November 8

"No, I am not a postman."

--Vladimir Nabokov, when asked whether his novels contained a message; Nabokov image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Secretary Clinton Announces Civil Society 2.0 Initiative to Build Capacity of Grassroots Organizations Marrakech, Morocco November 3, 2009 - U.S. Department of State: "In her remarks today to the Forum for the Future, Secretary Clinton announced Civil Society 2.0,

which will help grassroots organizations around the world use digital technology to tell their stories, build their memberships and support bases, and connect to their community of peers around the world. Building the capacity of grassroots civil society organizations will enable them to do the work that, in the past, Western NGOs and governments have done. With increased capacity, communities are better able to initiate, administer and sustain their own programs and solutions to shared problems." Image from

"Foreign bureaucracies should not manufacture messages of democracy" - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy – Elliott comment on article by Cynthia P. Schneider and Nadia Oweidat, “Where are the moderate voices from the Arab world?” Global Arab Network, 4 November 2009:" "The administration can condemn censorship and encourage internet access until it is blue in the face, but regimes such as those in Iran, Burma, and Zimbabwe won't comply until those regimes are replaced. International broadcasting must therefore step in to provide news and information to places where that information is denied. A lack of government fingerprints is good, whenever possible, but with limited commercial potential for international broadcasting in languages such as Persian, Pashto, Burmese, and even Arabic, government funding must be provided, coupled with the necessary guarantees of autonomy. As for the 'failure' of 'al-Hurrah' (Alhurra), see previous post."

Iran blames latest unrest on international broadcasts - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Assorted stories of RFE/RL's past and present - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Edward Norton, Forest Whitaker, Sarah Jessica Parker, More Sign on to President Obama's Arts Committee - Christina Lee, Paste Magazine: "As Variety reported Monday, the White House appointed a total of 25 arts and entertainment personalities to serve in its Committee

on the Arts and Humanities. ... To further promote the arts, the committee will communicate with federal cultural agencies, in addition to public and private sectors. It will address cultural diplomacy, economic revitalization and education matters in the arts and humanities vein." Image from

Obama Names Picks for President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities - Steve Delahoyde, mediabistro.com (blog): "While President Obama was busy rocking it with his new Google Glasses on, we assume one of the things he got up to while looking so nerd-cool was selecting the members of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the list of whom has just been released. And what an odd list it is. The ones the celebrity watching outlets will pick up on are Yo-Yo Ma, Vogue's Anna Wintour, Edward Norton, and Sarah Jessica Parker (no doubt for her efforts pitting artists against one another). For those whose interests lie elsewhere, you'll be pleased to hear that starchitect Thom Mayne also made it in, as did designer/architect Christine Forester. It's a strange

group of people, for sure, and if you're a little unclear as to how they'll all be working together (we'd like to see a Norton vs. Wintour argument the most), here's a brief synopsis of the committee: Our committee focuses on arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy, economic revitalization through the arts and humanities and special events dedicated to recognizing excellence in these areas. Since our members include government agencies and private individuals, we provide a dynamic link between the public and private sectors. All of our efforts are collaborative, and we work primarily with the White House and our cultural partners, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Update: The LA Times' Christopher Knight has a few more things to say about the group's makeup, like why aren't there any visual artists included?" Image from

Anna Wintour joins Obama! - Grazia: "So this is a nice 60th birthday present. Anna Wintour

is joining Obama in the White House! Kind of. The US Vogue editor-in-chief has just been appointed honorary chair on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, which will focus on ‘arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy, economic revitalisation through the arts and humanities and special events dedicated to recognising excellence in these areas, and for the promotion of really great shoes’ (OK, we made that last bit up). The committee will basically advise the President on how to elevate the role of the arts in society." Wintour image from article

Obama's Art Gurus - Jessica Bumpus - Vogue.com: "Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker have been recruited by president Barack Obama to advise on the arts. The American Vogue editor and Sex and the City actress

are among a group of Hollywood and fashion figures - which also includes a cellist, a theatre and film producer and a ballet dancer - who have been given the task to bring attention to education, cultural diplomacy and economical development through the arts. First Lady Michelle Obama holds the role of honorary chairperson to the 25-member arts and humanities committee. 'The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it,' she said. The committee was set up in 1982 during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, reports The Daily Telegraph." Jessica Parker image from article

What is Obama's policy on the arts? - Marianne Combs,Minnesota Public Radio: "[W]ith all this talk about health care and the economy, you may not know just exactly what President Obama has planned for the arts (I certainly couldn't point to any projects off the top of my head). Well I did a quick search and found this from his campaign trail days, when candidate Obama needed to have talking points on every issue out there. In summary, our President has promised America the following [among them]: … - To promote cultural diplomacy. By that he means put more money into U.S. embassy programs that send American artists on tour around the world. - To attract foreign talent. Since 9/11 it's been difficult, if not impossible to get a visa to perform in the United States. President Obama has promised to streamline the visa process so artists and art students can make their way here more easily."

Connecting cultures - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe: "During a visit to Boston two years ago, King Abdullah of Jordan heard the Boston Children’s Chorus perform at the Harvard Club and was bowled over. The king told chorus executive director David Howse

to let him know if there was anything he could do for the chorus in the future. Howse had an idea: Why not bring the chorus to Jordan? After all, part of the mission statement for the multiracial ensemble, founded six years ago by Hubie Jones, is that the singers 'proudly represent the city of Boston as ambassadors of harmony.’ Working with the Royal Court in Jordan, the US State Department, and cultural organizations in Jordan, Howse laid the groundwork for what eventually became a two-week visit to Jordan in July by 65 members of the chorus. Ranging in age from 11 to 18, the chorus members gave a total of seven performances in the city of Amman and in rural towns. Call it cultural diplomacy, chorus-style." Howse image from

First Lady Presents After-School Arts and Education Awards - press release, Media Newswire: "Mrs. Obama ... [is] the honorary chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), which sponsors the Coming Up Taller awards in partnership with three federal agencies. The PCAH focuses on arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy and economic revitalization through the arts and humanities. The committee includes both government officials and private individuals. It works primarily with the White House, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to connect the people of the United States with each other and with the rest of the world through dance, music, literature, painting, sculpture, and heritage and cultural tourism."

