April 28

"Actually, we have misdefined 'hypocrisy.' Hypocrisy is not the failure to practice what you preach but the failure to believe it. Hypocrisy is propaganda."

--From “The Pillars of Unbelief,” National Catholic Register Jan-Feb 1988, cited in Peter Kreeft quotes; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Announcing Partners for A New Beginning - Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Department of State: Clinton: "[I]t is my pleasure to announce a new partnership between the State Department and the fittingly named Partners for a New Beginning, a group of eminent Americans who have answered the President’s call to join our outreach to Muslim communities around the world, by helping to engage the considerable resources, capabilities, and expertise of the U.S. private sector. This is a key element of our national strategy, and I am very grateful to the leadership of this effort and all who will participate in it. Partners for a New Beginning will tap into the dynamism and innovation of U.S. industry in a number of ways—for example, by encouraging companies to contribute equipment or technology to the Centers of Scientific Excellence we are developing overseas, or by facilitating partnerships between universities here and those abroad to share knowledge and improve business education.

They will also encourage investors and mentors in the United States to recognize the tremendous potential that resides in Muslim-majority communities, where many entrepreneurs are working against significant obstacles to turn their dreams into reality. More than 250 entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries are here in Washington for the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship; they represent just a tiny fraction of all those around the world who could, if given the chance, become partners for American entrepreneurs. This group is led by an extraordinary team. Madeleine Albright will bring her considerable experience and stature, and it’s wonderful once again to be working with her. Walter Isaacson, as the president of the Aspen Institute, will serve as vice-chair—and we can’t imagine a better partner than the Aspen Institute, which will also serve as the Secretariat for Partners for a New Beginning. And Muhtar Kent, the chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, who couldn't join us today, will be the other vice-chair. ... [Isaacson:] Secretary Clinton ... [is] somebody who fully understands the power of people-to-people diplomacy. She’s somebody who understands the partnerships you can make and how America’s strength comes not just from its military might or even from its pure diplomacy, but also from its public diplomacy and what we do together.” Image from

Helping At-Risk Youth - Voice of America: "Under the auspices of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the International Youth Foundation, ... a two-year Latin American and Caribbean project called the Obra initiative ... officially launched in Jamaica on April 14th. The Obra initiative will be administered from three regional secretariats: one in Kingston, Jamaica; another in Lima, Peru; and the third in Guatemala City, Guatemala, said Director of the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, John Dickson: 'What is impressive about Obra is what it does hold for the future of foreign policy and foreign policy approach. And that is the notion of partnership. So, not only is it a partnership with other countries, specifically Peru, Jamaica, and Guatemala as secretariats, but they will partner with other countries, they will partner with private sector organizations, and with NGOs. And so the idea of not just building a project to take place in one country, but to partner with other organizations to build projects and to expand and build on existing projects and coordinate is what Obra is all about.' And that is what the approach of the United States is to the region, said John Dickson. It is all about partnership."

Internal report on Syria says embassy lacks clear guidance on sanctions – Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy:

"'The most immediate issue requiring greater clarity concerns economic sanctions,' reads the IG's [Inspector General] latest report on the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. 'There is no front-channel guidance on the issue. The inspection team reviewed email and informal traffic regarding sanctions and waiver policy, and found several areas in which the guidance appeared to be contradictory.' ... And if and when Obama's ambassador nominee, Robert Ford, ever gets to Damascus, he faces a herculean task in resurrecting an embassy that has taken a series of beatings over the last few years. 'Embassy Damascus operates in an exceptionally difficult political and physical environment,' the report notes, citing Syrian government activities to thwart the embassy's attempts to conduct public diplomacy as well as security threats, such as the car bombing of the embassy in 2006." Image from

US Strategy Against Mexican Drug Cartels: Flawed And Uncertain - Ray Walser, Eurasia Review - "The Obama White House has remained generally aloof to complex issues relating to drug consumption in the United States. ... The Administration and Congress must play a bolder, more aggressive leadership role. The elements of such an approach would feature [inter alia]: ... An informed national strategy for public diplomacy and reduced demand that addresses the links between the murderous criminality of traffickers and the individual drug consumer."

