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.

Qatar Eyes Fast Track to Soft Power with Formula One stake

Next month, well-heeled punters will flock to the Qatar Goodwood Festival for one of the highlights of the British horse racing calendar.

Tags: qatar, soft power, sports diplomacy

Britain Deploys Soft Power Against Isis

It wasn’t the kind of policy statement that would restore Britain to a central role in geopolitical crises. But the announcement that caught my attention in recent days was a smart deployment of soft power, of which the UK has plenty to offer. John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, claimed for Britain a pivotal role in the fight against cultural destruction, which he described as an affront to common human values.

Tags: isis, britain, soft power

Russia's Defense Ministry Takes 'Color Revolutions' in Their Sights

The General Staff Academy of Russia’s Armed Forces is set to work out a complex manual on countering so-called “color revolutions”, which will incorporate the expertise of Russian military experts who developed counterterrorist operations in the North Caucasus and of civilian experts from the country’s leading educational establishments. [...] The experts will also work on the “soft power” method (non-contact impact on potential enemy), asymmetric operations and measures to strengthen Russia’s political system and the political culture of the politicians, civil servants, businessmen and oth

Tags: russia, soft power, color revolution, military guide

Uganda On The Beat: Suzi Analogue’s Beatmaking Notes From Kampala

This is Suzi Analogue here. If you’re now tuning in, ki kati from Kampala, Uganda. I am here, live in East Africa, from NYC (by way of a handful of other dope East Coast cities) instructing a beatmaking class at a cultural center here for youth. My background is a producer/songwriter. The class is a part of a cultural diplomacy program called Next Level that shares hip-hop around the world as a way for us to promote peace and understanding worldwide.

Tags: uganda, music diplomacy, next level, hip hop diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy

China, US Group to Study Heart Health

The American Heart Association and China Tuesday formalized a partnership to educate the Chinese about cardiovascular disease and train people in CPR as ways to reduce deaths in the country. The agreement provides for exchanges of researchers, doctors and public health specialists to work alongside counterparts in the U.S. and China. It also provides for teams of scientists to work together to advance scientific knowledge of cardiovascular health.

Tags: united states, china, medical diplomacy, science and technology

UN's Decision to Mark Yoga Day Shows India's Soft Power: Swaraj

UN's decision to commemorate the International Day of Yoga underlines the appreciation for India and its growing soft power, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.

Swaraj, who addressed the first International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UN, also attended a function marking the day at the Hindu Temple Society of North America yesterday.

The way the day was commemorated around the globe, "the world had made the first International Day of Yoga its own," Swaraj said at the Hindu Temple Society of North America.

Tags: International Yoga Day, india, soft power

Social Media Analysis: How an Iranian Kurdish Woman's Death Triggered a Regional Social Media Conflict

Tensions Peak After A Kurdish Woman Falls to Her Death

Tags: iran, digital diplomacy, saudi arabia

Public diplomacy and Rotary

Many people think that international diplomacy is only conducted by national leaders at conferences and embassies. In fact diplomacy is conducted every day by average citizens. The United States Department of State is aware of the importance of citizen-level cross-cultural exchange as a means of increasing international harmony. The State Department refers to this citizen to citizen exchange as public diplomacy. The Rotary Club of Ellensburg, a chapter of Rotary International, is very involved in a particular form of public diplomacy: international student exchange programs.

Tags: Rotary International, United States Department of State

Pages

Stay in the Know

Public Diplomacy is a dynamic field, and CPD is committed to keeping you connected and informed about the critical developments that are shaping PD around the world. 

Depending on your specific interests, you can subscribe to one or more of CPD's newsletters >.

Visit CPD's Online Library

Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.