The British Museum brings the dead to life: The British Museum's Day of the Dead celebrations did more than offer a joyous take on Mexico's annual spectacle. It revived its own standing on the cultural landscape, too - Jonathan Jones, guardian.co.uk ‎: "The Day of the Dead at the British Museum on Sunday was the ultimate consummation of Neil MacGregor's transformation of the Bloomsbury collection into a meeting place of world cultures. This autumn's theme at the museum is Mexico. … But the sheer scale of this festival was mind-blowing.

The crowds were so huge and joyous, the events such an artful cocktail of entertainment – skeleton parades, macabre ballets, those stiltwalkers – and education. The crowds didn't just gawp; we listened to erudite talks as well. And there were the two Mexican exhibitions to make part of your visit, adding up to a revelatory cultural encounter. As it happens I was in a debate the other day on the theme of museums as agents of cultural diplomacy. Dr Tiffany Jenkins, a trenchant critic of the British Museum's global vision of itself as cultural melting pot, was another speaker. There was no one from the BM on the panel, so I found myself defending it, pointing out how rich the aesthetic rewards of its 'cultural diplomacy' have been. But in light of yesterday, it needs no defender." Image from article

Leading article: Cultural diplomacy - Independent: "Sino-British relations have had their share of ruptures over the centuries, from the Opium Wars to the disturbed progress of the Beijing Olympic torch through London's streets a few years ago. And until yesterday it looked as though The X-Factor had created another awkward diplomatic incident. There were reports that the Chinese ambassador, Madam Fu Ying, had been annoyed by the noise from the fans of the ITV show's contestants (who are being housed near Madam Fu's London residence). But not a bit of it. The Ambassador has made it known that she is actually very pleased to be 'caught up in X Factor fever' and even claims to be a fan. It used to be said that 'an ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for his country'. But who could doubt the sincerity of Madam Fu's admiration for Stacey, Jamie and, of course, Jedward? We say: a new era of sweet harmony between our two great nations begins here."

Benjamin R Barber: Cultural diplomacy doesn't change how countries do business - Independent : "The trouble with cultural diplomacy – don't get me wrong, I like cultural diplomacy – is that it is redundant. Culture is diplomacy. Why? Because the medium in which the arts swim is not really words or deeds but imagination.

Which is to say, cultural diplomacy cannot pretend to change how countries do business and probably should not even try. … The truth is that democracy needs the art more than the art needs democracy." Barber image from

The Liberal vision: A cultured Canada - Pablo Rodriguez, National Post: "Michael Ignatieff was in Montreal last week to meet with theatre, television, film and video industry stakeholders, as well as representatives of Quebec's museums. ... Our Liberal leader is ... committed to ensuring stable funding to CBC/Radio-Canada, allowing long-term planning so the broadcaster can continue to offer unique, quality programming, as per its mandate as a Crown corporation. Lastly, Michael Ignatieff promised to re-establish and improve cultural programming cut by the Conservatives, especially programs that develop our role in international markets as well as initiatives in cultural diplomacy (like the scrapped PromArt and Trade Routes programs)."

The flute gathers dust - Rahul Ghai, HardNews Magazine: "Encouraging people in rural regions to develop traditional forms of livelihood based on cultural resources should be considered an investment in development. Such a development would go a long way in fulfilling the promise of preserving our cultural heritage. It would also provide solace to the arid and parched urban sensibilities."

Eastern Promises - Baladas Ghoshal, Times of India:

"Strategic objectives need not be promoted through projection of hard military power alone, as the 'realist' school would have it. Exercise of soft power could be more effective. The liberal institutional approach emphasises culture, ideology and institutions. Soft power strategies rely on common political values, peaceful means of conflict management and economic cooperation to achieve common solutions. India's objectives in its Look East policy and visibility in South East Asia can be furthered through areas education (human resources development), democracy and culture where it has a comparative advantage over other Asian countries. Indian and Indonesian cultures and values, for instance, are closely related. Civilisational contact between India and South East Asia spans over 2,000 years. If pursued, cultural diplomacy can further cement the bond between the two regions based on pluralist traditions and belief in 'unity in diversity'. Tourism as a means of people-to-people contact can be an instrument of cultural diplomacy." Image from

Sizzling Entertainment - David Tumusiime, Observer: "Just how much can four years away from Uganda change a person? A lot, if the transformation of The Missing Link (real name Abba Lang) of Klear Kut is anything to go by. … Although he is the programme coordinator on cultural diplomacy in Africa team for The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany, the Link believes he can still get back to making music. It was one of the reasons that saw him come back to Uganda on August 24, 2009 although he said this was just a visit."

RELATED ITEMS

The President Whose Words Once Soared - Peter Baker, New York Times:

After Mr. Obama gave his speech in Cairo reaching out to the Muslim world, some aides argued that the address itself was responsible for Iranians taking to the streets of Tehran to protest a disputed election. But David Axelrod, the president’s senior adviser, said the White House is realistic. “No one ever believed that the power of communicating was in and of itself enough,” he said. “It’s important to communicate what you’re doing and why. But without the what and the why, the communicating is of little value.” Image from

Obama's unlearned lesson: Treading in Carter's unsuccessful footsteps - Oliver North, Washington Times: Like the Carter administration, Mr. Obama and his advisers apparently are convinced that "engaging" the Iranian regime will somehow make things different. After 30 years, they still don't get it.