Religious Liberty as a Moral Center for American Diplomacy - Joe Carter,centerforajustsociety.org:

"At the Center for a Just Society, Nathan Hitchen has a superb essay [April 6, 2010] in which he argues that religion must be the centerpiece of a successful U.S. public diplomacy efforts." Image from

Afghan boy wants to become an American - Mahtab Farid, Public Diplomacy in Afghanistan: "The dream of being an American has reached all the way to a far village in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Ghazni is located in central Afghanistan and it is known for its historic sites, culture, and Islamic arts. Most of the small districts and the villages don't have access to drinking water and electricity, yet the dream of being an American is in the heart of young Afghans. During a visit to an orphanage with my Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) collegues in Ghazni, we spent some time in a classroom. We asked the children what they wanted to become? They wanted to become soldiers, police officers, teachers and doctors. One of them said, 'I want to become an American.'"

Final Response to An Iranian Editor – Alex Belida, VOA Blog

The dumbing down of diplomacy: disgraced Foreign Office officials should apply to the Obama White House - Nile Gardiner, Telegraph.co.uk:

"If the Foreign Office decides to dispense with the services of their sneering officials who dramatically insulted the Pope in a highly offensive memo, the disgraced young 'diplomats' might find greater success in their careers on the other side of the Atlantic. While many UK employers might balk at their blatant lack of diplomatic finesse, they would likely be welcomed with open arms by the Obama White House, which specialises in insulting friends and allies, and has turned diplomatic gaffes into an art form. ... Satire aside, the Foreign Office débacle over the Pope’s impending visit to London has been a disaster for British public diplomacy. The Foreign Secretary has apologised for the disgraceful actions of the Balliol graduates, who should know better, but the damage has already been done. The incident has not only harmed relations with the Vatican but also has the potential to significantly hurt Britain’s image abroad, especially in Catholic countries." Image from

Statecraft 2.0 and Beyond: Diplomats Plug Into Social Media - Michael Coleman, The Washington Diplomat: "A survey of many foreign embassies in Washington revealed no social media activity at all. Old-fashioned phone calls, e-mail, faxes and face-to-face meetings are still the norm for most diplomats. A good number of embassies do send out regular newsletters by e-mail to keep subscribers abreast of the latest news and cultural events for that country — among them Afghanistan, Britain, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Switzerland and Venezuela. But a few diplomats are venturing into the realm of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and those who do are reporting initial satisfaction with a medium that can be used as an effective — and zero-cost — communications and public diplomacy tool. ... So far ... most embassies are using social networking sites for ... promoting events or tourism, or simply as a tool to help Americans get to know their nations." See also.

Flip side to China's censorship at home: more PR in America - John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor: "While China practices harsh media control at home, it has embarked on a major campaign abroad to present itself as a modernizing and open nation. Its confrontation with Google and tightened control of the Internet, including recent attempts to block Facebook and Twitter, are testimony to the ruling regime’s fear that a free flow of information could undermine its autocratic communist foundation and lead to dreaded democracy. At the same time, it is mobilizing extensive 'soft power,' to convince neighboring countries in Asia, and the world at large, that it is an increasingly modern and powerful – but benign – nation that deserves respect but should engender no fear. 'Soft power' is a combination of economic and humanitarian aid, cultural exchanges, people-to-people communication, and vigorous media campaigning. An example of the ambitious character of the Chinese government campaign is the establishment of 60 Chinese cultural centers, called 'Confucius Centers'

in the United States, primarily at institutions of learning. Earlier this year, Republican Sen. Richard Lugar raised with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton the disparity between the number of these Chinese public diplomacy centers in the US, versus the number of similar American centers planned for China. The State Department has sought budget funds for '8 to 10 such centers of public diplomacy' in the entire world. Senator Lugar has led the charge in Congress for the US to 'get back in the game' of public diplomacy. Secretary Clinton explained that while the Chinese government covers each center’s cost ($1 million to launch and $200,000 a year to run), the US government could not match those figures. As China has emerged as an industrial giant, its media has grown, too, leading to commercialization and competition. ... But the government has remained worried about the kind of freedom that might lead to its downfall. It therefore uses different kinds of intimidation to maintain control." Image from

