To be an effective public diplomat, you need a well of sufficient soft power resources on which to draw. There is no canonical definition of public diplomacy (PD), but the official practice of it involves using informational, educational, and cultural tools to engage with international audiences to advance foreign policy goals. For the United States, PD officials often design strategies and employ tools that leverage what makes America popular and attractive.

Inland Empire musician and UC Riverside alumnus Eddie Valencia recently got the chance to utilize his talent as a percussionist — in Russia. He took part in OneBeat, a global music-based diplomacy program. Valencia first participated in the domestic version of the program in 2015, but returned this year to step out of his musical comfort zone and explore the sounds and styles of Russia.

We’ve written recently about widespread concerns in the foreign policy community — both within and outside the State Department — over the management, direction and role of the State Department under former oil company chief executive Rex Tillerson. [...] Now the amateurism and arrogance has reached constitutional dimensions. On the day President Trump grudgingly and without public ceremony signs Russia sanctions legislation, State has managed to undermine the impression we are serious about curbing Russian behavior.