In his 2007 book Blessed Unrest, journalist/social entrepreneur/environmentalist Paul Hawken estimates that around 2 million citizen-led organizations – initiatives started by individuals to address social problems – are in existence worldwide. People have stepped up to address a broad array of global challenges, when government and traditional institutions have failed.

CPD Research Fellow Caitlin Byrne(2010-2012) is one of the keynote speaker's at Australian National University's conference on 'Public and Citizen Diplomacy.'

Youth in Action is a new youth exchange program in Mexico... It will provide workshops in the United States for Mexican high school students so that they can develop their leadership and civic engagement skills. A joint public-private funded program, it emphasizes community problem-solving and grassroots action to address violence and drugs.

The international sister city movement was established by President Eisenhower in 1950s to promote the idea of citizen diplomacy. Citizen diplomacy is the concept of bringing people together outside of traditional bureaucratic diplomacy to build positive and productive relationships amongst citizens of the world.

Whether Americans realize it or not, our public diplomacy touches the lives of people around the world on a daily basis in unexpected ways: whether it’s a cup of Starbucks coffee; a McDonald’s Big Mac; a sporting event on television; or a music concert at a theater. The very things Americans often take for granted at home—be it food, sports, or some other form of entertainment—are also widely available around the world, exported to other countries for the pleasure – and sometimes displeasure – of foreign publics.

What does it mean when the term “diplomacy” is grafted onto another word?