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.

Behind the U.S. State Department's SXSW-Focused Cultural Exchange with Pakistan

It's normal to run across SXSW showcases in Austin funded by foreign countries helping their local musicians attempt to break into the world's largest music market. It's unusual to find a showcase with six acts from Pakistan on a trip paid for by the U.S. State Department.

Tags: united states, Cultural Diplomacy, international exchange, pakistan, sxsw

China Trounces U.S. ‘Smart Power’

The Obama Administration has advertised that by using “smart power” it would enhance U.S. influence around the world. So it’s worth noting an episode in which China is routing the U.S. in economic diplomacy.

Tags: china, united states, soft power, economic development, public diplomacy

China's Soft-Power Push, Coming To a TV Near You

Beijing has long sought to boost its "soft power" abroad, spending billions of yuan on expanding the international presence of its state-run media -- including broadcaster CCTV and official news agency Xinhua -- and through its ubiquitous government-sponsored language centres, known as Confucius Institutes.

Tags: china, international broadcasting, united states, public diplomacy, cctv, xinhua, soft power

NGV’s Forbidden City Exhibition Has Emperor Qianlong at its Heart

Welcome to the world of Qianlong (pronounced Chee-ann-long), China’s longest serving emperor. Qianlong (1711-99), who reigned from 1736 to 1795, is one of the most important figures in Chinese history. And this month he’s coming to Australia.

Tags: china, australia, Cultural Diplomacy, art exhibition, public diplomacy, qianlong

Nile Musicians Urge Cooperation, Not Conflict, in Battle Over Water Rights

A collective of musicians from 11 Nile basin countries performed in New York City on Thursday night in a bid to demonstrate the need for cross-border cooperation — and to encourage people in Nile nations to think of themselves as more of a unified entity — as the region inches toward conflict over rights to water from the world’s longest river.

Tags: non state pd, public diplomacy, music diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, nile river

A Strategy for Japan’s Public Diplomacy in the United States

Japan has lost ground to Korea and China in U.S. public perceptions. Here’s what it can do about it.

Tags: japan, united states, china, korea, public diplomacy, history and theory, public opinion

In the Middle East, Events Are Outpacing U.S. Policy

The Obama administration began its dealings with the Arab world on a hopeful note, as exemplified by the President's 2009 Cairo speech. Since then, despite increased U.S. public diplomacy efforts in the region, American policy has been perceived as hostile, or at least uncaring, toward Arabs.

Tags: israel, united states, iran, turkey, bashar al-assad, benjamin netanyahu

The UK is the Development World's Silicon Valley

The UK accounts for roughly one in every seven of the world’s aid dollars. Is this post-colonial guilt or the organic development of a centre of expertise?

Tags: united kingdom, global aid and development, clusters, government pd, public diplomacy

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