September 1-6

Abbreviated edition

"When you finish nothing, nothing really matters."

--Writer/poet Michelle Chan Brown; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Hospital Ships: Soft Power Shock and Awe - Henry Holst, nationalinterest.org:

"Hospital ships already get a pittance for funding and spend most of their time moored up as floating museums. This is characteristic of all U.S. soft-power programs. In 2003 the U.S. spent a measly $150 million on public diplomacy in Muslim countries.

Over time, this has led to a situation described by Harvard professor Joseph Nye as 'the world’s only superpower…outgunned in the propaganda war by fundamentalists hiding in caves'. ... Soft-power tools like hospital ships can foment pro-American feelings that undergird sustainable, robust strategic partnerships worldwide—and make the work of those who would do us harm harder. That’s the point of power projection, both hard and soft." Uncaptioned image from entry

What Is Required to “Degrade and Destroy” the Islamic State? - Brett Daniel Shehadey, inhomelandsecurity.com: "President Obama vowed a national commitment to destroy the so called Islamic State, in which international jihadists have taken control of large parts of Syria and Iraq. The President’s commitments were said in two parts: 'degrade and destroy' the Islamic State . ... To really 'degrade' the enemy will require a serious information campaign, the likes of which America has not seen since perhaps World War II. Why? Because America is behind the enemy in the information business; because America is not prepared to fight ideological warfare on this level against violent Islamic extremists and because America has been reluctant to fully commit in this essential arena, relegating this function to public diplomacy at the State Department."

How to Beat the Ideological Extremist at His Own Game - Nissim Dahan, sellingavisionofhope.org: "Once we begin to use An Ideology of Common Sense along with some well placed Investment Dollars to sell a Vision of Hope, we should then proceed to launch a series of Public Diplomacy Programs which are designed to prop the vision up, and to carry it forward, in a concerted effort to inspire a Sense of Hope, and to counter An Ideology of Hate."

Palestine, American Muslim Leadership and Assimilationist Strategic Math - Hatem Bazian, posted at hassanshibly.com: "The US government’s constant involvement in the Muslim world and Palestine/Israel conflict necessitates a modicum of engagement with American Muslim leadership in such a way to lend support for the administration’s efforts. American Muslim leaders were asked to partner with America’s elite in the soft imperial power project directed at the Muslim world. Even though the soft power is anything but soft with drones used at will and bombing campaigns every so often, Muslim leaders engaged public diplomacy and became America’s soft power faces across the Muslim world and in return the government provided access to grants, resources and status for the participants. Winning the hearts and minds through public diplomacy while bombing campaigns never stopped. Yet, what is sad and funny is that most if not all American Muslim leaders who travel for the purpose of soft power and public diplomacy are subject to secondary screening upon return, treated like terror suspects and are kept on the government watch list themselves."

Time to Remember Munich - Patricia Lee Sharpe, Whirled View: "From day one Moscow has been stirring the pot in Eastern Ukraine. Russians have taken the lead on the ground and Russian propaganda has been making the Americans seem like simpletons in the realm of public diplomacy at which they once excelled."

The conversation continues online via Twitter using #StateofRights - News, State of Rights, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor: “'State of Rights' is a public diplomacy initiative that brings together experts and citizens for an interactive dialogue on global trends that affect both emerging powers and fledgling democracies. By using the Twitter hashtag #StateofRights, online audiences can join the discussion and debate on policies of global importance and engage government and policy leaders during regularly scheduled online conversations as well as continue the conversation online after each event. Each event in the series will be translated into global languages and archived to allow civil society organizations and others to easily download the discussions and share through local networks."

From Carne Ross blog:

• How not to do public diplomacy: truly terrible joint Cameron/Obama oped -http://t.co/Suk24Xssy7 — 2 days 3 hoursago

Public Diplomacy in Time of Partisanship - Donald M. Bishop, Public Diplomacy Council: "[I]n times of partisan dispute in Washington, it's important for the Foreign Service to stand on some foundational principles. To professionally serve any administration, Republican or Democratic, but to be non-political. To keep to its lanes of foreign policy issues, and not stray into domestic political controversies.

To reiterate that American foreign policy is 90 percent American, and only 10 percent Republican or Democratic. To trust in the institutions of democracy. To honor debate." Bishop image from entry

Countering the U.S. Image Problem - Council on Foreign Relations: "The critical foreign coverage of unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, is the latest instance reflecting perceptions abroad of American hypocrisy, says Philip Seib . ... 'The United States preaches about transparency in government and about human rights around the world,' Seib says, 'and then trips up on [National Security Agency]

snooping and out-of-control policing in Ferguson.' He says that while the negative imagery from events like Ferguson is difficult to counteract, U.S. public diplomats can do a better job of promoting foreign policy successes like humanitarian relief." Image from entry, with caption: Riot police clear a street with smoke bombs while clashing with demonstrators in Ferguson, Missouri, August 13, 2014

Twitter message Rick Stengel, Under Secretary fo State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs  ✔ @stengel: "Saddened/outraged by murder of Steven #Sotloff, who worked for me at #TIME and showed extraordinary courage in life and death. 7:34 AM - 3 Sep 2014."

