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.

Diplomacy Must Embrace Digiculture

Digital behavior, trends, and opportunities can raise awareness of particular issues in a country. This extends well beyond, for example, simply posting a few tweets as a form of diplomacy. According to Ambassador Rudolf Bekink of the Embassy of the Netherlands, “the digital arena opens new possibilities, from one-on-one conversations to dialogues with communities.” Traditional diplomacy is still relevant, he says, “but digital diplomacy adds enormously to the capabilities of every diplomat.” 

Tags: digital diplomacy, technology, twitter diplomacy, ambassadors, public diplomacy

Nation Branding Reconsidered

While the interest is only increasing among nations in applying branding practices in promoting tourism, investment and overall country perception, the academic treatment of the subject has been narrow and cursory. In my new book Shaping China’s Global Imagination: Branding Nations at the World Expo, I delineate the concept and practice of nation branding by comparing the various ways nations sought to engage the Chinese populace through the medium of pavilion space at the Shanghai World Expo.

Tags: asia pacific, nation branding, china, Shanghai Expo 2010, soft power, consumer brand perception, communication, image

Hasbara, Public Diplomacy and Propaganda

I am often asked, “Why doesn’t Israel do a better job in presenting its case?” In other words, “Why does Israel fail so miserably with hasbara?” 

Tags: public diplomacy, israel, propaganda, conflict, soft power

Democracy’s Last World Cup?

In recent months, German, Swiss, Swedish, and Polish bids to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics have been withdrawn over concerns about cost. Munich and Davos-St. Moritz withdrew after voters rejected their Olympic bids. So did Krakow, where more than 70 percent voted against the idea in a referendum, despite the perceived success of the feel-good European soccer championships held in Poland and Ukraine in 2012.

Tags: world cup, soccer, democracy, authoritarian regimes, sport diplomacy

PH Radio Programs Now Available to Filipinos in US via Mobile Phone

Filipinos in the United States can now listen to radio broadcasts from the Philippines on their mobile phones with the launching of the second phase of a public diplomacy initiative to connect them with the motherland. The availability in the US of broadcasts from six leading Filipino radio stations, including the Catholic-run Radio Veritas, was announced by the Philippine Embassy and AudioNow, the world’s leading call-to-listen platform, on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of Philippine independence.

Tags: philippines, public diplomacy, international broadcasting, digital diplomacy, philippine diaspora

Australia Risks International Disgrace at World Heritage Meeting

The annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting can be an exciting time for anyone who loves this planet's animals, plants and precious places.This year's meeting, which starts on Monday in Doha, Qatar, is shaping up to be very different story and it could actually prove quite an embarrassing affair for Australia. Firstly, the Australian Government is requesting that the World Heritage Committee remove World Heritage protection from ancient forests in Tasmania so that they can be logged.

Tags: australia, tony abbott, climate change, environment, tourism, unesco world heritage sites

Fusion, No Confusion

Jamsteady recently played host to two different kinds of performance. One was a performance by a local jazz rock band, while the other was that by hip-hop artists from the US. The gig also featured a street play and performance by a musical ensemble. The next event saw American hip-hop troupe, Next Level, perform along with local hip-hop enthusiasts and dancers at a city nightclub.

Tags: next-level, music diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy, india, hip-hop diplomacy

Why China Won’t Eclipse the United States

If it is hard to measure power and harder to measure influence, how will observers be able to tell if and when China has eclipsed the U.S. as the world’s superpower?

Tags: united states, china, hard power, soft power, smart power

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