CPD/APDS Blog - Finding Support for the Confucius Institutes by Chen Chen 4.28.10 – The Rockower Post: "China’s Confucius Institutes have become a public diplomacy phenomenon. Many public diplomacy researchers have been impressed by the rapid spread of Confucius Institutes around the world. In the United States alone, more than 60 Confucius Institutes have been established since 2004. Meanwhile, around the globe, the Chinese government has opened more than 200 Confucius Institutes in over 80 countries."

Mobilizing public diplomacy - Shanghai Daily: "More than 240 countries and international organizations will be participating in World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. The events will provide an ideal platform for the convergence of governments, non-governmental organizations and ordinary people. This will be diplomacy, official and non-official, writ on a large scale.

Public diplomacy is an integral part of a nation's overall diplomacy. People meeting people of different nationalities and cultures exchange something very personal. Prejudices and misunderstandings melt away. In essence, public diplomacy is an exchange of information and opinions. In today's world, the development of any country is not only determined by its national conditions but also by global circumstances. To help the world genuinely understand China, a large developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, we cannot simply count on Western media coverage being fair and unbiased. The communication skills of every Chinese person are important tools in helping the world understand our nation." Image from

Barroso to unveil EU pavilion at Shanghai World Expo - EurActiv: "EU officials hope the pavilion will attract 30,000 visitors a day, or five million of the 70-100m people who are expected to attend the World Expo between 1 May and 31 October. 'The Expo is a unique opportunity for the EU to expand its public diplomacy in China and to reach a large and diverse population that has for the most part limited understanding [of EU affairs],' the officials said, explaining why the European Union had decided to break from normal policy and participate in an Expo outside its borders."

The new frontiers of Israeli diplomacy, ctd.: Danish parliamentarians humiliated - Didi Remez, Palestine Note:

"[A] group of Danish parliamentarians and members of their Foreign Policy Committee visited Israel recently. The influential group, which comprised members of the pro-Israeli Conservative People's Party expected to meet senior Israeli policymakers. In practice, however, the Foreign Ministry was unable to convince any senior official to meet with the distinguished guests. ... The angry delegation went on to visit the PA and Syria, where hospitality was properly bestowed upon them and they were received by leading government officials. The Danish delegation members were further upset after Israel refused to let them tour the Gaza Strip, acting on its prevailing policy to deny such visits until Gilad Schalit is released from Hamas captivity. Subsequently, an angry message was personally presented to Ambassador Avnon by the Danish Committee Chairperson, Mrs. [sic] Eva Kjer Hansen, and he sent it to his superiors in Jerusalem. A senior Foreign Ministry official said he was not surprised. 'It is just a shame, but such things happen all the time,' he said. 'Arranging meetings for foreign delegations with Israeli ministers is practically impossible. Such requests are scorned and we are made to understand it would be a waste of time. For us, such meetings are part of the Israeli Hasbara efforts, and even much diplomatic work will not help after every such unsuccessful visit here.'" Image from

Provisional government accuse Bakiev of Mass Murder - kloop.info: "The new Kyrgyz authorities accused the deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiev of mass killings and abuse of power, before stripping him of his immunity. The provisional government will seek extradition of Bakiev from Minsk. The decree stripping Bakiev of immunity was adopted by the provisional government on April 26, the day after [no first name provided] Beknazarov – one of the senior officials in the provisional government made the announcement to journalists at a press conference. Speaking to reporters, Beknazarov said that the current situation in Kyrgyzstan has stabilized. 'The conflicts and debates are being resolved by public diplomacy. We must not repeat the mistakes of the previous government,' said Beknazarov."