Departure of Adnan Kifayat, Acting Special Representative to Muslim Communities: Press Statement, John Kerry, Secretary of State, Washington, DC, September 2, 2014 - state.gov: "Today we say a special thank you to Adnan Kifayat, who has been serving as the Acting Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the last six months. As Adnan departs the State Department, we’re extremely grateful not just for his efforts these last months, but for his years of service to the State Department serving four Secretaries of State. He is a terrifically capable public servant who joined the Department as the Deputy Special Representative three years ago following a long and accomplished career, which included stints at the Treasury, the White House, and as Senior Adviser to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy. "

Twitter message from: Jeffrey GoldbergVerified account‏@JeffreyGoldberg

I'm glad the United States is providing Libyans with access to fun summertime activities. Public diplomacy! http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-libya-militia-us-compound-20140831-story.html …

A Reflection on Bravery - Jonathan Addleton, American Foreign Service Association: "Dissent is never easy. Respectful of the chain of command, I ordinarily accept decisions made by those above me and then move on. However, there are occasions when this approach is tested to the limit—and beyond. Once in my 30-year Foreign Service career, that resulted in a dissent cable. It happened last year, following the attempt by the Pakistan Taliban on the life of Malala Yousafzai, the Pashtun adolescent from Pakistan’s Swat valley who championed female education. ... My intent in writing the dissent cable

on Malala in February 2013 was to help precipitate an internal discussion on important public affairs matters and to make the case for an approach that is more nimble, less bureaucratic and gives greater authority to the field. ... [There was] a failure to recognize that the best public diplomacy often takes place at a purely local level—and it is precisely this point that needs to figure more prominently in both the clearance process and in our approach to outreach." Image from entry, with caption: Ambassador Jonathan Addleton, second from left, meets with the district governor, second from right, and security officials in Panjwai district, west of Kandahar city, in fall 2012. Panjwai was once considered among the most violent districts in Afghanistan.

US Chargé d’Affaires [sic] addresses Peace Corps’ Camp GLOW participants - guyanachronicle.com: "United States Chargé d’Affaires [sic], Bryan Hunt, last Tuesday addressed approximately fifty girls aged 12 to 18 who participated in Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World), a Peace Corps initiative which was conducted through August 28 at the Kuru Kuru Training College on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Upper East Bank Demerara.Speaking about the U.S. Embassy’s role in fostering leadership and

empowerment of young women, Hunt explained some of the Embassy’s public diplomacy programmes for young people, including its very active Youth Action Network (YAN) and the Youth Ambassador’s Programme, a three-week leadership exchange in the United States of America. His speech came at the tail end of a week-long camp designed to inspire and empower young women to become strong leaders. Campers participated in workshops on leadership, self-esteem, teamwork, and healthy lifestyle choices." Image from entry, with caption: Chargé d’Affaires [sic] at the United States Embassy in Georgetown Mr. Bryan Hunt with Glow Girls during the Kuru Kuru forum

AIT American Center Director Alys Spensley - American Institute in Taiwan: "Alys Spensley began her tenure as the Cultural Affairs Officer in the Public Diplomacy Section of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in July 2014. Ms. Spensley concurrently serves as Director of AIT's American Center, responsible for strengthening educational and cultural ties between the United States and Taiwan. Ms. Spensley joined the Foreign Service in 2004. Most recently, she served in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs as a Staff Assistant and as the Policy and Coordination Officer in the Office of Public Diplomacy (2011-2013). Spensley image from entry

Former Charlottean David Snepp helps Afghans resettle - charlotteobserver.com: "David Snepp knows that sooner or later thousands of Americans will be coming home from the war in Afghanistan. But he worries about the thousands of Afghans who won’t be able to go home themselves. Those are people he worked with at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul or who served in support of American forces throughout the country. Because they worked with Americans, they’d likely be targets for retaliation from extremists.

A native Charlottean and former broadcaster, Snepp has started a nonprofit called Silk Road Leadership to help many resettle in the United States. ... It was in 2010 that he [Snepp] went to Afghanistan as a senior communications adviser with the Department of Defense. A year later he began working for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. He eventually became its spokesman and later served as a senior adviser. ... 'He absolutely has always had a very deep affection for his Afghan friends and colleagues and has been very empathetic for the struggles they face,' says Masha Hamilton, then the embassy’s director of public diplomacy. 'And that’s shown by what he’s trying to do.'” Image from entry, with caption: A native Charlottean and former broadcaster, David Snepp has started a nonprofit called Silk Road Leadership to help many Afghans resettle in the United States. Here, Snepp, who was working as a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, is interviewed by Afghan media during the election watch on Nov. 7, 2012.

English Teacher Match for Panama - federalgrants.com: "English Teacher Match for Panama: The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in Panama solicits proposals for a grant to coordinate 'English Teacher Match Program for Panama.' ... CFDA Descriptions: Public Diplomacy Programs."

