April 1

"In truth, it is impossible to sever public relations from Aristotelian rhetoric, Pauline Christianity, the papal patronage of Michelangelo and Bernini, the ecstacy of St Teresa, the fugues of Bach, and the architecture of the Sistine Chapel."

--PR expert Robert E. Brown; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Clinton rejects public diplomacy -- AP: "Calling it 'an outmoded concept of the Cold War,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the Obama administration was abandoning its use of the term. 'Nobody has ever told me exactly what public diplomacy is. And, frankly, I don't really care to know," she told reporters after attending the 'International Conference on Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context' in The Hague on March 31."

Clinton Announces Second Tech-Inspired Youth Summit - Nancy Scola, techPresident: “Speaking to an audience at Monterrey, Mexico's TecMilenio University, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced plans for a second Alliance of Youth Movements summit, to be held in Mexico City in September. The first AYM, held at Columbia Law School this winter, was a Bush-era project that quickly came together out of some shared thinking between Facebook, the U.S. State Department, HowCast, and a few other tech companies. There's sort of two different strains of thinking behind it. The first (and more public) thread is that social-networking tools can help people all over the world resist oppressive governments. At the New York City event this winter, the stars of the day were folks like Oscar Morales, who used Facebook to organize against the FARC guerilla group in Colombia, and the creators of No Mas Chavez, a Facebook group against the Venezuelan leader. The second is more subtext: that the United States can win over hearts and minds online to the American way of thinking. On his way out of Foggy Bottom, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman had wondered aloud how supportive of those 'public diplomacy 2.0' efforts the new presidential administration and new Secretary of State would be.” Image from

Virtual safe havens and the war of ideas - Thomas Hegghammer, jihadica: “For several years people in Washington have been discussing public diplomacy in the misguided belief that it is somehow enough to tinker with the form and distribution techniques of 'our message' to win the war of ideas. The elephant in the room (or in the Beltway) is that the war of ideas has to be waged on substance. It is very simple: 1) Say and do things on Palestine, Chechnya and Kashmir that make Muslims feel less geopolitically deprived and humiliated. 2) Be nice to the locals in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and broadcast your good deeds, 3) Point out where the jihadis are wrong on substance, and 4) Let mainstream Muslim clerics take care of the theology. In the meantime we can and should do things to limit the Internet’s effectiveness as a propaganda tool, but at the end of the day the Internet is just the messenger.” Image from

Washington Institute for Near East Policy publishes 'counterradicalization' report - Rusty Cawley, Home Station: “The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has released 'Rewriting the Narrative: An Integrated Strategy for Counterradicalization,' the final report of the Task Force on Confronting the Ideology of Radical Extremism, a bipartisan, blue-ribbon commission of diplomats, legislators, strategists, scholars, and experts. From the report's web page: '(The task force's) report provides analysis and recommendations on a spectrum of discrete policy issues -- democracy promotion, political reform, public diplomacy, strategic communications, and counterradicalization -- offering an integrated approach to stanching the spread of Islamist extremism. The extensive recommendations suggest an array of policy instruments, from creating a counterradicalization forum that draws on 'best practices' of friends and partners in Europe and the Middle East, to infusing with renewed mission, urgency, and creativity U.S. international broadcasting toward Arab and Muslim societies.'" Image from

Why Afghanistan is important: flashback to April 2007 - Christopher Mewett, Leviathan in Lilliput: “Abandoning Afghanistan to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, however attractive it may seem in light of the attention and effort commanded by the steady dissolution of the nascent free Iraq, would be a perfect public diplomacy storm of military failure, sacrificed international goodwill, and eroded American credibility.”

Essential Documents: NATO's Afghanistan Report, 2009 – Council on Foreign Relations: "This NATO report states, 'This is the second Annual Report on Afghanistan produced by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. It does not attempt to catalogue each and every activity being carried out by all international actors, individual nations and the Afghan Government. It does, however, offer a general look at progress in each of the three main lines of effort in which NATO-ISAF is involved, directly or in a supporting role: security, governance and development.

And it goes beyond setting out only what NATO-ISAF has done; it attempts to provide the reader with a broader and more balanced picture, including both elements of progress and those areas in which more needs to be done. The conclusion we draw from this report is simple: while the challenges in Afghanistan remain huge, so is the international will and the international effort to help the Afghan people overcome them. A strong foundation is being built – more slowly than we would like, but steadily – for a better, more secure future for the Afghan people, including through this year’s Presidential elections, the second after the fall of the Taliban.'" Image from

What’s Behind Public Diplomacy’s Uncritical Dismissal of Public Relations? – Robert E. Brown, Gathering the Light: “Is public diplomacy all that different from public relations? After all, strategically speaking, both are historically and philosophically traceable to rhetorical foundations. Both are concerned with power.”