For China trip, lose the old baggage - Zachary Karabell, Washington Post: Hundreds of billions of dollars in annual trade, trillions in loans and investments, and two decades of ever-closer integration have transformed both countries, and the mutual dependence has only deepened during the financial crisis of the past year. Another summit-as-usual won't do.

More Official Thoughts on Re-branding Propaganda – China Digital Times: David Bandurski of China Media Project translates “Employing Innovation to Raise the Level of Public Opinion Channeling in Television” by Ma Laishun, vice-chairman at Hebei Television and head of the station’s News Center. A portion of David Bandurski’s introductory remarks to Ma’s article: “Public opinion channeling” seems to encompass an ambitious nationwide project to re-package and modernize propaganda. The piece below refers explicitly to “all-around packaging” and “branding” even as it emphasizes serving the interests of party superiors.

It is crucial to understand that this modernization project seeks to take the boring and the boilerplate out of propaganda, not the propaganda out of news. The emphasis on discipline and the party line is still there. But there is a recognition too that traditional media control tactics, while still crucial, are no longer as effective in the age of modern communications. So to all of you phoning to ask whether the Internet has made a difference. Yes. Of course. But be careful how you understand that change. Chinese media are changing. And so are controls. Image from

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“Wrestling isn’t fake. It’s predetermined. So what?”

--Hulk Hogan

IMAGE


A copyeditor at the Toronto Star greeted the news that union copyeditor jobs were being eliminated in favor of freelancers by heavily editing the publisher's memo announcing same, pointing out all the ways in which the publisher could benefit from editorial aid.

From Boing Boing

November 7

"a useful idiot for Soviet propaganda."

--Howard Phillips of the Conservative Caucus, regarding Ronald Reagan; image from

BLAST FROM THE PAST

After the honeymoon: Electing Barack Obama president won't be enough to improve America's standing in the world - John Brown, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 June 2008

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE NEWS

Remarks at No Limits Public Policy Conference Luncheon - Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Department of State: "Every conflict we have in the world today is really bound up in whether people will invest in the future, whether they will seek common ground with others, or whether they will either stay frozen or go backwards. And part of our job in the State Department is to better explain what it is the United States represents. We got a little off track over the last eight years. We’re trying to get back on track today. I was very pleased that – some of you know Judith McHale was appointed the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, and she is traveling the world, looking for the ways that we can better connect so that we can tell our story. Because everyone has a story to tell, and everyone needs to be thinking about how we better tell America’s story. Whenever I travel, as Terry said, I try not just to meet with diplomats and officials, but to go out and meet with people.

And that’s been kind of a interesting experience the last nine months, because a lot of people thought, 'Well, why are you doing that?' Well, it’s because no matter what society you’re in, public opinion matters to a greater or a lesser degree, but it matters. You can be an authoritarian dictator, but you still have to listen to what people are saying and thinking. And we needed to do some concerted work to try to create a better communication between our country and others. … I said when I got to the State Department on the very first day that I wanted to see smart power in action. And smart power requires smart people, and we have just a wonderful group of really smart, dedicated people here in the State Department, at USAID, and around the world." See also. Image from

Redesigning Pak-US relations: The Nation, Pakistan: "Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her arrival in Pakistan, had said that she had come to 'turn the page' in the US-Pakistan relations. Undoubtedly, the page has yet to be turned. The Kerry-Lugar Bill was meant to win 'hearts and minds.' Therefore, she sought to clarify, dispel doubts and convince. Hillary Clinton used logic and exuded charm. She met every point raised. Certainly, it was an impressive display of public diplomacy - something Pakistan has, yet, to acquire, learn and practice. ... The controversy generated by the Kerry-Lugar Bill has done a considerable good to the people of Pakistan. For one, they are no longer willing to take things lying down."

Obama diplomacy lost in confusion – TedLipien.com: "Speaking softly to dictators while insulting faithful allies seems to be the essence of President Obama’s confused diplomacy. The Obama administration has repeatedly offended Poland’s pride in recent months, making Polish officials extremely suspicious and anxious about foreign policy and military commitments of the new U.S. administration. ... The final blow came when President Obama made his decision to cancel U.S. plans to build the anti-ballistic missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic, and chose to announce it on the very day the Poles were commemorating the tragic anniversary of the Soviet invasion of their country. Countless public diplomacy experts in the White House and the State Department, including President Obama’s future ambassador to Poland, did nothing to prevent this completely avoidable insult.

Wired headline said it all: Dear Poland, Happy Soviet Invasion Day. Love Uncle Sam. ... President Obama had canceled his plans to attend the 20th anniversary observances in Germany of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will represent the U.S. Hoping to score a public diplomacy coup ... . Mr. Obama is too busy to Berlin to honor those who fought against communism in Eastern and Central Europe." Image from

What, perhaps, Voltaire would have advised Judith McHale regarding Public Diplomacy - John Brown, Notes & Essays: "Entertaining readers was the key to selling them books and winning their minds: he [Voltaire] didn't want their hearts. But in reality, Voltaire had always been a natural teller of tales. ... To various correspondents he explained what was required. Be brief (short, of course, but more importantly, expeditious), keep the mood jaunty (and casually louche), and above all amuse the reader ... .