What is Public Diplomacy and Why is it Important? - Myriam Benlamlih, thedc-group.com: "Since I started at The DC Group, I’ve been managing a research project evaluating the State Department’s Public Diplomacy program." Image from entry 

USA - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen:  "The State Department of the United States, or more precisely the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, is responsible for the United States’ cultural diplomacy. The main objectives are the support of US foreign policy goals through the communication of American values, the advancement of a positive image of the US abroad, and the building of friendly relations with the rest of the world. Traditionally, culture was never perceived as a government task in the US; therefore, mainly semi-governmental institutions and private foundations actively engage in cultural relations. These players depend largely on their own financial resources, which all in all exceed the government’s budget by far. These organisations are independent of government demands and control. Activities concentrate on cultural and educational projects and programmes, especially exchange programmes, most notably the government-sponsored "Fulbright Program" with approx. 400 scholarships per year available to students, academics, teachers and university staff. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, founded between the German Bundestag and the US Congress in 1983, is a major youth exchange programme. With the presence of the US Army in Germany, numerous German-American clubs and associations came into being through personal contacts. On a daily basis, American culture is everywhere – in media, language, fashion, sports, films, television, books – all acting together as a bedrock of American cultural diplomacy in Germany. ... Selected Articles [:] Aaltola, Mika: Drama power on the rise? [;]Gregory, Bruce: The paradox of US public diplomacy [;] Novak, Matt: The All-American Expo That Invaded Cold War Russia  [;] Gregory, Bruce: The paradox of US public diplomacy [;] Fisher, Rod: culture in EU external relations - USA country report [;]Fitzpatrick, Kathy R.: U.S. public diplomacy in a post-9/11 world [;] Henry, Owen: "Twitter diplomacy" [;] Khatib, Lina; Dutton, William; Thelwall, Michael: Public diplomacy 2.0 [;] Wiśniewski, Bartosz: United States' foreign policy under Obama."

How World Leaders Use Twiplomacy - digdipblog.com: "The 2014 twiplomacy study revealed that leaders throughout the world have flocked to twitter and routinely tweet messages dealing with issues ranging from their private lives to their nation’s foreign policy agenda. While the Twiplomacy study reveals the global appeal of world leaders it does not answer an important question and that is how are world leaders using twitter de facto? Do they view it as a tool for communicating with audiences, or as a tool for transferring information to audiences? In other words, do leaders use Twiplomacy as a digital diplomacy tool that allows two way communication and dialogue or as a public diplomacy tool that enables one way communication and monologue? ... The results of this analysis were somewhat surprising. While the leaders in this sample extensively use twitter, averaging more than 10 tweets per day, and while most tweets generate dozens if not hundreds of comments, only one world leader was found to engage with followers and that is the account of the Prime Minister of the UK."

Official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the U.S. Diplomacy Center (USDC) - Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC, September 2, 2014.

See also, as well as John Brown, "On Their Way to the Funeral of the American Empire?" Notes and Essays Image from

Nato summit to benefit from UAE presence - Caline Malek, thenational.ae: "As the Nato summit gets set to begin in Wales on Thursday, security and diplomacy experts say it could be an opportunity for the UAE to forge closer ties with the alliance. ... A Nato official said the UAE had cooperated with the alliance in a wide array of formats. 'This includes through public diplomacy initiatives at Nato Headquarters in Brussels and in the UAE, regular political consultations at the highest level, and participation in Nato-led operations,' he said."

Maya Malkani Wins GMF’s Blog Competition on Transatlantic Cooperation - gmfus.org: "The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is pleased to announce Maya Malkani as the winner of the GMF Blog Competition on Transatlantic Cooperation, which is sponsored by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division.

GMF asked participants to explore, in the words of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 'what has the transatlantic relationship meant to you, and how can we preserve it and make it even stronger for future generations.'” Uncaptioned image (presumably of Malkani) from entry

US speaks out against Israel's decision to expand state land in West Bank - Tovah Lazaroff, Herb Keinon, Khlaed Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post: "The United States responded ... to news that Israel was planning to expand its state land and launch a new building project in the West Bank. The IDF on Sunday conferred the status of state land on 4,000 dunams in the Gush Etzion region, thus ending the civil administration’s investigation into the possibility that parcels were private Palestinian property.

The new designation for an area known as Gevaot opens the door for settlers to advance plans to build a fifth city in the West Bank on those dunams. ... Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who has previously supported the building of Gva’ot, objected to the civil administration’s announcement. Livni, who headed Israel’s negotiating team during the US-brokered nine-month peace process with the PA that ended in April, warned that the move would significantly harm Israel’s public diplomacy efforts." Image from entry, with caption: A section of the controversial Israeli barrier is seen close to a Jewish settlement near Jerusalem.

Into the Fray: Unfit to govern? - Martin Sherman, Jerusalem Post: "It is possible Operation Protective Edge could have been conducted with greater ineptitude. But it is not easy to see how. ... Perhaps the gravest indictment of the Netanyahu administration has to do with its actions (or inaction) in the period leading up to the outbreak of hostilities. This refers to the almost total neglect of one of the most important elements in the county’s strategic arsenal, public diplomacy."