Civil organisations set to work over Armenia-Turkey relations - Aysor:

"A Consortium, involving four civil organisations of Armenia, has been established to work over the Armenia-Turkey relations, organisation’s members announced at today’s press conference. ... President of Armenia’s Union of Businessmen and Industrialists, Armen Kazarian, said that despite the ratification of Armenia-Turkey protocols had been suspended, the initiatives by the civil sector can be useful. 'We can hardly move to friendly relations with our neighbors without rapprochement between the two civil societies, without the public diplomacy,' said Armen Kazarian." Image from

Political Officers in Conflict‭ ‬Zones:‭ ‬Public Diplomacy and Counterinsurgency – Part I – Daryl Copeland, Guerilla Diplomacy: "If counterinsurgency is 80% political, then why ask the military to take the lead in the first place? Their resources have attracted such taskings, yet this is – or should be – a job for diplomats. ‭That said, p‬olicy planning units in foreign ministries have for the most part not been engaged in thinking through the implications. This is regrettable, because political officers and public diplomacy should have a central role in addressing the drivers of contemporary conflict." See also.

Got eggs? Ukraine's "Battle for History"... – Lena, Global Chaos: "Just a couple of days ago we had a discussion in class on whether 'setting the record straight' with foreign publics can actually make for good public diplomacy (the specific case referred to the 'Letter to the Editor' from Venezuela's Ambassador to the U.S. 'clarifying' the various issues raised in the press about Venezuela).

This might not be the most effective PD tool in general (talk of ethos in persuasion!); and yet, at least it gives a chance to get your explanation/version 'out there', especially when the general media coverage is mostly negative and/or one-sided (whatever the reasons). In the case of Ukraine, Russia could certainly anticipate such a reaction, if not on Tuesday, then any time throughout the week." Image from

Tans & PD – Paul Rockower, Levantine: "We had our annual APDS conference on Friday, on Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANS) and Public Diplomacy. The final product was success, the born out of lots of hard work and effort." [An account of the conference follows.] Below image from article

Transnational Advocacy Networks and Public Diplomacy - Katharine, Public Diplomacy Corps: "I am sitting in the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars annual conference which, this year, deals with transnational advocacy networks and public diplomacy. ... You can find the conference program here. A great line-up. The keynote speaker, Colin Robertson, a fellow at the Canadian Defense and Foreign Affairs Institute, discussed the 'Canadian Experience.' Here are some of my favorite highlights: 'It costs $1 million to keep a solider in country; It costs 1/3rd that to keep a diplomat.' Roberts outlined 5 points of public diplomacy, his sixth.. 'have a good woman on your team.' It takes a real man to admit this. ;) And from an audience member, a good reminder for those practicing PD, the principals [sic]

of good public diplomacy, '1st Listen, 2nd Learn, then lead.'"

Who Sank The Cheonan? – Neon Tommy: "Joshua Saidoff is a Masters Student in Public Diplomacy at USC's Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. ... This op-ed is part of a parternership between Neon Tommy and the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars."

Citizen Diplomacy Summit - AskAliki Blog Archive: "Citizen Diplomacy Summit Young Professionals Hors d'oeuvres & Wine Reception & Program by the IVCC Tuesday, April 27, 2010 ... Join us for a networking reception and program on 'The Importance of Building International Diplomacy Skills' featuring Ms. Cari Guittard, Executive Director, Business for Diplomatic Action,

and Former Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Attend to learn about the Business for Diplomatic Action's national campaign for improving citizen diplomacy and how you can work with our local partners in Chicago to improve the image of Americans abroad. Learn about strategies for improving your international diplomacy skills and how you can take an active role in Citizen Diplomacy-the concept that every individual has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations, 'one handshake at a time.'" Image of Keith Reinhard President, Business for Diplomatic Action from

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Walt Disney Company - Corinne's Pr Blog: "The Walt Disney Company created a video entitled 'Welcome: Portraits of America' in an effort to support public diplomacy. The video was given to the U.S. government to create a 'more welcoming experience for travelers to the country.' (Disney Community) It is now playing at U.S. embassies, consulates and airports. Some flights coming from other countries play it as they arrive in the country."