NATO Increases Video Presence With Online and Broadcast Distribution via The NewsMarket: As 60th Anniversary Approaches, NATO to Make Video Available to the Media Globally via www.thenewsmarket.com/NATO - press release, SYS-CON Media: "'Following the recommendations from the Heads of State and Government at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, NATO Public Diplomacy Division has developed a comprehensive strategy to engage with young audiences and increase their information and knowledge about NATO's commitments. Together with our Internet TV (www.natochannel.tv) and the NATO website (www.nato.int), this new channel will enable us to further extend the reach of our video globally,' said Jean François Bureau, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy." Image from

NATO To Launch Propaganda Videos Via YouTube - Deutsche Presse Agentur, posted by David Barouski at World News Journal: "NATO is reaching out to young audiences in the West by posting three unconventional advertisement videos on the popular You Tube website, alliance officials said Monday. The videos, which last about 45 seconds each, are designed to raise awareness about the trans-Atlantic alliance's role in the world by arguing that security should not be taken for granted, even in developed countries."

Soft power, hard reality: On the prospects for public diplomacy – The Acorn: “A key goal of public diplomacy is to bring around other countries to support India. It may be possible in a general sense. But if it is defined as convincing governments of other countries to support the positions and policies of the government of India, it is a different ball game altogether. That requires the creation, cultivation, engagement and use of interest groups which can bear upon foreign governments. Bollywood and Bharatanatyam are of marginal significance in this respect. An international television channel — an Indian CNN (which is not the same as an international Doordarshan) — will be more useful.”

Nepal: New ‘Strategic Partner’ of China? Nihar Nayak - IDSA Strategic Comments: "There has been a major shift in China’s foreign policy towards Nepal since the Maoist ascendance to power. … Nepal’s engagements with China have also increased manifold with the visit of delegations both at State and non-state levels. Apart from visits at the official levels, private visits by political leaders, journalists and academicians are also sponsored by China as part of public diplomacy. During these visits Chinese authorities have reportedly assured all kinds of support to the Maoist government in its efforts aimed at laying the foundation for a ‘New Nepal’." Image from

Why Should Turkey Normalize Her Relations with Armenia? – Birsen Goksu, Turkish Weekly: "[C]onsidering that, in our period, public diplomacy does not matter only at the margins any more, Turkey must give weight to shaping the lenses through which Armenian people see Turkey. Today, public opinion matters in the conduct of foreign policy more than ever. For that reason, even if an immediate establishment of diplomatic relations cannot be expected in the short and mid-run, opening borders with Armenia, increasing the number of direct flights to Yerevan and establishing more trade links between the two countries would make a substantial increase in the interaction channels between two societies and this would have a crucial impact on the point of views through which both nations see each other.“

Labor trashes Australia in key Asian capitals - Julie Bishop, Liberal Party of Australia: "[T]he Treasurer Wayne Swan and Trade Minister Simon Crean have both introduced 'the race card' on trips to Tokyo and Beijing. … It is appalling that two leading voices for the Rudd Government would during visits to these two key neighbours revive the obnoxious spectre of anti-Asian xenophobia in Australia merely to support a cynical political strategy hatched by Labor spin doctors back at home. Through this course of action, Mr Swan and Mr Crean have hijacked Australia’s public diplomacy in order to play partisan politics." Image from

CFR Unveils Global Governance Agenda - comment by Maxmars, abovetopsecret.com: "The Foreign Policy Centre is a leading foreign affairs think tank that was launched in 1998 under the patronage of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to develop a vision of a fair and rule-based world order. Through our research, publications and events, the Centre aims to develop innovative policy ideas which promote: * Effective multilateral solutions to global problems * Democratic and well-governed states as the foundation of order and development * Partnerships with the private sector to deliver public goods * Support for progressive policy through effective public diplomacy * Inclusive definitions of citizenship to underpin internationalist policies."

Boy Abunda fulfills desire to get a degree, pursues higher education - Trisha Alvarez, PEP News Feed: “Umaapaw ang kasiyahan ng TV host na si Boy Abunda nang i-announce niya sa The Buzz noong Linggo, March 29, na nakatapos na siya sa kursong kinuha niya, ang Communication Arts, at ang masteral degree niya on International Relation on Public Diplomacy, sa Philippine Women's University.”