Into the Fray: Protective Edge: Catalogue of common canards - Martin Sherman, Jerusalem Post: "The appalling truth is that the government invests less than Israeli corporations spend on promoting children’s snacks. In the words of one former Likud minister: 'The results of the war in the media directly affect the results of the war in the field... It is dreadful to hear that the Osem snack Bamba has a promotional budget two to three times the total state budget for public diplomacy.' The consequences are hardly surprising. In similar vein, one leading UK expert lamented several years ago: 'Israel needs to understand that hasbara [public diplomacy] is not a luxury... It is a strategic necessity....You cannot expect the media to cover ‘your side’ of the story when you haven’t bot ... This abysmal situation is far more the result of ill-considered parsimony than of real financial exigencies.

For as I have pointed out repeatedly, if the government were to assign 1 percent of the state budget for public diplomacy, this would make $1 billion available for making Israel’s case in the world. ... Not infrequently, the claim is raised that 'no amount of PR can counteract anti-Israel acrimony,' and more vigorous public diplomacy effort is futile because of the visceral anti-semitism (I prefer 'Judeophobia') that pervades much of the public in many of the countries in the West. As someone who grew up in a small mining town in South Africa, and as the only Jew on my high school rugby team, where Judeophobic sentiments were always bubbling close to the surface, I do not wish to belittle the impact of irrational anti-Jewish enmity that prevails in much of the world. However, I suggest that in many cases, rather than anti-Jewish sentiments fueling anti-Israel sentiments, it is Israel’s failure to convey its case effectively and cogently that facilitates the burgeoning propagation of hatred against the Jews we now witness." Image from entry, with caption: Palestinians sit in a damaged house as they watch a parade celebrating Hamas’s ‘victory’ over Israel, in the Shejaia neighborhood, Gaza.

Grapevine: Thanks for the memories… - Greer Fay Cahsman, Jerusalem Post: "When asked whether the English-language IBA News on Channels 1 and 33 was to be canceled, IBA spokeswoman Linda Bar said no final decision had been made, but an assessment was, and total cancellation was unlikely. The problem, she added, was that the program has low ratings. ... Let’s not kid ourselves, the IBA in general has low ratings; and since the entry of Yona Wiesenthal as editor in chief, Channel 1 has become much more news-oriented, with more news bulletins than ever before. Although Wiesenthal is apparently disinterested in English and does not see the IBA as being part of Israel’s public diplomacy initiatives, he should be aware that there is always something to be learned from history. ... Meanwhile, some former media people who are now MKs ... are lobbying intensely for English at a time when the Palestinians, including Hamas, have soared to new heights in their English-language public diplomacy."

Public Diplomacy Tips from Joan Rivers - YMedad, yrightword.blogspot.com:

"I think there are adaptable tips in here for good pro-Israel public diplomacy, from the too-quick-late Joan Rivers: My advice to women comedians is: First of all, don’t worry about the money. Love the process. You don’t know when it’s gonna happen. Louis C.K. started hitting in his 40s; he’d been doing it for 20 years. And don’t settle. I don’t want to ever hear, 'It’s good enough.' Then it’s not good enough. Don’t ever underestimate your audience. They can tell when it isn’t true. Also: Ignore your competition. A Mafia guy in Vegas gave me this advice: 'Run your own race, put on your blinders.' Don’t worry about how others are doing. Something better will come. Ignore aging: Comedy is the one place it doesn’t matter. It matters in singing because the voice goes. It matters certainly in acting because you’re no longer the sexpot. But in comedy, if you can tell a joke, they will gather around your deathbed. If you’re funny, you’re funny. Isn’t that wonderful? If there is a secret to being a comedian, it’s just loving what you do. It is my drug of choice. I don’t need real drugs. I don’t need liquor. It’s the joy that I get performing. That is my rush. I get it nowhere else. What pleasure you feel when you’ve kept people happy for an hour and a half. They’ve forgotten their troubles. It’s great. There’s nothing like it in the world. When everybody’s laughing, it’s a party. And then you get a check at the end. That’s very nice. Think about those."

Turkish Foreign Poicy in the New Era - Kılıç Buğra Kanat: "[I]n this new era Turkish foreign policy may be challenged by two issues that were considered its traditional problems. First of these problems is the Cyprus dispute, the resolution of which has stalled after the rejection of the referendum on the Annan Plan by the Greek part of the island. After years of status quo the recent developments in the eastern Mediterranean may open a window of opportunity for the revival of this process.