Every story should have a central idea which intrigues the reader and makes him think. Be as bold as you wish, but root imagination in truth, not in the commonplaces of fiction, and do it with a lightness of touch that makes fantasy, farce, horror and even startling anachronisms chime with the reader's experience and knowledge of the world. Deal in broad types, not individuals, so that the reader is insulated against his feelings and constantly exposed to the idea, which is the point of the exercise. Never lecture, never be merely frivolous, and never triviliaze the idea at the heart of the tale." --David Coward, "To get the Beast by the tale: Voltaire and especially Candide are still 'infiniment actuel' after 350 years," Times Literary Supplement, October 23, 2009, p. 14. Voltaire image from

Marshall Islands: Ambassadors Fund For Cultural Preservation-Project Grant, Yokwe - "Marshall Islands: Ambassadors Fund For Cultural Preservation-Project Grant [:] Ambassador Martha Campbell, of the Embassy of the United States of America, to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, announcest opening of grant competition for the The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).

This annual competition supports projects in the following categories: 1. Objects and collections of objects from a museum, site, archive, or similar institution; 2. Cultural sites; 3. Forms of traditional cultural expression. Complete project proposals are due to the U.S. Embassy by THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009. Summaries of proposed projects may be submitted to the Public Diplomacy Office at the US Embassy by THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009 to facilitate further guidance and/or acceptance criteria to proposing agencies." Campbell image from

"Leveraging" US international broadcasting is a good way of eliminating its audience - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Revitalizing Iraq's Youth, One School at a Time - Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, Systems: "FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq – The village of Chemin, Iraq, commemorated the opening of a new primary school with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Nov. 3.Attending the ceremony was Deputy Director General of Education Fawzia Abdullah Awanis, representatives from Kirkuk's Provincial Reconstruction Team and Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Forward Operating Base Warrior. According to Stacy Barrios, the Kirkuk PRT chief of Public Diplomacy, the project was a combined initiative between the Kirkuk PRT, the Director General of Education, and U.S. forces in Iraq, in an effort to improve the educational infrastructure and environment in Kirkuk province."

The GAO Report (Beltway Edition): Need-blind admission for the whole world 'round: Shelley Gao, The Stanford Daily: "There are many benefits to ensuring that Stanford be open to the best and brightest around the world. International diversity ensures an exciting experience of peer-to-peer learning. American undergraduates can learn firsthand about different cultures and worldviews from their international friends.

Equally important is the opportunity for Stanford to educate individuals who will return to their home countries. International students have the duty to undertake positions of public leadership and help the world understand American values and ideas. This is the most valuable way they can give back to the United States. Indeed, the 'smart power' approach in foreign policy involves an increasing focus on international education and cultural exchanges. Public diplomacy is crucial to reviving America’s global leadership and advantageous to the United States’ long-term security and strategic interests. Simple interactions have the tremendous potential to break down barriers and help us recognize our shared humanity." Stanford club baseball logo from

USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part I - Jerome F. Keating's writings: "'National Security, Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Smart Power: Future Directions for Smart Nations,' isn't that a mouthful. Yet that was the long and unusual title for the conference on October 29, 2009, a conference sponsored by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). ... Ernest Wilson III, the Dean of the Annenberg School, [spoke about] trends for soft power that were global and the USA, as well as its core of unresolved issues. The need for recognition of and investment in public diplomacy (PD) in human rights as well as showing social groups are making alliances in this is important. Likewise Wilson gave comparisons between Bush and Obama in their uses of PD, but the real problem lay in the unresolved issues. Internally how will citizens exchange work and externally how soft power can be intelligently integrated with hard power, how public diplomacy faces off with trade diplomacy etc.? These remained challenges for the future.

Adam Clayton Powell III, USC Vice Provost for Globalization spoke about innovations in global PD and their implications. He pointed out how the ability of international broadcasting, internet radio and video can reach hundreds of millions and how competitive and comparative advantages must be leveraged, how NGOs must be used and how relationships with diasporas must be maintained. Powell emphasized how nations must not fight the last war but must anticipate the latest technologies from facebook, twitter etc. to the upcoming experiential media. ... Frank Yee Wang, Deputy Director of the International Information Department of the Government Information Office (GIO) spoke on the key tools of PD as Cultural Diplomacy, Global Education and International Broadcasting. But while Wang's topic was on how Taiwan should tell its story and its uniqueness, his lackluster presentation missed a clear opportunity to exemplify just that. ... The Q&A section brought up the matter of financial and political resources are involved, how the nation's leadership must be convinced and tie PD into the national interest to make the message more effective. University think-tanks should aid in convincing leadership. The irony of how the People's Republic of China (PRC) uses Confucian Centers (a name that was anathema in the Cultural Revolution) to spread its PD. Taiwan needs an agency for PD, like Great Britain has a British Council to coordinate and govern its PD." Image from

Diplomacy expert to visit MSU - news.msu.edu: "A public diplomacy expert will visit Michigan State University on Nov. 10 to explain how academia can help improve the global image of the United States. Cari E. Guittard, a nationally recognized expert on cross-culture communication, will host a lecture titled, 'U.S. Public Diplomacy and Global Engagement, Diplomatic Action and Public-Private Partnerships: Where Do We Go from Here?' … Guittard, executive director of the consulting firm Business for Diplomatic Action, believes America has lost the worldwide respect she said it used to enjoy."