First assignment - Vijay Kumar, Classroom: “Maintaining the balance between freedom and responsibility of the press is a challenge. …

A modern, democratic state needs to be prepared to deftly handle this tool of public diplomacy during a crisis. The media failed the nation during the Mumbai terror attacks.” Image from

Video Blog: On Public Diplomacy - Wings Over Iraq

Preview Session – Paul Rockower, Levantine: “Today is the preview session for incoming public diplomacy students. I can't believe it has been a year since I was visiting USC, looking into the program. It seems like a lifetime ago. The preview program really sold me and got me excited. … I'm doing my part for the preview session by taking part in a Q&A dinner session with the students sans profs- I get to give them the lowdown on the pub d world. And, as typical Paul fashion, why pass up a free meal?

One last climbing trip? - Dave, Rock and Roll Mali:

“I have been invited to the Foreign Service Oral Exam (the final test/interview before I find out if I will be hired as a Public Diplomacy Officer) on July 10 in Washington DC. It is a strange feeling knowing that I will be leaving Mali in under three months.” Image from

New book recounts RFE/RL during the Cold War years - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy: Cold War Radio: The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe, 1950–1989.

Uganda Jobline - Top jobs, resumes & career resources across Uganda: "MANAGEMENT NOTICE American Embassy, Kampala VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT - Re-advertised OPEN TO: All Qualified Candidates POSITION TITLE: Information Assistant POSITION LOCATION: Public Diplomacy HOURS OF WORK: 40 hours per week POSITION GRADE: FP-S; FSN-9 The American Embassy Kampala is seeking an individual for the position of Information Assistant."

RELATED ITEMS

Havana Biennial, in Which Chelsea Takes a Field Trip to Cuba - Ian Urbina, New York Times: The “Chelsea Visits Havana” show opened on Saturday as part of the 10th Havana Biennial and gives the Cuban art world a look at the New York art scene. A dozen American artists and scores of critics and buyers flocked to the island to enjoy themselves, show their wares and, perhaps, offer solidarity to Cuban artists, many of whom were denied travel visas to the United States to sell their work during the eight years of the Bush administration. Image from

Eyes of the World Are on Obama - Jeff Zeleny, New York Times: What will be tested: whether Mr. Obama’s celebrity can help overcome resentment of the United States for its role in the global economic crisis.

R.I.P. 'global war on terror': It's all over, including the shouting – Editorial, Washington Times: How can a nation win a war if it can't call it a war? Image from

War is over, if you want it:

The phrase that guided Bush-era defense policy never made sense - Our view, Baltimore Sun

To Bush's GWOT, RIP - Robert Parry, Consortium News: President Barack Obama has come under some criticism for slowing his promised withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and for beefing up U.S. forces in Afghanistan, but his 70-day-old administration at least has dumped one part of George W. Bush's bellicose foreign policy: the phrase "global war on terror."

Boycotting Obama at Notre Dame Is Vulgar Zealotry - William Pfaff, Truthdig: Obama has just decided to continue prosecuting his predecessor’s “long” and fruitless war against Muslim religious extremists, a war that causes a lot of human misery to weigh up against the misery of abortion deaths -- and worse, it is caused by active public policy, not legalization of private action. Image from

Afghanistan Is Not Iraq: Propagating the myth of the "moderate Taliban" is a leap backward in American understanding - Stephen Schwartz, Weekly Standard

Charm Offensive: Bush fundamentally misunderstood the Iranian regime--will Obama fall into the same trap? Laura Secor, New Republic: Rapprochement with an oppressive and unpopular regime in Tehran could solve many geopolitical problems, but it would also recall America's shortsighted policy toward the Shah.

North Korea’s Test – Editorial, New York Times: However tortuous, firm and patient engagement offers the best chance of curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and its missile program.

In Defense of Genocide: An Arab summit embraces the butcher of Darfur – Editorial, Washington Post:

If the Obama administration and the rest of the civilized world needed further demonstration of why the promotion of democracy and human rights must be central to any policy for the Middle East, Omar Bashir's reception in Doha ought to suffice. Bashir image from

Standing firm on Burma - Judd Gregg, Boston Globe: The price of America's greatness is a responsibility to stand by courageous democrats in Burma.

Iran, Russia, Georgia Singled Out As Threatening Internet Freedom - RFE/RL

IMAGE


Image from