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.

A new world for U.S., Arabs

The events unfolding in Tunisia and Egypt are part of an arc of profound political change across the Arab world. Each country has its own historical contours, but this moment is offering a cumulative example that demonstrates that the times are indeed changing. And the ways in which the U.S. engages the Arab world must change accordingly. Fast.

Tags: united states, middle east, egypt, crisis coverage, tunisia, arab

Invested in ‘soft power,’ India awaits Karzai visit

New Delhi has pledged $1.3 billion in reconstruction aid to the violence-racked nation since 2001, making it Afghanistan's fifth-largest donor. It has built roads and hospitals, maintained a generous visa policy and educated many of the country's top leaders, including Karzai, who was scheduled to arrive Wednesday for a two-day visit.

Tags: soft power, india, pakistan, afghanistan, aid diplomacy

Soft power: Learning from China’s charms

On the other hand, however, a number of countries — such as China, India and other emerging powers — have been expanding their influence through fast development in terms of global issues and diplomatic approaches. It is a new era, where every nation is engaged in tough competition with others in respect to their own national interests.

Tags: china, soft power, public opinion, indonesia

These Revolutions Are Not All Twitter

The Middle East’s latest unrest has revived once again a tired debate about the power of social media. Recent headlines gush about the arrival of the “Facebook Revolution” or “Twitter Diplomacy.”

Tags: social media, egypt, new technology, twitter, facebook

In Digital Age, ‘Future Of Power’ Must Be Smart

Joseph Nye coined the term "soft power," but he says that strategy alone is no longer enough. In The Future of Power, Nye explains that in the global information age, superpowers need a "smart power" strategy — the hard power of coercion and payment, plus the soft power of persuasion and attraction.

Tags: china, soft power, smart power, joseph nye

Academics plead for foreign students

David Cameron’s attempt to cap yearly immigration by slashing foreign student numbers threatens to strip Britain of a crucial source of “soft power” on the world stage, according to senior figures at two leading universities.

Tags: soft power, educational exchange, universities

Revamping Public Diplomacy at the State Department

Since the abolishment of the United States Information Agency, the State Department has struggled to balance the need of the embassies with what Washington perceived was needed. This challenge has been particularly acute on the Internet where the resulting mix of information and voices can undermine the very purpose and effectiveness of engagement.

Tags: united states, us department of state, smith-mundt act

Public Diplomacy and Egypt’s Real-Time Revolution

As events in Egypt move forward, the United States has appeared to be a befuddled bystander, reacting slowly and with a muted voice that cannot be heard above the din of those demanding freedom.

Tags: middle east, international broadcasting, social media, egypt, crisis coverage, twitter, al jazeera, barack obama, alhurra

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