Defence application communication: "The recently approved NATO Policy on Strategic Communication defines Strategic Communication as 'the coordinated and appropriate use of NATO communications activities and capabilities – Public Diplomacy, Military Public Affairs, Information Operations and Psychological Operations, as appropriate – in support of Alliance policies, operations and activities, and

in order to advance NATO's aims' (SG(2009)0794). 'It is important to underline that Strategic Communication is first and foremost a process that supports and underpins all efforts to achieve the Alliance's objectives; an enabler that guides and informs our decisions, and not an organization in itself. It is for this reason that Strategic Communication considerations should be integrated into the earliest planning phases - communication activities being a consequence of that planning.'" Image from

Toronto's Middle East proxy war: When Jerusalem's top PR man set out to rebrand his country abroad, he chose Toronto as his test market. As Michael Posner discovers, he had his work cut out for him - Globe and Mail: Toronto ...[is] home to some of Israel's harshest critics . ... Toronto is where the now-annual Israeli Apartheid Week began Moreover, in his regular rounds of public diplomacy with business and community leaders, his core message about Israel - a dynamic and secular society. ... Amir Gissin [former director of public affairs at the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and now Israel's consul-general for Toronto] knows only too well how subtly the paint from his palette must be applied. Any suggestion that his government - or even other Jewish organizations - is somehow orchestrating positive coverage of Israel would immediately negate the benefits. In other words, he says, 'we can lose even when we seem to win.' ... It's to [a] more nuanced narrative - Israel as the creative incubator of quality-of-life enhancements - that Mr. Gissin thinks his target audiences will respond. 'Remember, this is not an ad campaign for mineral water or an election campaign for a politician. Rebranding has no end date. Israel is here forever. So what happens tomorrow is less important than the long term. And the more we are able to tell the truth about who we are, the more friends we will win.'"

November 9, 2009. 10:00 am -12:00 noon. Involving the Citizen in Building the New Europe – Democracy Digest: "The Delegation of the European Commission to the United States and Partners for Democratic Change are co-hosting this seminar to discuss the in what ways participation and consultation can be used to deepen citizens’ support for a united Europe and desire to be 'European'? ... Presenters include: ...

Anthony Smallwood, First Counselor and Spokesperson, Head of Press and Public Diplomacy, The Delegation of the European Commission." Smallwood image from

RELATED ITEMS

Prospect of More U.S. Troops Worries Afghan Public - Alissa J. Rubin, New York Times: As Americans, including President Obama’s top advisers, tensely debate whether to send more American troops to Afghanistan, Afghans themselves are having a similar discussion and voicing serious doubts. The grass-roots view among Afghans is at odds with those of top Afghan officials, as well as many American military commanders, who strongly endorse a full-blown counterinsurgency strategy, including a large troop increase. These doubts do not tally with some surveys, like the poll taken by the International Republican Institute, in which a majority of Afghans appeared to be positive about Americans and said they thought that the country was going in the right direction.

Martial mythologies - Victor Davis Hanson, Washington Times: We have experienced soldiers and military leadership, a just cause and Western unity. In other words, we have everything we need to defeat the Taliban - except a commander in chief as confident about fighting and winning as he once was as a candidate.

Coup, Uninterrupted – Editorial, New York Times: The Obama administration has worked hard, if somewhat episodically, to try to resolve the political crisis in Honduras. Last week, it looked as if the administration had pulled it off. The deal is now unraveling because of the obstinacy of Honduras’s ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, and the man who ousted him, Roberto Micheletti. But we fear Washington also miscalculated that obstinacy.

Next Step in Russian PR Blitz: Rehabilitate Stalin - Nathan Hodge, Wired. below image from article

November 6

"There is no single article that illustrates more aptly the playfulness of the cultural impulse than the periwig as worn in the seventeenth an eighteenth centuries."

--Dutch historian Johan Huizinga, in his "Homo Ludens"; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Five things learned from Hillary Clinton's trip - Laura Rozen, Politico:


"Secretary Clinton, like candidate Clinton, tries to win over audiences with her homework and her obvious command of policy substance, as well as with her ability to connect on a personal level. She also tactically deploys the odd flash of authenticity, lowering her voice to speak 'frankly' and get real. In a complex environment like Pakistan or the Middle East, such efforts sometimes backfire, or at least counteract the rest of her major public diplomacy message du jour. But with Clinton, ever aware that her audience is both domestic and international, it’s hard to know how much such misfires may be unintentional — or not." Image from

Graphs, Cold War Deer, Evaluating Hillary, An Armey of Tea Baggers, and Rubio - 2parse.com: Evaluating Hillary. "Joe Klein has a balanced and insightful evaluation of Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State. It is a bit early – as he acknowledges. But while the piece is worthwhile, he gives too little credit for the positive progress made by Hillary and the Obama administration in checking the deterioration of U.S. interests around the world, especially with regards to public diplomacy."

The Role of Humanitarians in Government: Perspectives on Advocacy and Impact - Sierra Express Media (blog): Eric P. Schwartz, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Brookings Institute, Washington, DC:

"[H]umanitarians in government must raise the profile of our work – among our colleagues in government, within the Congress, and among civil society and the public at large. Public awareness of our issues is a critical pre-requisite to political support for international humanitarian objectives. We must engage in more vigorous public affairs and public diplomacy, information-sharing with Congress and the NGO community, and travel to regions of the world where key humanitarian issues are implicated." Schwartz image from

What Obama Should Say to North Korea: The president's visit to Seoul is an opportunity to speak out on human rights - Melanie Kirkpatrick, Wall Street Journal: "When he's in Seoul this month, Mr. Obama could meet with refugees and hear their horror stories of life in their homeland. Even better, he could visit the offices of Radio Free Asia, Voice of America or Free North Korea Radio (run by refugees) and broadcast a message of support to the North Korean people themselves."

