The View From CPD April 2010

As students in the third cohort of the Master of Public Diplomacy program here at the University of Southern California prepare to graduate next month fully equipped and determined to tackle the world‘s public diplomacy challenges, it seems fitting to focus this issue on another key element of field-building – that of publications.

In addition to the research, professional training and event programming we do, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy prides itself on its strong publication program. Our publications range from news aggregation and analysis produced for this publication – <a target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/pdin_monitor/" href="https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/%3Ca%20href%3D"http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/pdin_monitor/">http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/pdin_monitor/" title="<i>PDiN Monitor</i>”><i>PDiN Monitor</i></a>, the <a target=_blank data-cke-saved-href=" http:="" uscpublicdiplomacy.org="" index.php="" newswire="" cpdblog_main="" author="" philip_seib="" "="">CPD Blog which features posts by a number of international PD scholars and practitioners, and the Center‘s paper series CPD Perspectives on Public Diplomacy whose second paper this year was contributed by Ali Fisher and focuses on identifying meaningful networks in public diplomacy. In addition, the Center‘s director Philip Seib recently launched a new Palgrave Macmillan series co-edited by him Global Public Diplomacy, the first title of which appeared last fall (Toward a New Public Diplomacy: Redirecting U.S. Public Diplomacy).

Given what seems to be a bounty of publications relevant to public diplomacy studies and practice this year – a newsworthy fact in itself, the April issue of PDiN Monitor focuses on yet another publication output of the Center, the CPD Book Reviews. Featuring brand new titles as well as seminal PD classics, the collection of reviews commissioned this month include Seib‘s review of Professor Zaharna‘s latest publication on U.S. Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy since 9/11 and a volume on Japan‘s Cultural Diplomacy by Ambassador Ogoura. Kishore Mahbubani‘s Beyond the Age of Innocence: Rebuilding Trust Between America and the World, was reviewed by CPD Consular Liaison and a graduate of the aforementioned MPD program Yael Swerdlow.

As if in recognition of the fact that the persuasive power of the pen is mightier than the sword, we have noted a profusion of articles about soft v. hard power.  Executive Director of Fulbright Canada Michael Hawes takes a closer look at Canada‘s commitment to a soft power strategy, and MPD graduate student Taleen Ananian ties together a group of international headlines from April dealing with soft and hard power.

On a sentimental note: This one is dedicated to the graduating members of the USC Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars – we are proud of your accomplishments, and look forward to your continued contributions to CPD and public diplomacy in general.