December 13

"Crazy is relative.”

--Film director James Cameron; "Avatar" -- Cameron's new film -- image from

"You go to countries that can’t get over what happened a thousand years ago. You know you’re in trouble when you say, 'Well, how are things going,' and they say, 'Well, if it hadn’t been for the crusades, everything would be fine.' (Laughter.)"

--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

VIDEO (Russia Today)

US diplomat: It's weird, people feel there are barriers between US and Russia - R i g h t a r d i a: An initiative has been launched by the US to expand ties with Russia in all spheres of society. Sophie Shevardnadze talked to Judith McHale, US Under Secretary of State for public diplomacy and public affairs.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

U.S. Promises to Send More Students to China: Quality AND Quantity? - James Ketterer, Global Engagement [November 29] - "While I applaud the administration’s focus on increasing international educational experiences for American students (President Obama’s trip to Cairo also promised increases like this, although without the dramatic numbers), I urge all involved to ensure that this increase in the quantity of students is accompanied by an increase in the quality of the educational experience. What sorts of programs will these Americans students be part of? For a semester? A summer? The increasingly popular mid-winter break overseas experience? I am loathe to diminish the value of any international experience we can get U.S. students to sign up for - but I also hope that within the 100,000 students set to go to China that as many as possible stay for at least a semester, are enrolled in legitimate Chinese universities, take classes with Chinese students and - to the extent possible - live, eat and study alongside their Chinese classmates. In other words, we should work toward as deep an experience as possible and not settle for pref-fab programs in which Americans study only with other Americans and often have American professors; it’s like being in Ithaca, Austin or Ann Arbor with some really neat field trips and endless opportunities to buy souvenirs. It takes more than just being in another country to have a valuable international experience."

RFA [Radio free Asia] president: Article 19 applies to Asia, too - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy:

"The 1975 Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, known as the Helsinki Accords, had specific language about radio jamming, and put the Soviet Union on the defensive regarding its jamming activities. A similar accord in Asia might have impact on China's intensive jamming of international broadcasts and blocking of websites." Image from

Trial related to murder of Kyrgyz journalist who worked for RFE/RL, VOA (updated) - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Wanted (badly): US and China to get along - Adam Morton, Sydney Morning Herald:

"Leaving aside events espousing a spiritual solution to global warming and speeches about the role the scouts can play in arresting climate change, the most surreal part of the day in the convention centre hosting the climate negotiations comes late in the afternoon, when China rolls out its public face to greet the press. For more than an hour, chief negotiator Su Wei plays Jekyll and Hyde in public diplomacy. On Wednesday, he was raining fury as he slammed the European Union, Japan and the US for failing to do enough to cut emissions or to help the poor cope. By Saturday, despite two days of conflict, he was 'full of hope' about getting a good result in Copenhagen, and cracking one liners." Image from

Paul's Public Diplomacy Road Show & Public Health Extravaganza – Paul Rockower, Levantine: "I have completed the Pub D Latin America class. I received a bang-up crash course in the history, foreign policy and public diplomacy that has affected Latin America . ... As noted, I am conducting this trek under the auspices of the USC Institute for Global Health. With their generous support, I will be photographing public health throughout the region. ... As always, I will be carrying out my own public diplomacy roadshow. I will be doing my best to increase cultural understanding and cultural exchange, and play the iconoclastic American to convince the rest of the world that we aren't all gringos."

The Project, The Proposal - sladjinaction: "Six weeks have passed since I started my course and given the abyss of information I have been trawling through to come to grips with the subject matter and theory of my area of study, I have abstained from posting on this blog as I sorted through information in my own mind. A couple of weeks ago I submitted a draft project proposal. Below I have outlined how I intend to tackle the project. The Topic [:] The reputation and international image of a nation:

how the convergence of public relations and public diplomacy has changed the way nations manage their international image. The Critical Incident [:] A central element to this project is identifying the critical incident in this area of practice: what event(s), developments or factors compelled a change to take place in this discipline? … As such, it is necessary to define the scope of my area of practice: Public diplomacy and nation branding." Image from

The Pop Art Era - Deborah Solomon, New York Times: "It is probably relevant that in July 1959, the so-called kitchen debate was held between Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon. Staged in Moscow, in a faux suburban house constructed expressly for the occasion, the encounter offered Vice President Nixon the chance to demonstrate the everyday comforts and conveniences of American life, from Pepsi-Cola and Betty Crocker cake mixes to Cadillacs and G.E. dishwashers.