Ambassador Todd Welcomes MFAT's Participation In IVLP - Bru Direct: "Hajah Fauziah Haji Abdul Hamid, Acting Senior Special Duties Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), is currently in the United States as part of a US State Department-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP). … US Ambassador [William E.] Todd

said, 'I am pleased that Hajah Fauziah was selected for this important and very timely programme. Asean has increased focus and attention on human rights and I believe this programme will be of benefit to both Hajah Fauziah and Brunei. The State Department's fully sponsored IVLP is an important part of our public diplomacy programme globally, regionally, and in Brunei.' … The IVLP programme is an all-expense-paid trip supported by the US Department of State. Hajah Fauziah will join 10 other participants from Asean member countries with varying backgrounds. The participants will include members of local human rights organisations, academics, journalists and other members of civil society involved in human rights issues." Todd image from

Pesta Blogger 2009: Broadening the scope of Public Diplomacy - Madhurjya Kotoky, The Public Diplomacy Blog: "As we discuss the need & possibility of broadening the understanding of Public Diplomacy in India, there have been some interesting developments around the world with PD 2.0

worth taking note of. Last week, I received this interesting bit of information from the US state department that the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, is sponsoring Pesta Blogger 2009 - Indonesia’s only national-level bloggers’ gathering for the second consecutive year." Image from

Cinema diplomacy failing? - Jenny Schuch, 2nd Parallel South: Life working in Sumatra and other excursions. "With the movies at the local theatre only $1 on weeknights it has quickly turned into a fun, budget friendly, language/culture lesson for me. The theatre actually frequently has American movies passing through- always at least a year after they came out in the US- and after seeing a couple I think I have figured out why the American stereotype here is so extremely Hollywood-centered. In a city that gets very few, if any, tourists each year and is obviously outside of the US Embassy’s Public Diplomacy reaches, these cheap movies that make it to the theatre in Sumatra are really one of very few representations of American culture and people."

Culture's Purpose and the Work of Cultural Diplomacy Conference – John Brown, Notes & Essays: An account of the conference, held at American University on November 5.

The blog notes that “[a]ll too often discussions (and appreciations) of cultural diplomacy omit one of its key elements: that it's meant to be a joyful and pleasurable activity . ... In contrast to the more 'serious' sides of public diplomacy (e.g., being an arm of national security), cultural diplomacy is at heart a playful, often unpredictable, enterprise, one that appeals to the homo ludens element of our humanity; play being, according to the noted Dutch historian Johan Huizinga, 'primary to, and ... a necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture.'" Image from conference announcement

Quoting history: engaging in the information sphere - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: "Years ago, the House Appropriations Committee opened an inquiry into 'cultural diplomacy.' The response from the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs at the time was that it was a necessary response to the 'enormous sums' our adversary was spending on propaganda, 'possibly more than the rest of the world combined.'”

Research Announcement - email to PDPBR compiler from Aimee Fullman Consultant, Development, Arts and Cultural Policy, Globalscope-Developé:

"The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation has released the second publication in its Series on International Cultural Engagement, 'The Art of Engagement: Trends in U.S. Cultural Exchange and International Programming.' This document presents an overview of the results from the International Programming and Cultural Exchange Survey administered between September 2007 and June 2008. 134 artists and organizations representing 12 arts disciplines and the humanities weighed in on challenges, impact, and lessons learned from their experiences with international cultural exchange. ... Further information about this initiative and the U.S. Public and Cultural Diplomacy Timeline 1999-2009 is available at. The Timeline will be included as part of the 2009 Winter Journal of Art, Management, Law and Society-the online version." Image from

'We were looking for cracks in the façade' - The Local: ‎ "As a public affairs officer for the US Embassy in East Berlin just before the Berlin Wall fell, Peter Claussen

had a unique view of life in the German Democratic Republic. The Local spoke with him about how he remembers the historic time. … [Q:] Would you describe any of the public diplomacy work or cultural programmes you proposed as edgy or objectionable to East German authorities? [A:] Not on the face of it. We were essentially looking for cracks in the façade - organisations, institutes, offices or schools that seemed more amenable to the kinds of things we had to offer. [Q:] How closely connected with intelligence gathering was this? [A:] It’s a fine line, but in the organisation I was working for there was a very strict line between that and the kind of cultural work we were doing – it was deliberate, there was nothing clandestine about it. That was part of being a cultural diplomat – to establish clearly and convincingly that this is what you did for a living, and not the other." Claussen image from article

20 years after: The world, a wall, the Cold War and triumph of will - The Guardian, Nigeria: "Activities marking the fall of the Berlin Wall, the symbol of the Cold War era, will peak on Monday, the 20th anniversary of the triumph of will over human-erected obstacles. ... In the U.S., the German Embassy is coordinating a public diplomacy campaign with the motto 'Freedom Without Walls' to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. The campaign is focused on promoting awareness among current university students, and students at over 20 universities will participate in 'Freedom Without Walls' events in late 2009."

El cielo sobre Berlín

- Felipe Santos, diplomacia pública: A blog in spanish by Felipe Santos on Public Diplomacy, Smart Power and the common ground shared by Strategic Communication, Politics, Diplomacy, Security and Defense. Image from article.

British Council’s 75th birthday - David Miliband, Britishcouncilvoices: "In 1936 The British Council’s Chairman William Tyrrell defined the Council’s role as 'removing misunderstanding and promoting understanding'. Today, public diplomacy is arguably more important than ever. Citizens are more literate and more informed. They are connected to the outside world through trade, media and travel; more able to communicate with each other, to organise, to hold power to account, and to exert influence over political decision making. This is not just true in established democracies – public opinion also constrains more authoritarian leaders. So if we are to promote our values and influence our world in the 21st century, we must renew our soft power."

Diplomacy or credibility? ABC director will have to decide in his plans for Australian international broadcasting (updated) - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Voice of Russia wholeheartedly congratulated for glorious 80th anniversary! - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Fighting Iran on the high seas - Yaakow Katz, Jerusalem Post: "[T]he seizure [of ships in an ‘international battle that Israel is waging to win the war against weapons smuggling in the Mediterranean’] ... helps Israel ... with its public diplomacy efforts."

