. sports envoys to India reaching Manipur on February 13. Working with Major League Baseball and USA Softball, ECA designed this first-ever joint baseball and softball program to encourage youth participation in sports. Joseph (Joe) Logan, a former player with the Montreal Expos organization and coach of the Orlando Reds Baseball Club in the U.S., will accompany Larkin and Watley.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, government pd, public diplomacy, india, sports diplomacy, us department of state, baseball

Diplomatic Official Calls for Nuanced Approach to African Politics

Michael Pelletier (SFS ’86), deputy assistant secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs in the U.S. State Department, argued for a nuanced interpretation of growing turmoil caused by violent extremism in West Africa on Monday afternoon. Pelletier discussed the recent strife in Algeria and Mali and cautioned the audience to be mindful of labelling political organizations in West Africa.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, africa, us department of state, algeria, mali

Soap Opera Diplomacy: Turkish TV in Greece

Though Greek culture is famous for its sociability and its nightlife, the country’s economic crisis is making people spend a little more time at home with their TVs. And with Greek TV channels looking for cheaper content, the airwaves are now filled with imported Turkish soap operas, says Asli Tunç, head of the Media School at Istanbul Bilgi University.

Tags: soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, media, public diplomacy, turkey, greece, television diplomacy, soap opera

Uncovering Logics of Technology in U.S. Public Diplomacy

How does the evidence Hanson points to reveal some sense of change in the institutional logics that underscore the practice of public diplomacy and, more generally, that of U.S. diplomacy? "Baked in" suggests that technologies and their use have settled into more legitimated practices, been incorporated into institutional norms, and otherwise become a part of the common-place material "equipment" of diplomacy.

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

Human Rights and the Failings of U.S. Public Diplomacy in Eurasia

The United States has two distinct approaches to human rights violations in the countries of the former Soviet Union. When it is in Washington's perceived strategic interest, the U.S. government normally remains quiet. When its strategic interests are not at stake, U.S. officials speak forcefully and work to expose human rights violations and corruption.

Tags: united states, government pd, public diplomacy, europe, human rights, eurasia

Under China’s Shadow, India Looks to Australia

For the past few years, as China’s emergence has cast an increasing shadow over the region, Canberra’s strategic thinkers have tried to interest New Delhi in the concept of the “Indo-Pacific” as the two former colonies of Britain, now two leading democracies, find common ground.

Tags: china, soft power, public diplomacy, india, australia, trade diplomacy, economic diplomacy, military diplomacy

Australia’s New National Security Paper: Lost Opportunities?

The authors have been looking too much at what the US is espousing and not at what the US is actually doing in the Asia-Pacific. Most tensions between the US and China seem to be smoothly dispersed and resolved through very subtle diplomacy, such as the deal done about the fate of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who took refuge in the American Embassy last year.

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

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