The debate was seen around the world and redefined America virtually overnight as a consumerist utopia where the goods you stored in your kitchen cabinets were as much a symbol of cherished values as the bald eagle and the flag. The celebration of the kitchen as the locus of the American dream spilled over into Pop Art, especially in its early years, when artists appropriated images of soda pop and soup cans as well as a general just-mopped, mess-free look evocative of the suburbs." Image from article: James Rosenquist with his mother and an early creation from his sign-painting days in Minnesota, 1954."

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Dinner - Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Department of State: "[D]uring the Cold War, the State Department asked Dave Brubeck to be an ambassador for American culture in countries teetering between democracy and communism. Jazz was so subversive. And with its improvisational energy, it represented the vitality of the American experiment. And it’s often remarked to me, as I now hold this position, how important American culture was to the last great burst of freedom with the fall of the Berlin Wall and all the Velvet Revolutions.

For the next generation, it was rock ‘n’ roll that surged through the world, giving voice to young people frustrated by their lack of opportunity and by stagnating political and social systems. …. So in every time and every culture, artists have lit the way toward progress. They’ve helped to provide a common language, a fabric that weaves us together as human beings. … But not enough has been said about the important efforts of New York’s artists to bring life back to their ailing city. One enduring legacy of that movement is Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Film Festival. Only months after the attacks, more than 150,000 people came back to Lower Manhattan to watch movies in hushed theaters and screening rooms, debating their merits over bottles of red wine in sidewalk cafes and streets and parks that had so recently stood empty. … Now, this kind of cultural diplomacy has a significant impact on our relations in the world." Image from; and with PDPBR homage to Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog: I no longer keep track of Condoleezza's hairdo.

Debbie Allen's 'Oman ... Oh Man': New production examines Christian/Muslim cultural similarities: Kenya M. Yarbrough, Eurweb.com: "Actress, choreographer and director Debbie Allen launched to fame in part due to her role as dance professor Lydia Grant in the film and the 1980s TV adaptation of 'Fame.' ... This weekend Allen presents her latest theater project 'Oman Oh Man!' at UCLA’s Royce Hall. ... 'It previously played to a standing-room-only crowd at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater last March,' Allen said of the new project.

'It was part of a festival called Arabesque that celebrated Arabic culture. I was the only artist chosen to create a newly commissioned piece that would somehow narrow the gap between Muslim and Christian cultures.' ... Inspired by the charisma and character of Sultan Qaboos, Allen hopes that the production inspires audiences. 'Cultural diplomacy is one of our strongest tools of understanding and communication,' she said of using the artful production to motivate young and older audiences to think and dispel myths about Middle Easterners and their culture. 'This is the mission that I set out on. For most people of the Muslim faith, it is about their dedication to God. That is what their religion is about.'” Allen image from article

Artists for Iran, a Celebration of the Arts and Human Rights - Payvand (blog): "Los Angeles, December 12 7:30pm Exhibition open till Dec. 31 [.] Levantine Cultural Center presents an extensive roster of artists and performers in 'Artists for Iran,' a celebration of the arts and human rights in conjunction with United4Iran.org, which is coordinating related programs in 27 cities worldwide. Combining cultural diplomacy and human rights, 'Artists for Iran' comes on the heels of International Human Rights Day. Artists from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East along with Americans of diverse backgrounds will merge in a space devoted to art, photography, poetry, live performance, comedy and more. ... Levantine Cultural Center uses cultural diplomacy–the art of creating safe spaces for dialogue and contemplation of artistic expression–to bridge cultures in conflict.

This evening is devoted to the arts while celebrating a culture of human rights, something that all Americans take for granted. Art is a universal expression that connects humanity across time and space and it has been the voice of justice, peace and rights throughout time. Currently many brave artists in Iran are speaking up to demand basic rights and we need to support them." Image from article: "I'm Still Waiting" by Sophia Gasparian

Nepal: US in the Neighborhood - Telegraphnepal.com: "Everyone has not been happy with Obama and his unconventionally inclusive and non-partisan approach. One of the unhappy persons was Man Mohan Singh, the prime minister of the Republic of India (RoI). ... One may wonder why he wanted to 'educate' Obama in his own turf and was so anxious with the possibility of Obama being 'influenced' by China's spectacular rise, pragmatic policies and cultural diplomacy. May be Singh was more disappointed because sinicization was taking place despite the RoI's 'advanced democratic credentials' and Obama's love for the same!"