Secondly, the controversy and disputes over the events that took place in 1915 will probably continue to haunt the relations between Turkey and Armenia in 2015. The recent letter of condolences by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a historic step toward the resolution of the problems with Armenia. However, the response of the Armenian government signaled its determination to reject any calls to resolve the problem. In both of these cases, regardless of the attitude of the two governments, Turkey needs to continue to act pro-actively to find a mutually acceptable solution to problems and communicate its intention to do so to the citizens of Armenia and Cyprus through well-designed public diplomacy." Kanat image from entry

Turkey remembers 2008's 'football diplomacy' - A. Humeyra Atilgan, aa.com.tr: "History was made six years ago when Turkey's football team travelled to Yerevan to play Armenia in a match charged with emotional and political significance. ... 'The match was definitely beyond a sport activity,' says Turkish academic Ahmet Han from Istanbul’s Kadir Has University. 'It was a step of public diplomacy towards improving bilateral relations with Armenia.' ... Only one year later the Armenian president paid a visit to Turkey's northwestern Bursa province to join Gul at the second-leg of the World Cup qualifier ... . The meeting was regarded the latest round in the 'football diplomacy.' 'Such organizations are vital in that they are the

gestures of goodwill, and they also help create awareness on these matters,' says Han, who argues that the momentum from these ground-breaking events was not maintained. 'However,' he continued, 'we could not see any follow-up acts of goodwill... In order for the countries to better establish faith in each other, public diplomacy should be carried on with small but continuous steps in a 'baby-step approach,' which will offer a safe feeling of being in control and fully confident in each step.' The legacy of these two games can been seen in the improved relations between the two countries." Uncaptioned image from entry

Germany needs more leadership on foreign policy - ecfr.eu: "Among the German people, there is clear but diffuse support for greater engagement, and Germans are undoubtedly sensitive to threats and troublemakers in international affairs. But whenever specific choices are presented, the public is reluctant to get involved. Evidently, Germans want to be led responsibly, rather than to lead their leaders in calling for more responsibility. Germans seem ready to be convinced of the need for action if and when leaders dare to take steps to convince them. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s decision to launch a review process involving public and international participation is a step in that direction. This process could act as a public diplomacy tool to lay the groundwork for tougher foreign policy debates."

Go Back: Two grants programs to lift engagement in Asia - "The aim of the Australian Awards Fellowships is to strengthen partnerships and links between Australian organisations and partner organisations in developing countries, in support of Australia’s economic and public diplomacy objectives. DFAT describes Australia's public diplomacy objectives as ‘raising awareness overseas of our country—as a great destination for tourism and education, an advocate for global trade liberalisation, and a trusted citizen of the Indo-Pacific region’.

Grants are up to $35,000 per fellow, with a maximum of 25 Fellows. Eligible applicants are Australian organisations with existing links with overseas counterpart organisations. Image from entry, with caption: Malthouse_The Good Person of Szechuan

Public Diplomacy Summit eyes outgoing Chinese firms - en.chinagate.cn: "As the world is not so accustomed to China's rapid development, a new round of containment from the foreign countries on the emerging economy will surely hinder domestic companies' efforts in going global, said Chen Jian, China's former deputy minister of commerce. Chen conveyed his views at the First Yangtze River Public Diplomacy Summit held last Sunday in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province. The summit held by Renmin University of China in Beijing, and Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, discusses public diplomacy strategies for companies in China with an international outlook. ... According to Zhao Qizheng, former minister of the State Council Information Office, a charm offensive is important for firms going global.

'Public diplomacy is about cosmetics rather than a surgical knife as it can powder a face but cannot change its features. The air of cultivated people can seldom be worn by the nouveau riche wherever they go,' Zhao said." Image from entry, with caption: Dai Bingguo, former state councilor, speaks at the First Yangtze River Public Diplomacy Summit held last Sunday in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province.

KF releases Korean food app - koreatimes.co.kr: "The Korean Foundation has released an application for smartphones to introduce Korean food in time for the national thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok, which falls on Sept. 8. ... 'This application will serve as a method of public diplomacy,' a Korean Foundation official stated, 'We wish to use this program about Korean food and its nature, form and colors, to help promote the culture to a global audience and ultimately raise the value of our national brand.'"

Miconsulmex App is the 3rd Place Innovation in Transparency Winner - Press Release, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico: "As part of its public diplomacy and digital strategy, Mexico will continue to use new technologies to provide comprehensive assistance to its citizens living and traveling abroad. Download MiConsulmex by clicking on iOS or Android."

Defense Budget in 2014: A Conversation with Russell Rumbaugh - posted by Porter Brockway, American Security Project: "January 30, 12:30-1:30 PM, 12:30 – 1:30 PM Moderated by General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.) CEO, American Security Project [.] Since sequestration and passage of the new budget the Defense Department has been adjusting to a reduced funding environment – and 2014 won’t be much different. ... The speaker will discuss the outlook for Pentagon spending in 2014.Russell Rumbaugh is a senior associate at Stimson and director of its Budgeting for Foreign Affairs and Defense program. He is a widely recognized expert on the institutions, processes, and budgets of US national security. He has proven a perceptive and productive observer of these issues, in part by contributing new and groundbreaking analysis in reports on defense strategy, defense procurement, foreign policy personnel, public diplomacy, and the costs of nuclear weapons."