A Macabre Filipino Election Tale – Where the Past Intrudes Upon the Future - Patricia H. Kushlis, Whirled View: “[B]etween 1992 and 1994 ... I had worked in Makati in what soon thereafter became the defunct US cultural center thanks to parsimony and a misguided American vision of the future. The center was shuttered, the books donated to a private university and the Cultural Section’s remains smushed into an outhouse next to the fortress Embassy on Manila Bay.”

My understanding of diplomacy today - Joe, The New Diplomacy 2010 E: "My personal opinion about the role of diplomacy has changed in that at first I did not have an idea of how and when diplomacy started and at the same time I understood its definition as peaceful mutual agreement between two or more parties rather than looking at it in a broader sense whereby it does involve states. As per now, diplomacy to me is a political process under which states are interconnected with official relations in the framework of the international system."

Relations – Shanna, The New Diplomacy 2010 B: “'The effectiveness of public diplomacy is measured by minds changed, not dollars spent or slick production packages.' Joseph S Nyr [sic], Jr"

Head Of Politics, Press And Public Affairs: British Consulate-General in Atlanta - atlantajobleads.wordpress.com: "The British Consulate-General in Atlanta represents UK interests in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee in such areas as trade and investment, science and innovation, supporting British people in difficulty, and press and public affairs. Further information about the British Government’s US network can be found on www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk.

The head of Political, Press and Public Affairs (PPPA) supports the head of the office (the Consul-General) in building relationships with decision-makers and opinion-formers around the South East region on behalf of the UK. ... The successful applicant will report directly to the Consul-General and will be responsible for delivery of the UK’s policy and public diplomacy objectives in the South East region." Image from

USC communication professor Gordon Stables is looking to revolutionize traditional debate - Cecilia Chung, Daily Trojan: "Stables, who teaches a course called Advocacy in Public Diplomacy: Argumentation and Debate (PUBD 509) is the coach of the Trojan Debate Squad. He debated in high school and again in college, and after becoming a faculty member in 2002, began coaching the debate team at USC."

La Corsia della Vergogna - Beau Geste, Mon Ami -- The Chronicle of My Journey to and through the Foreign Service: "I have thoroughly enjoyed working as a reporting officer in the Economic Section but I'm really looking forward to Consular work too. Rotational tours are a great opportunity to get as wide a field of experience as possible in a very short time. In my first three years I'll have done GSO, Econ and Consular. Now, if I can just find a Political/Public Diplomacy rotation for my third bid, I'll have the hat trick...all five cones in the first five years."

Svenska Digest, Vol 43, Issue 4 - Svenska: "Mattias Sundholm has been the Deputy Spokesman for the European Union Delegation to the US since September 2006. He is also the Deputy Head of the Delegation's Press and Public Diplomacy Section charged with promoting the EU's positions and policies throughout the United States."

RELATED ITEMS

War propaganda, Obama style! Military intervention still remains an option - iranian.com: The new US communication strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear program shows that the new administration has learned that using the same pre-war war propaganda used in the case of Iraq in order to gain support of the public opinion does not work twice, when the first time it became so clear that the public was in fact fooled into a war.

One could therefore say that the current spin doctors of the Obama administration are smarter in their strategic approach, taken that there is still an option of a military intervention in Iran present on the table. It is only a matter of time and interests to find a window of opportunity, in order to wage another war of choice covered with the political narrative that makes the public believe it is in fact a war of necessity instead. Image from

Chinese public relations policies leave much to be desired: Communication expert - oneindia.in: The public relations policies of China leave much to be desired, said Ernest Zhang, the China program coordinator at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and an expert in international communications.