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.
Adventures in Caucasus Film Diplomacy
Can film festivals help the countries of the South Caucasus make art, not war? Some local cultural figures and advocacy groups contend that the language of cinematography can overcome ethnic feuds and geopolitical jousting, but, so far, realizing that goal has proven to be a daunting task.
U.S. Undersecretary Of State For Public Diplomacy Talks About America’s Image
Judith McHale, the U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, has been tasked with leading America’s engagement with the people of the world. It's a daunting job description with many obvious challenges. But the former CEO says she's making progress. McHale, during a visit to Prague, sat down with RFE/RL senior correspondent Jeremy Bransten to discuss her work.
Islam and the West: Reaching Intercultural Understanding
The signatories below and I welcome the many initiatives that are underway among governments, in civil society, and within the religious community to expand areas of cooperation between the Muslim community and other actors. President Obama's trip to Indonesia this week is an important example of the high-level attention that must be given to these relationships.
How the Cell Phone Is Changing the World
More than 4 billion of the 6 billion people on earth now have a cell phone, with a quarter of those owners getting one in just the last two years. And many are using them, in a giant global experiment, to change the way life is lived, from Manhattan to Ouagadougou.
Barack Obama’s India Trip: The View Through a Soft Power Lens
Now that President Barack Obama has concluded his $200 million per day trip to India (just kidding—that risible far right-wing canard has been thoroughly debunked), it’s a good moment for some initial thoughts about the soft power dimensions of the episode.
Art Fair Illustrates Abu Dhabi’s Commitment to Culture
“Abu Dhabi Art is part of a greater vision to build transnational cultural institutions to ensure that the Arab world is not isolated,” said Rita Aoun Abdo, director of the cultural department of Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development and Investment Co., or T.D.I.C., which co-organized the fair and is the agency behind the development of Saadiyat Island.
In defense of Obama’s Muslim outreach
But today it's worth stepping back and offering some praise. The administration has stuck with the president's clear commitment to restoring positive relations with the Muslims of the world despite all the setbacks, when it would have been really easy to give up or change course.
Journalists’ confab in Spain looks at Mideast in the media
Last week's two-day conference, “International Encounter of Journalists: Media Treatment of the Middle East,” was organized to “create a space for reflection and meaningful dialogue about media treatment of the Middle East and its influence on Spanish public opinion.”
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