Zimbabwe seeks to gain grip on new tourism markets - newsday.co.zw: "[A] seminar [on investment and tourism in Africa, to be held in New York] ... is organised by the Spanish Permanent Mission to the United Nations together with Casa África, Spain’s main public diplomacy institution dedicated to the African continent, and Real Instituto Elcano, one of the most prestigious think-tanks. It will be attended ambassadors accredited to the UN and business executives from the United States and Spain. A key aim of this event is to contribute to the development of tourism with a panel which deals with Africa’s future in this field and share entrepreneurship experiences in the hotel-leisure-vacation industry as a way to increasing welfare in countries willing to promote tourism."

Conference: "Public Diplomacy as a Challenge of Foreign Policy" - casaasia.eu: "At this conference [2014/09/10], organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Spain Diplomacy School and Real Instituto Elcano, the different aspects of public diplomacy will be analysed: models; academic field and centres of thought; and public diplomacy in international organisations."

Roundtable Introduction: New Media, New Politics? Revolutions in Theory and Practice - jadaliyya.com: "This roundtable proposes several guiding principles as a symbolic compass to help ground our work in such a critical yet concrete and realistic manner. A dual-approach that links politics and media helps us contemplate what other media and communication technologies in past experiences tell us about the present. This assists us to rethink and refresh our theoretical legacies but also to in due create spaces to learn from. This includes, specifically what the everyday utilization of new media entails in different demographic (race, gender, age etc.) and geographic (urban/rural, center/periphery) realities and relations.

It becomes even more important that we question how analytical interventions are framed and to overcome its biases. There is a necessity to separate between the different dispositions of the Internet as reflections of journalistic hype or public diplomacy outreach. The imperial logic of Internet capitalism is clearer now that the optimistic dust has settled and a deepening of the revolutionary phase started. The will and ability of the capitalist nation-state to control and monopolize our means of communication are transformed into a crucial nexus of power." Uncaptioned image from entry

Public Diplomacy Seminars - Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan): "To better promote public diplomacy, the institute launched the Public Diplomacy Seminars in 2005 and has developed a series of training programs for high school students, college students, key NGO and business leaders, as well as public servants."

Diplomacy in the Middle East Forum 27th October 2014 London - gdforum.org: "Public Diplomacy and Nations Branding of the Region [:] Much of the world has learnt most of what they know about Arabs from the media, but television, newspapers, and movies do not always portray Arabs positively. Negative Arab stereotypes outnumber positive portrayals across media types, including newspapers, television and movies, children’s literature, and web animations and flash-based games. Arabs are frequently linked with violence and terrorism, perpetuating the stereotype that Arabs and Muslims are terrorists. ... Sessions [in the forum] will explore new and existing trends, challenges and creative solutions to address one the world’s most topical and challenging issues and develop policy recommendations based on multi-stakeholder consultations at a global level."

The Role of Diplomacy and Soft Power in Combatting Terrorism: Concepts, Fighting Methods and Case Studies - sam.gov.tr: "Workshop Report: The aim of this seminar is to bring together academics and practitioners who are involved in the field of terrorism, soft power and diplomacy, and ensure that they interact and benefit from each other. Besides conceptual discussions on terrorism, soft power, diplomacy, the use of soft power and public diplomacy in combatting terrorism, various cases such as ETA, IRA, Al-Qaeda and PKK have been discussed by using local information and benefiting from the contributions of the experts. ... Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Center for Strategic Research."

Seminar “The role of youth in public diplomacy” at RCSC in Trivandrum - ind.rs.gov.ru: "A seminar 'The role of youth in public diplomacy', marking the 5th anniversary of the Foundation of Indo-Russian Youth Club in Kerala, was organised at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Trivandrum on August 30, 2014. Inaugurating the seminar, film actor Mr. Nandu Lal noted that the new generation could play a major role in strengthening friendly relations between the two countries. He noted: 'Russia is good and time-tested friend of India. Culture and literature always helped in cementing this relationship. Youngsters in both countries get more opportunities to know each other. The activities of the Indo-Russian Youth Club will create a platform for the youth in Kerala to know Russia’s culture and tradition'. Mr. N. K. Ravindran, Senior Journalist, inaugurated the Voice of Russia Listeners Club. The Club will function under the Indo-Russian Youth Club. 'The Voice of Russia will bring the peoples of Russia and India closer to each other. The programmes aired by the Voice of Russia radio will give an insight to the rich tradition of the world’s largest country', said Mr. N. K. Ravindran."

Conference report - Soft power in action Monday 3 – Wednesday 5 February 2014 - Wilton Park: "Soft power has become core to 21st century diplomacy. The shift in recent years away from large-scale use of military force has led to increasing demands being made of soft power, and focused greater attention on the relationship between uses of hard power and the ability to utilise soft power. In this context, nations and the diplomats who represent them are seeking strategies through which they can use soft power to influence and persuade others to support their national and international agendas. As connectivity and interdependence amongst states increase and non-state actors become increasingly influential, diplomats seeking practical means to leverage soft power resources increasingly find their attention drawn to collaborative strategies through which they can leverage their soft power resources. ... The evolving challenge of a soft power moment ... 27. Music is an effective soft power resource, for example the massive growth in the popularity of K-pop, including the first video to break a billion views on YouTube. Technology provides another important source of soft power influence, with increasing global recognition of South Korean brands such as mobile ‘phones. 28. The government is considering ways in which to maximise these practical assets to increase soft power influence. It is investing heavily in public diplomacy programmes, including high level bi-lateral dialogues, and positioning South Korea as a regional convenor as well as a contributor to global security."