Cultural diplomacy in mind, India plans 15 centres in 2 years - The Hindu: "With cultural diplomacy high on agenda, India opened new cultural centres this year in as many as seven country capitals, including Kathmandu, Kabul and Tokyo. With 22 cultural centres already established around the world, the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), one of the cultural wings of the Indian government, is planning to take that number between 30 to 35 by next year. 'To intensify cultural exchanges, you need a platform to expand your outreach and cultural centres act like one. We hope to add 15 new such centres around the world in the two years from 2009 to 2010,' said Virendra Gupta, Director General, ICCR. ... Given that South Asia is 'India’s priority number one' on the cultural diplomacy front, New Delhi will shortly open up its cultural branches in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. ... India also plans to establish such a presence in Latin America where it is planning to open cultural centres in Brazil and Mexico next year, besides two more in Africa. ... Asked if India’s greater emphasis on soft power as an instrument of foreign policy had something to do with China’s growing influence in South Asia, Gupta said India’s policy was 'not reactive'.

'It is India’s long-term policy objective to promote cultural connectivity with neighbours, as also with countries beyond the region,' he said." Image from

India, China to expand cultural ties - Hindustan Times: "Aiming to augment people-to-people relations, India and China will showcase their culture in each other's land, holding major cultural festivals next year devoted to traditional and contemporary arts. The year 2010 will see the two countries engage in a major cultural exchange programme, with India hosting Chinese artists and China reciprocating by doing the same for Indians. While details of the programme are yet to be finalised, officials here are planning to hold a months-long extravaganza in China, to showcase Indian dances, art and films among other things. ... With Bollywood eliciting a lot of interest in China, India also plans to bank on Indian films and music to establish a connect with the Chinese masses. ... India, which has launched a major cultural diplomacy drive across South Asia, aims to foster strong people-to-people relations with its neighbours, including China which is India's largest trading partner but has significant differences on border issues."

RP named Asean culture capital for 2010, 2011 - Cebu Daily News: "‎The Philippines has been named 'cultural capital' of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)

for 2010 and 2011, according to presidential adviser on culture Cecile Guidote-Alvarez. Asean has passed a resolution which designated Manila, host of next year's Asean culture ministers' summit, as the region's cultural capital during the next two years. Singapore has been chosen Asean cultural capital for 2012 and 2013. ... Earlier in a speech before the ACCF [Asia Cultural Cooperation Forum], Alvarez described culture as 'an engine for economic growth, a building block of our social creation, an asset of our national pride and a force for education and social transformation, as well as an effective tool for cultural diplomacy.'" Image from

And here's another picture of us - Michael Sainsbury, The Australian: "Actor Jack Thompson made his seventh trip to China in 16 years last week to help promote Australia's first film festival in Beijing. … Thompson believes China's surging demand for film presents a promising opportunity for Australia. But for him this kind of mission is about more than promoting the Australian film industry. ‘I would have thought that cultural diplomacy is essentially at the heart of all diplomacy, historically,’ Thompson tells The Australian. ‘When people meet each other and do business they do it best when they have an appreciation of each other's culture. That culture ranges from popular song to fashion through to manners and customs, and all of that is expressed best in whatever may be the lingua franca of the age. … We should recognise the importance of the cultural connection that allows us to connect in far more important ways than simple dollars and cents.’"

A New Memorandum of Understanding has been Signed Between the British Council and Arts Council England: Art Daily: "The MOU defines areas in which Arts Council England and the British Council can work more closely to help artists build links internationally.

It establishes a framework within which the two agencies can jointly develop and create programmes that are strategic, coherent, and serve the interests of artists and audiences. ... Over the next few months, Arts Council England and the British Council will work together on a number of programmes including Unlimited, Music Showcases, Cultural Leadership, Cultural Diplomacy Group, Points of Culture and the London International Festival Symposium (2012). The two organisations are also looking at previous artists development programmes, such as Artists Links and the Arts Council’s International Fellowship programme, to see what lessons can be learned when creating future schemes." Image from

At workshop, culture workers told to harness Nigeria's culture-tourism potentials - Bridget Chiedu Onochie, The Guardian, Nigeria: "That the culture industry has so much to offer in Nigeria's quest for a diversified economy is no longer news and neither is the call by practitioners for a well-positioned culture sector. The missing link, however, has always been lack of political will to adequately fund and reposition the sector for efficient utilisation of its potentials as well as manpower development for a better understanding and appreciation of indigenous culture and its gains. This was the kernel of discussion at the Third National Workshop organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in Kaduna, last week. ... Some of the papers presented include ... Cultural Diplomacy and Globalisation by Abba Gana Shettima, Head, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maiduguri and Cultural Tourism. ... Shettima's regret is that Nollywood, which has a paramount role to play in the country's cultural diplomacy, has focused more on quantity rather than quality and in so doing, has gradually lost its appeal to the global audience. He said that cultural diplomacy has a crucial role to play in projecting the image of Nigeria internationally but to achieve that, the already tarnished image of the country must be repaired."

