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.
China’s Latest Geopolitical Assault on Latin American Commodities and Bilateral Trade
With Barack Obama’s administration in Washington thus far focusing its attention on the influence of Iran and Russia in the hemisphere, it is hard to gauge the potential U.S. reaction to China’s increasing exercise of soft power. However, given the relative indifference with which the new White House has tackled China on other fronts – notably over the issue of its alleged currency undervaluing – further evidence that the Hu regime means serious business in Latin America is unlikely to pass without some form of diplomatic or trade riposte from the White House.
A ‘Second Life’ for Public Diplomacy in the Middle East
The “Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds” project, carried out by Joshua Fouts and Rita King of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs has been the most recent initiative with an immense public diplomacy potential. The two researchers conclude that “engaging with people in virtual worlds who self-identify as Muslim can be part of a broader public diplomacy strategy to foster inclusive perspectives on religion, society and coexistence”.
Public Diplomacy Agonistes: Fear over the direction of “R”
Glassman's worry is that the job will revert to advertising-style burnishing of the image of the United States, rather than being a non-military way for the U.S. to combat violent extremism...Unlike a string of predecessors who treated the job as about improving America’s image abroad and who were uncomfortable with covert elements of U.S. strategic communications, some public diplomacy experts noted, Glassman focused on integrating the overt and covert elements of U.S. public diplomacy and strategic communications across agency lines.
Time to Scrap TV Marti, Critics Say
The GAO report has revived questions about the effectiveness of the Marti stations, as well as a perpetually poor standard of journalism. Internal reviews over the last five years found repeated problems, such as editorializing and "the presentation of individual views as news," the report said.
Georgia: Tbilisi Uses Divine Diplomacy in its Dealings with Rusia
With diplomatic ties between Georgia and Russia ruptured, the two countries’ shared Orthodox Christian faith has emerged as the primary conduit for dialogue between Tbilisi and Moscow..."This was a public diplomacy effort meant to coax politicians to the negotiations table," commented Deacon Mikael, who also serves as the Georgian patriarch’s secretary.
Oman to launch Brand Ambassador Program
The perceptions people have of Oman are critical to our ability to be recognized as a country in which to live, work, invest and visit. In this regard, it is imperative that we explore and understand perceptions of the sultanate and take immediate action to address our image and profile nationally and internationally. 'Launching the OBA initiative will be instrumental in helping Oman correct misperceptions and present an accurate and informed national image - one that we can be justifiably proud of,' says Sayyid Faisal.
15th Meeting of the Australia International Cultural Council
Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett this week co-chaired for the first time a meeting of the Australia International Cultural Council (AICC), the Australian Government's peak advisory body on cultural diplomacy. Members of the AICC, drawn from heads of major cultural institutions and leaders in the arts, highlighted the importance of an active cultural diplomacy program, aimed at strengthening people-to-people links and projecting an accurate picture of Australia's values and virtues to the world.
FEATURE: Environmental campaigner uses soft power
Tougher rhetoric has been followed by stringent targets, major clean-ups and reforestation programs. There is also increased tolerance of critical media coverage of environmental issues and a wary acceptance of small-scale international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). But enforcement remains woefully lax, and Ma — who was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 — hopes public scrutiny can pressure polluters to clean up, as it has in the US.
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