Euro-Atlantic Center - linkedin.com:  "Non-governmental and not-for-profit organization based in Slovakia.

Since its foundation in 1999, the Euro-Atlantic Center has been active in the field of International Relations, Public Diplomacy, Foreign and Security Policy with a focus on transatlantic region." Image from entry

Professor speaks about military policy - Emma Peplow, Daily Trojan: "Dr. Carol Atkinson, professor of international relations at USC and a veteran of the United States Air Force, gave an hour-long briefing to USC students at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism about U.S. military tactics ... . Atkinson, who served in Operation Desert Storm, spoke on the shift of the U.S. military’s approach from hard tactics to soft, due to what she described as a changing tide of foreign policy and a new era in public diplomacy. ... All of Atkinson’s research and studies can be found in her book Military Soft Power: Public Diplomacy through Military Educational Exchanges, which was released in June."

"Rising Sun and Football - Public Image and Public Diplomacy": A lecture by Tatsuya Machida, Cultural Counselor, Embassy of Japan to Germany [video of lecture at Institute for Cultural Diplomacy] - youtube.com

“Information Power, Public Diplomacy, and Television” by Russell C. Rochte - layalina.tv: "While preparing to write something appropriate for Layalina’s Perspectives, my respected teacher, longtime mentor, generous colleague, and dear friend, Dr. Dan Kuehl,

suddenly took a turn for the worse in his battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away on June 28th. Dan was a first-rate scholar of information warfare and public diplomacy who enjoyed an international reputation as a devoted teacher and prolific writer. ... [Q]uality television – whether hard hitting journalism or high quality television series – used as suggested by [Edward R. ] Murrow and later by Kuehl removes the petty politics and allows our common humanity to trump politics, to the end that understanding grows even if agreement does not immediately follow. Isn’t that what public diplomacy is supposed to be about? ... I suggest that the conduct of public diplomacy (in part) via platform-agnostic television content is fundamental to the broadly based pursuit of national security objectives by means other than arms. It is entirely possible to create top-notch television programming and provide such content at cost, at a discount, or essentially free of charge to broadcasters on an international scale – especially those broadcasters who are hungry for affordable content to fill their programming wheel." Kuehl image from entry

Wulk on Davis Cross and Melissen, 'European Public Diplomacy: Soft Power at Work' - Sophie Wulk, posted networks.h-net.org: "The book European Public Diplomacy. Soft Power at Work, edited by Mai'a Cross and Jan Melissen, constitutes a valuable contribution to the scholarly literature available on European public diplomacy. Developed during the Cold War by scholars in the United States, the term "public diplomacy" long remained restricted to the analysis of American policies and politics. However, as the authors of the book argue and convincingly show, the concept has much to offer for an analysis of European politics and policies, both at home and abroad."

Paradoxes of ‘public diplomacy’: Ethnographic perspectives on the European Union delegations in the antipodes - submitted by saostowo, scienceindex.com: "‘Public diplomacy’ is a term increasingly used among policy makers and academics, yet its meaning is ambiguous and contested. Advocates proclaim it as a new approach to statecraft entailing a participatory approach of shared meaning-making between politicians and the public markedly different from the elitist, Machiavellian inter-governmental practices of traditional (‘Westphalian’) diplomacy. The European Union (EU) has embraced these ideals, proclaiming public diplomacy a cornerstone of European external relations policy. We examine these claims in the context of the EU's delegations to Australia and New Zealand. Using three ethnographic case studies, we highlight discrepancies between official discourses on public diplomacy and its practice. The participatory ideals of EU public diplomacy, we argue, are undermined by the EU's preoccupation with image and branding, public relations and marketing techniques, and continuing reliance on traditional ‘backstage’ methods of diplomacy. We conclude by outlining the implications of these paradoxes for both anthropological research and EU external relations."

Soft Power and Public Diplomacy in Turkish Foreign Affairs: Neo-Ottomanism or A New Trend? (2009-2013). Analysis Over 2 Study Cases: Public Diplomacy Coordination Office of the Prime Ministry of Republic of Turkey and Yunus Emre Institution - www.academia.edu: Thesis chapter

by Ozge Nur Ogutcu. Ogutcu image from

Publications - Dr Agnieszka Sobocinska, Monash University: Cites article, Sobocinska, Agnieszka, ‘Diggin’ on the East: The hippie trail and Australian-Indian relations’, Enriched Relations: Public Diplomacy in Australian-Indian Relations, New Delhi: Readworthy Publications, 2013, pp. 107-120.

