Latest Must-Reads in Public Diplomacy: August 2019

The August edition of CPD Faculty Fellow Bruce Gregory's public diplomacy reading list is now available. Known affectionately at CPD as "Bruce's List," this list is a compilation of books, journal articles, papers and blogs on a wide variety of PD topics and features a number of CPD scholars.

Highlights from this latest list include:

Kathy Fitzpatrick, Candace L. White and Lindsey M. Bier, “C-suite Perspectives on Corporate Diplomacy as a Component of Public Diplomacy,” Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, May 2019. Fitzpatrick (American University), White (University of Tennessee) and Bier (University of Southern California) examine how corporate executives understand the concept and practice of so-called “corporate diplomacy” and the potential for public-private public diplomacy partnerships. Based on their interviews, the authors reach two broad conclusions. (1) Corporate communication officers have little interest in promoting national images, cultures and values among foreign publics, and they perceive no obligation to support government public diplomacy objectives. Rather they seek to advance economic self-interest through creation of corporate identities and brands, and development of beneficial operating environments. (2) Nevertheless, opportunities exist for public diplomats to collaborate with corporations on issues that serve public and corporate interests such as food safety, education, disaster relief and health care. Their article contains a literature review, analysis of relevant concepts and definitions in both corporate and diplomacy domains, assessments of implications of their findings, and suggestions for future research.

“USAGM 2018 Annual Report,” August 2019, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This report from the rebranded USAGM (formerly the Broadcasting Board of Governors) provides information on the programs, audience levels, budgets, strategies and media environments of the federal Agency’s five networks: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. According to USAGM’s CEO John Lansing, USAGM “made the most significant progress yet in our transformation into a modern and nimble media enterprise.” In a report long on proclaimed achievements and short on critical self-examination, Lansing gives particular emphasis to “our largest audience growth ever—a jump from 278 million in 2017 to a total of 345 million in 2018.” For a thoughtful critique of USAGM’s presentation of its audience numbers, see Kim Andrew Elliott, “The USAGM Audience Increase: Less Startling Than Meets the Eye,” March 27, 2019, CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy.

Ellen Huijgh, Public Diplomacy at Home: Domestic Dimensions, (Brill, Nijhoff, 2019). Ellen Huijgh’s pioneering scholarship led the way to a new and deeper understanding of the domestic dimensions of public diplomacy as practiced by state, sub-state, and civil society actors. Her publications include numerous articles, editing and co-authoring a special edition of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy on “The Domestic Dimensions of Public Diplomacy,” and co-editing the Oxford Bibliographies Online 2013 edition of Public Diplomacy. She was affiliated with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ and a non-resident fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center on Public Diplomacy. Her innovative work, transnational and cross-cultural, provides a foundation for future scholarship and debate on her thought-provoking ideas. Many thanks to Jan Melissen, Series Editor, Brill Diplomatic Studies, and Brill’s Irene Van Rossum for compiling this collection of her publications. Ellen was a friend and valued colleague of many readers of this list. Her untimely death in 2018 cut short a promising career, but she left us with important publications, valuable insights and practice-oriented concepts that continue to gain traction.  

The full list, including works by CPD Faculty Fellows James Pamment and Corneliu Bjola, CPD Doctoral Dissertation Award Recipient (2018-19) Phillip C. Arceneaux, and CPD Blog Contributors Lynda Jessup, Olga Krasnyak and Ilan Manor,  is available here.