In his book, “A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for Mastery in Asia,” Aaron L. Friedberg says American diplomats are far too concerned with getting along with this Asian economic juggernaut at the expense of U.S. security interests.

It is within this cacophony of negativity and peril that I had the chance to meet and interview, not diplomats, nor politicians, but regular, young Pakistani citizens who happen to be in an acclaimed rock and roll band called Noori. Noori are on their first music tour of the United States, sponsored by the U.S. Department of States' new cultural diplomacy initiative, Center Stage.

More than 100 chiefs of protocol from 77 countries gathered in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Their summit is intended to prevent embarrassing gaffes by diplomats and heads of state. Has a breach of etiquette or diplomatic protocol ever caused an international crisis?

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games open July 27 in London. The Olympics give nations a chance to showcase their best in ways other than politics, warfare, and global one-upmanship.... Of course, wherever humans go, some element of politics follows. Sports, especially Olympic-caliber sports, have frequently crossed into the foreign policy realm

For China to trust the US, American elites indicated that it is necessary to enhance communication, understand cultural differences, and improve fair trade, the trade deficit and diplomatic cooperation. Similarly, Chinese elites urged communication and cooperation, non-interference in Chinese internal matters, reduced political posturing, and respecting and understanding China.

The “American brand” features the United States as an incubator of creative goods and services, and of entrepreneurial companies, many of which spread their best practices through their products, trade partnerships and investments around the world.

This past week, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission ordered the closure of 44 foreign and domestic media outlets in the country. Among them was the Voice of America, a U.S.-run news organization and quite possibly our biggest public diplomacy tool.