How to score a spot on Obama's arts team - Pia Catton, Politico:

"It’s not like being named the ambassador to London or Paris, but an appointment to the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities is one of the cushier rewards for supporting a presidential candidate. ... Committee Co-Chairwoman Margo Lion is in the Harvard Public Diplomacy Collaborative." Image from article: This social map illustrates what PCAH members have in common, from Harvard University to the Aspen Institute to Hollywood.

Pioneering Public Diplomacy Advert – Paul Rockower, Levantine:

"This is the new Public Diplomacy Magazine advertisement, designed by Matt Schrader and moi, and used for ad swaps with other journals." Image from article

Internal/External Communication Specialist - jamiiforums.com: "The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is seeking an individual for the position of Internal/External Communication Specialist. ... MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: ... Work with Public Affairs colleagues and the Office of the PEPFAR Country Coordinator to leverage interagency opportunities such as the new PEPFAR Tanzania Voluntary Visitor Program, Ambassador’s Small Grants Programs, U.S. Guest Speaker Program, the Performing Arts Initiative and the Sports Envoy Program. ... Attend Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy weekly staff meetings and participate in other interagency processes involving communication issues."

RELATED ITEMS

Young Russians’ About-Face From the West: When the Berlin Wall fell, young Russians clamored for all things Western. Now they rail against anything that is - Owen Matthews and Anna Nemtsova - Newsweek Web Exclusive

Reviews Raise Doubt on Training of Afghan Forces - Thom Shanker and John H. Cushman Jr. – New York Times: A series of internal government reviews have presented the Obama administration with a dire portrait of Afghanistan’s military and police force, bringing into serious question an ambitious goal at the heart of the evolving American war strategy -- to speed up their training and send many more Afghans to the fight. Below image: Afghans attacking the retreating British and Indian army


Obama's Unrealistic Afghan Assumptions Before the surge, Iraq's Maliki also wasn't considered credible - Elise Jordan, Wall Street journal: Mr. Obama who must now prove himself through deeds, not words. A military strategy that would reinforce the message that the U.S. will not abandon Afghans would do a lot of good. A renewed commitment from Mr. Obama would bolster U.S. efforts on the ground in Afghanistan and help our credibility in Pakistan.

Warlords R Us - Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times: The key lies in Pakistan. Almost all terrorist trails in Europe lead back to Pakistan - and its madrassas. These are the free Koranic schools that have stepped into the vacuum of no education system for the poor as the military take up 50 percent of government revenue. A fraction of what the U.S. has spent in Iraq and Afghanistan would go a long way to turning Pakistan around.

Bunkers or Breakthrough?- Roger Cohen, New York Times: The Islamic Republic needs to move on. It has sullied and weakened itself in recent months. It needs to put an end to the paralyzing behind-the-scenes fight over who would claim credit for any rapprochement with America.

Tehran gains time: How much longer should the Obama administration tolerate the regime's intransigence? – Editorial, Washington Post: The Obama administration and European governments have set the end of the year as a deadline for the transfer of the uranium out of Iran and for progress in the overall negotiations. But the administration must consider whether it makes sense to grant the regime two more months of grace.

The War Against the War on Terrorism: Italy convicts U.S. spooks for carrying out Italian policy – Wall Street Journal: Armando Spataro

cut his teeth as a prosecutor hunting down Red Brigade terrorists in Italy. But Wednesday in Milan he secured the conviction of 23 Americans charged with kidnapping and spiriting out of the country Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasr in 2003. Their conviction and sentencing -- in absentia -- is one more dubious milestone in the legal war against the war on terror. Spataro image from

The right place to try terrorists - Michael B. Mukasey, Washington Post: The very transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo to this country has consequences. The question of what constitutional rights may apply to aliens in government custody is unsettled, but it is clear from existing jurisprudence that physical presence in the United States would be a significant, if not a decisive, factor.

Italy got it right: CIA renditions are wrong - The conviction of 23 Americans in the abduction of Muslim cleric Abu Omar may be largely symbolic, but it sends an important message to the Obama administration, Editorial, Los Angeles Times

Obama must stand firm on Honduras crisis: A U.S.-brokered deal to return ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to office is unraveling, and the Obama administration seems to be wavering – Editorial, Los Angeles Times. Below image from


Ideologues hijack a compromise- Edward Schumacher-Matos, Washington Post: Opposing a U.S.-brokered agreement reached a week ago by Hondurans to defuse the crisis, the senators, led by South Carolina's Jim DeMint, have been grandstanding on principles that have little to do with reality, contributing to looming chaos in that Central American country and undermining U.S. policy in the region.

November 5

"[T]he vast majority of Public Diplomacy takes place at the Post level."

--Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale, noting that US PD is essentially carried out overseas; McHale image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

10 Questions on Combatting Violent Extremism - Marc Lynch, Foreign Policy: "Obama's initial approach has been outstanding, reframing America's relationship with the Muslim world around a broader lens than terrorism. His personal public diplomacy has achieved its initial goal: a fresh start, a new conceptual frame, and a serious engagement based on 'mutual respect and mutual interests.' His approach resolutely undermines al-Qaeda's efforts to impose a binary 'West vs Islam' clash of civilizations narrative, and very effectively disaggregates the problem and marginalizes al-Qaeda. He also has taken seriously the political grievances which make the al-Qaeda narrative attractive to average Arabs and Muslims who don't share its radical ideology-- pledging withdrawal from Iraq, promising to close Guantanamo, engaging on the Israeli-Palestinian front. ... But there's less good news as well. ... And Obama's window is closing. Arab audiences see Guantanamo still open (including in an endlessly repeating al-Jazeera promo), US troops escalating in Afghanistan, Gaza still blockaded, and no settlement freeze or peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. They have seen little follow-up on the ground on the Cairo address (regardless of what's been cooking secretly in Washington).