Sobocinska image from

Reinforcing global legitimacy and efficiency: The case for strategic discursive public diplomacy - auth.academia.edu: Study by Christos Frangonikolopoulos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Journalism and Mass Media Studies.

Public Diplomacy - academia.edu: Lists publications pertaining to public diplomacy that (supposedly) can be downloaded (e.g., The New Public Diplomacy by Ravio Patra).

Definition - diplomatist.com: "Diplomat [:] A Foreign Office employee officially engaged as a diplomat; a person, or organization that is astute and tactful in any negotiation or relationship. This website attempts to conform to the second definition in the form of Public Diplomacy (see below). Diplomacy [:] Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states. It usually refers to international diplomacy, the conduct of international relations through the intercession of professional diplomats with regard to issues of peacemaking, trade, economics, culture, environment and human rights. The most common types of diplomacy: Political Diplomacy; Economic Diplomacy; Public Diplomacy; and, Soft Diplomacy."

3rd Edition of the Master in Protocol and Soft Diplomacy Skills: Last call for registrations! Join our programme to learn from the best experts in the fields of protocol and soft diplomacy skills - euagenda.eu: "We offer different study modes to enable our students to balance their studying experience with their work and life commitments. ... Module III: Soft Diplomacy Skills [:] Public Diplomacy Applied."

Principles and Aims of Foreign Cultural and Educational Policy - ifa.de: "Foreign cultural and educational policy (FCEP) is a central element of foreign policy for any country. In Germany FCEP is the 'third pillar' of foreign policy alongside political and economic relations. It provides the foundation for reliable and sustainable international relations. The most important tasks are to convey a current picture of one's own country and its culture, to promote the national language, and to guard against crises and conflicts. Stable cultural relations are based on the principle of reciprocity and dialogue.

States acting upon this principle present their own culture in their partner countries, but they also afford their partners the same opportunity in their own country. ... Selected Articles Grandesso, Federico: The diplomacy of Culture [;] Holden, John: Influence and attraction [;] Video: John Holden speaks about soft power / public diplomacy… [;] Culligan, Kieron: Culture means business [;]Auer, Claudia; Srugies, Alice: Public diplomacy in Germany. Image from entry, with caption: Stuttgarter Schlossgespräch 2013

Course Descriptions - Emerson College: "CC221 - Global Political Communication (4 Credits) [:] Provides students with a critical understanding of the role of communication in national politics in non-Western contexts as well as the increasingly important role of mediated communication in contemporary international relations and public diplomacy. ... CC643 - Global Communication (4 Credits) [:] Focuses on the management of communication with stakeholders in a world defined by globalization. Case studies, role-play workshops, and ethnographic inquiry are employed to enhance and update the student's knowledge and awareness of best-practices in contemporary business negotiations and transactions, public diplomacy initiatives, and cross-sector partnerships. Examples from small business to multinationals and from local nonprofits to global NGOs are used. Instructor: Mohamed Khalil ... CC648 - Public Relations (4 Credits) [:] Addresses in-depth the development of stakeholder relations and communication in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Topics covered include corporate relations, reputation management grassroots organizing, public policy and the media, political communication, social advocacy campaigns, and public diplomacy. Case studies of communication campaigns at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels are used. Students produce and present at least one communication campaign to affect behavior in diverse stakeholder groups. Instructor: Ted Hollingworth

Debate team on the move to Mvubu - gonzagabulletin.com: "The Gonzaga debate team was established more than 100 years ago, and since its inception, this century-old program has sent its most talented debaters to debates across the country and the world. This year, following a promising performance at the Lafayette Debates last spring, the GU debate team has been invited by the Civis Institute to a prestigious tournament known as the Mvubu Debates. ... The topic for the Mvubu debates will be: 'Resolved: The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a desirable model for transitional reconciliation.' ... The tournament will be held by the Civis Institute that will work in partnership with the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication."

Twitter message from

US Mission to the UNVerified account‏@USUN

Want to help represent the U.S. at the @UN? We're hiring in our Press & Public Diplomacy Section! Learn more: http://go.usa.gov/yvTh 

Employment Opportunity - American Embassy Jakarta - id.jobsdb.com: "The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has a vacancy for Cultural Affairs Specialist (@america Program Manager), FSN-10 . ... Under the Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer (ACAO) for @america, the incumbent manages the @america Unit, providing supervision and leadership to the team creating program and overseeing the administration of @america-a high-tech, 21 century public diplomacy outreach venue that targets Indonesians aged 15-30 and engages them in a new way."

Governance and Public Diplomacy - ruc.jobbank.dk: "The Embassy of Denmark in Dar es Salaam is the focal point in the partnership between Tanzania and Den-mark. Tanzania is one of Denmark’s largest programme countries and the Danish aid to Tanzania covers a variety of areas. In the spring semester 2015 three interns will be recruited with in the following three areas; Public Diplomacy/Communication/Governance; the Health Sector; and Macroeconomic analysis/Private Sector development. ... If you are interested in working with public diplomacy/communication and good governance, an internship at the Embassy of Denmark in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, could be of interest to you."