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.

Village Roadshow Finds Writers for ‘Ping Pong Diplomacy’

The book is based on the true story of the 1971 Table Tennis World Championships in Japan, where the unlikely friendship between American player Glenn Cowan and top China player Zhuang Zedong set the media ablaze and drove both administrations scrambling at the highest levels. 

Tags: ping pong diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, sports diplomacy, united states, china

Future Afghani Diplomats Trained

Fifteen entry-level diplomats from Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs started a two-week training program in Washington on Monday.  For the next two weeks, the group will learn about US policy regarding Afghanistan, US-China relations, public diplomacy and how foreign policy is developed in the US, with a goal towards developing diplomatic, communications and management skills.

Tags: china, united states, afghanistan, government pd, public diplomacy

U.S. Department of State Builds Bridge Between the Past and Present Through Virtual Exchange Program

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and PBS LearningMedia will host a series of blended online and in-person conversations about ancient civilizations with high school students, the first of which will take place on Wednesday, October 22.

Tags: united states, lebanon, middle east, international exchange, education exchange

Israel Hospital Treats Daughter of Palestinian Arch-Foe

An Israeli hospital said on Sunday that it has treated a daughter of Gaza Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, who is a sworn enemy of the Jewish state.

Tags: aid diplomacy, israel, gaza, conflict, foreign aid, health-care diplomacy

Indonesian Leader in Global Spotlight

In his previous life as a small-time furniture exporter and exhibitor, Joko Widodo was used to erecting stages. But in early November, just days after being sworn in as the president of Indonesia, he will now be sharing a stage with the world’s most powerful leaders.

Tags: indonesia, Joko Widodo, regional statue, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, G20 Summit

A New Face for India and Pakistan’s Track II Diplomacy

The recent violence along the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in Kashmir threatens confrontation yet again between the two nuclear armed neighbors. It also underscores the need to rescue the fragile Track II process from irrelevance, because ultimately it is through genuine people-to-people exchange that long-term peace between the two nations is possible.

Tags: india, pakistan, track II diplomacy, line of control, kashmir, nuclear, people to people exchange

China's Confucius Institutes: Self-Promotion or Cultural Imperialism?

While introducing Chinese language and culture to foreigners is a good idea, the aggressive attempt to do so via Confucius Institutes has proved problematic.

Tags: china, soft power, Cultural Diplomacy, cultural imperialism, united states, confucius institute

Islamic State’s Rules of Attraction, and Why U.S. Countermoves are Doomed

The U.S. State Department is producing anti-Islamic State propaganda to persuade American and other would-be jihadis not to join the extremist group. It’s ham-handed, and often sarcastic, and unlikely to have the intended effect. Why? Because the department fails to understand how Islamic State attracts recruits in the first place.

Tags: isil, counterinsurgency, united states, recruiting, propaganda, us state department

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.