RELATED ITEMS

Personal approach may be more effective than broadcasts - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: The Army’s planners found “that you can neither wage nor resist a guerilla war successfully unless the local population is with you… To win over native populations, a personal approach may be more effective [than] radio broadcasts.” So says a story titled “Secret Weapon: The Con Man” from The Washington Daily News published May 18, 1961." Below image from: "America's Army" Recruitment Video Game Cost Taxpayers $33M



Senate Poses Obstacles to Obama Pledge on Climate - John M. Broder, New York Times: President Obama jets off to Copenhagen later this week to try to place an American stamp on a global climate change agreement. He will be trailed by a cloud of diplomats and bureaucrats all proclaiming the progress his administration has made in its 11 months in office. What he will not be carrying is the assent of Congress to whatever he commits the United States to do. That’s a problem for a leader who represents the world’s second biggest greenhouse gas polluter, behind China.

A Nobel winner who went wrong on rights - Joshua Kurlantzick, Washington Post: From China to Sudan, from Burma to Iran, a president lauded for his commitment to peace has dialed down a U.S. commitment to human rights.

Obama's faith in diplomacy backed up with firepower: His Nobel acceptance speech should serve as a blueprint to guide international decisions on alleviating conflict, poverty and tyranny – Editorial, latimes.com

Obama doctrine emerges in Oslo speech: Accepting his Nobel Peace Prize, the president outlines his philosophy of engagement with hostile regimes, then sanctions as needed. But will his approach translate into practical action? - Doyle McManus, latimes.com: At Oslo, Obama offered the rest of the world a bargain: The United States will engage diplomatically and act multilaterally, but it needs the help of others to make it work.But the test of the Obama doctrine -- as its author says himself -- will be whether it gets results.

To Beat Al Qaeda, Look to the East - Scott Atran, New York Times:


There’s a good chance that enough factions in the loose Taliban coalition would opt to disinvite their troublesome guest if we forget about trying to subdue them or hold their territory. This would unwind the Taliban coalition into a lot of straggling, loosely networked groups that could be eliminated or contained. This means tracking down family and tribal networks, gaining a better understanding of family ties and intervening only when we see actions by Taliban and other groups to aid Al Qaeda or act outside their region. Image from

A matter of 'life and death': Therefore, it's time for Obama to get serious - Oliver North, Washington Times: Mr. Obama promised to "focus like a laser" on the war in Afghanistan. But White House records show that's not where our "most traveled president" has spent his time.

A Game That’s Not So Great – Maureen Dowd, New York Times: The corrupt Afghan president knows, as do the leaders in Iraq and Pakistan, that America is stuck bailing them out with billions every year, even when they dawdle, disappoint and deceive.

A bad bioweapons decision: The Obama administration needs to take another look at how to curb biological weapons – Editorial, latimes.com: The Biological Weapons Convention outlaws the production and use of deadly bioweapons such as anthrax and smallpox.

On Wednesday, Ellen Tauscher, the U.S. undersecretary of State for arms control, announced that the Obama administration too had no interest in strengthening the convention. Image from

Personal Take on Public Projects in Two Devastated Lands [review of Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson] - Janet Maslin, New York Times: Mr. Mortenson seems never to have found a crisis he could resist. His great conviction is that the right kind of educational effort can bridge enormous gaps.

MORE QUOTATIONS FOR THE DAY

“We have been fighting in Afghanistan already for six years … . If the approach is not changed, we will continue to fight for another twenty [to] thirty years … Our military should be told that they are learning badly from this war.”

--Mikhail Gorbachev (1986),

cited in Constantine Pleshakov, There is No Freedom Without Bread! 1989 and the Civil War that Brought Down Communism (New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2009), p. 146; image from

“It is necessary to establish a strategic target. Too long ago we spoke about the fact that it is necessary to close off the borders of Afghanistan with Pakistan and Iran. Experience has shown that we were unable to do this in view of the difficult terrain and the existence of hundreds of passes in the mountains. Today it is necessary to make clear that the only viable strategic assignment is the one that is directed toward bringing the war to an end.”

--Andrei Gromyko,

Soviet Foreign Minister, ibid, pp. 146-147; image (Gromyko left) from