A narrative is clearly hardening that Obama has not delivered on his promises, and that he hasn't really changed American policies despite his personal appeal. ... Everyone these days wants to see development agencies, domestic agencies, intelligence, public diplomacy, the State Department, the military and everyone else all integrated into a coherent whole of government approach to problems. But who defines the mission?" Lynch image from

US Eases Pressure on Israel, Leans On Palestinians: I Think They Received the Message,’ Says ADL’s Foxman Nathan Guttman - Forward: "Relations between Washington and Jerusalem are warming, as months-long tensions over West Bank settlements and other issues have gradually eased. ... Amid calls in both countries for Obama to reach out to the Israeli public, the administration is also ratcheting up its public diplomacy efforts. On October 21 Obama sent a video greeting to a conference organized in Jerusalem by Israeli President Shimon Peres, and later that month he recorded another video message that is scheduled to be shown during the annual ceremony commemorating the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on November 7. In the Israeli press, Obama’s outstretched hand and the administration’s willingness to compromise on a settlement freeze were viewed as a sign of Netanyahu’s ability to stand up to the world’s most popular leader."

The Role of Humanitarians in Government: Perspectives on Advocacy and Impact Advocacy and Impact - Eric P. Schwartz Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Brookings Institute Washington, DC November 4, 2009 - U.S. Department of State: "[H]umanitarians

in government must raise the profile of our work – among our colleagues in government, within the Congress, and among civil society and the public at large. Public awareness of our issues is a critical pre-requisite to political support for international humanitarian objectives. We must engage in more vigorous public affairs and public diplomacy, information-sharing with Congress and the NGO community, and travel to regions of the world where key humanitarian issues are implicated." Image from

The Art of Diplomacy Without Words – Scotty Greenwood, American Diplomacy: "In addition to the official efforts of the State Department, private initiative has done much to bolster uneven federal budgets and garner public attention to the important role that culture plays in diplomacy.

In fact, due to the tremendous creativity of a few generous visionaries, a unique public-private partnership emerged which both amplifies America’s great creativity and furthers our government’s official diplomatic endeavors. That public private partnership is known as the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE)." Image from article: Sol LeWitt (American, 1928-2007) Wall Drawing #1256: Five Pointed StarsFirst installation: American Embassy Berlin, Germany February 2008 Acrylic Paint.

The decision - Spencer Ackerman, The National: "After Obama’s inauguration, the staff of CNAS [Center for a New American Security] appeared to move en masse into the new administration: founders Kurt Campbell and Michele Flournoy became, respectively, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and undersecretary of defence for policy. A bevy of CNAS analysts work at State and Defense, to the point that at the think-tank’s annual conference in June, the State Department’s undersecretary for public diplomacy, Judith McHale, joked that she hoped CNAS would teach her the secret handshake."

Media University for professionals soon: Secretary - Associated Press of Pakistan: "Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would soon set up a Media University to provide required training to mediapersons enabling them to meet the challenges of modern time.

'The Ministry would set up a Media University where special courses would be offered for media representatives,' said Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Mansoor Suhail on Wednesday. ... He said the Ministry is gearing up to play a front-line role in Pakistan’s public diplomacy at home and broad.' Using strategic vision and innovative practices, we need to play a critical role in promoting understanding between government and the people through creative massaging on national interest, progressive attitudes, hope and courage,' the Secretary added." Image from

MPOB Asked To Counter Oil Palm Advert Ban - Bernama: "The Foreign Ministry will ask the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to counter the recent ban on sustainable palm oil advertising by a United Kingdom (UK)advertising watchdog for alleged misleading claims, its deputy minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said on Thursday. ... 'Such bans in the UK are very common and I am very confident that our MPOB can handle this matter amicably and professionally to solve the problem,' he told reporters after launching the ministry's Outreach, Information and Public Diplomacy Programme here."

Events: Culture's Purpose and the Work of Cultural Diplomacy - Matt Armstrong, Mountainrunner.us: "5 November 2009, from noon to 4p at the SIS Lounge at American University is 'Culture's Purpose and the Work of Cultural Diplomacy.'"

SPN 2009 Conference: Final Day - Publiusforum.com: "The Wednesday session began with a breakfast address by James K. Glassman the former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State during the George W. Bush administration.

He spoke on Internet freedom (as opposed to net neutrality) and expressed his hope that a thousand Internet flowers would bloom without onerous regulation squelching it all. (I’ll add some photos later once I return home. All the camera stuff is packed up for the trip home at his time). Mr. Glassman is about to begin his new role as the executive director of the forthcoming George W. Bush Institute to be housed in Dallas, Texas at the soon to be built G.W. Bush library." Glassman image from

RELATED ITEMS

Awaiting the Nobel man:

A visit could remove mounting obstacles to peace - Danny Danon, Washington Times: “I appeal to the president to revisit this land and see just how much has changed in the past 12 months. Mr. Obama had recently agreed to attend a major American Jewish gathering in Washington, but this cannot and must not be a substitute to speaking to the people of Israel directly in Jerusalem.’ Danny Danon is deputy speaker of Israel's parliament and chairman of the World Likud. Image from

The Mideast impasse: Is the Obama administration focused on the right 'opportunity' with Israelis and Palestinians? – Editorial, Washington Post: The Obama administration's working assumption has been that energetic diplomacy by the United States could induce both sides to move quickly toward peace. In fact, progress in the Middle East has always begun with initiatives by Israelis or Arabs themselves. At the moment, the most promising idea comes from Mr. Abbas's prime minister, Salam Fayyad, who has vowed to build the institutions of a Palestinian state within the next two years, with or without peace talks. Negotiations between the current Israeli and Palestinian leaders could provide indirect support for that initiative, even if there is little progress. But the administration would do well to refocus its efforts on supporting Mr. Fayyad.