July 7-9

"What is new is that ... public diplomacy can be done by publics themselves through social media. The clumsy strategic communication officers of the state can stand back."

--From the Long War and the War on Terror to the Long Change - New Political Communication Unit Blog; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

The Future of Russian Innovation: A Conversation with Russia's Young Entrepreneurs - Robert Hormats, Huffington Post: "On the margins of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, I joined John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, for a meeting with a dynamic group of about 20 young Russian entrepreneurs to discuss their role in and expectations for Russia's economic transformation and modernization. ... ‎ One of the topics of conversation was the Skolkovo Innovation Center--a new high-tech hub for research and business housed just outside of Moscow. Many of these young entrepreneurs,

who boasted advanced degrees from leading U.S. universities, believed the center would help infuse an innovative culture into Russia. They also welcomed ideas for more business and academic exchanges, which would focus on developing managerial skills in the high-tech/emerging sectors; new business models that would encourage use and development of new technologies; and better public diplomacy from the government on the benefits of innovation and technology to increase demand for these products and highlight their efficiency in everyday life." Robert Hormats is Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs. Image: Savva Mamontov Born: October 10, 1841 Deceased: April 6, 1918 Russian entrepreneur and patron of art

The Russian Spy Case and Public Diplomacy: Some Out of the Box Speculations – John Brown, Notes and Essays:

"Meanwhile, with this minor [spy case] episode over, how about serious public diplomacy on the part of our century-old Eurasian neighbor if it wishes to present/represent itself to American citizens? Of course, the same recommendation, flip side, could be made to us, the relatively young United States of America, vis a vis Russia." Russian spook Chapman image from

US Gov't uses tech to engage East Africa‎ - Rebecca Wanjiku, IDG: "The U.S. government seems to have changed tack by engaging young people to find tech solutions to problems affecting the East Africa region. Previously, the U.S. government primarily used the USAID agency to pursue sustainable solutions to various problems but the launch of an Apps4Africa competition by the U.S. Department of State shows a change of method. Judith McHale, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Michael Ranneberger, ambassador to Kenya, launched the competition at the Innovation Hub (iHub) in Nairobi last week. The competition is co-sponsored by Appfrica Labs, based in Kampala, the iHub and the Social Development Network (SODNET), in Nairobi."

Why we must work with Pakistan‎ - Kul B. Rai, Waterbury Republican American (subscription): According to Google, mention of “public diplomacy such as exchange programs and visits by US officials to speak to the Pakistani public.”

Welcome To The U.S. Pavilion: We’re Here To Disappoint - Kenya Davis-Hayes, Newswire – CPD Blog & Blogroll, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: ‘Is the vapid nature of the US Pavilion a true reflection of the American character in 2010?’

To answer my own question, I think it would be fair to say that while the presentation within the US Pavilion does not reflect the entire character of the nation, it may be chronicled as one of the more careless efforts made by the US at a World’s Exposition." Image from

Lack of Space Technology Is Not the Muslim World's Problem - M. Zuhdi Jasser, ‎National Review Online: "The Obama administration decided to dispatch Charles Bolden, head of NASA, to do 'public diplomacy' on Al Jazeera, where he said that President Obama wanted him to 'find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.' He then announced that our deficit-ridden U.S. government will begin a new fund 'to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries.' ... The challenge is not science and technology. Real Muslim reform will only come from modernization of thought in the political sciences, liberal arts, free markets, theology, and philosophy. Theocratic Islamist movements are the primary obstacles to Muslim enlightenment — not the absence of space technology."

Either the NASA Chief Is Out of His Mind Or The President Is Out of His Mind - Martin Peretz, New Republic: ‎ [Comment by rhubarbs:] "After all, we want the Muslim world to embrace modernity, and to do so on terms as close to ours as possible. And if there's a role for NASA in America's public diplomacy aimed at achieving that strategic goal, great!"

“Human Rights and Obama’s Policies in the Arab World” - Jennifer, POMED Notes Project on Middle East Democracy, The POMED Wire: "Last week, the Carnegie Endowment and the Heinrich Boll Foundation held a conference focusing on the success of current U.S. policy on human rights and democracy promotion in the Arab world. Carnegie’s Michele Dunne moderated discussion by a panel of experts that included: Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Tamara Cofman Wittes,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs; Bahey El Din Hassan of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; and Amal Basha of the Sisters’ Arab Forum for Human Rights in Yemen. ... Tamara Cofman Wittes discussed some of the tools used by the administration on behalf of human rights, including public diplomacy, conversations with governments, outreach to citizens, and working multilaterally and with international organizations. She echoed Posner’s statements that the administration believes it is in the U.S.’s strategic interests to promote democracy and human rights in order to create more peaceful, stable countries around the world." Wittes image from

How to Support the Struggle for Iran's Soul: Iranian Reform and Stagnation - Ilan Berman Middle East Quarterly Spring 2010, pp. 53-61, posted at solsticewitch13: "The Obama administration, preoccupied with engagement of the current Iranian regime, has so far refrained from articulating in an unmistakable and sustained fashion a commitment to political trends that might jeopardize this policy. If, however, the administration hopes to be able to influence Iranian politics over the long term, it will need to articulate much clearer support for political pluralism in the Islamic Republic. And once it does, it will need to enforce that policy throughout the bureaucracy that manages U.S. public diplomacy."

Eight Appointed to the Broadcasting Board of Governors – Press release, Broadcasting Board of Governors: "President Barack Obama has appointed eight media, communications, and foreign policy leaders to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the federal agency which supervises all U.S. civilian, international broadcasting. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is a bipartisan board comprised of nine members appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate; the ninth is the Secretary of State, who serves ex officio."

The Palestinians have set the stage for Netanyahu's Washington trip - Hussein Ibish - americantaskforce.org: "[L]ast month's highly successful trip by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and an entourage of PLO leaders ... [had as its] centerpiece ... a meeting on June 9 with Obama in the White House. ... Abbas' only public appearance at the Brookings Institute was another uncharacteristically successful exercise in public diplomacy for the Palestinian president."

Nudging Israel Forward - Martin S. Indyk, Brookings Institution: "On the Palestinian side, the flotilla crisis

seems to have bolstered the sense among the West Bank leadership that it is time to try to strike the deal with Israel. Abu Mazen, buoyed by his own meetings at the White House and with American Jewish leaders, appears to be ready to move into direct peace negotiations with Netanyahu. He intends to continue a campaign of public diplomacy designed to convince Israelis and their American Jewish supporters that they have a Palestinian partner for peacemaking. He is even ready to address the Knesset." Image from

Misadventures in Public Diplomacy - ‎Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic (blog): Randall Lane's new book, 'The Zeroes,' details one of the stupidest moments in the recent history of America's efforts to engage the Arab world. Lane, a magazine industry genius, was hired to turn out a glossy magazine that would show Muslims images of the real America. Except that the real America, the Bush State Department mandated, contained no donkeys: One of my favorite sections loosely translated to 'Window on America.' It was a simple conceit: a photo essay showing what America actually looks like, unfiltered. A bass fishing tournament, a breast-cancer walk, the Puerto Rican Day parade--these were exotic images to most Arabs, too often poisoned about the United States by their inflammatory local press. But during one review meeting, held before a star chamber of 10 high-level State Department officials, the co-leader specifically took offense to a photograph from a classic Western scene: campers and pack mules heading out on a rugged weekend expedition.

Our team always remained vigilant about cultural sensibilities, avoiding the bottoms of shoes, or bare arms, or other seemingly innocuous images that could backfire with the Arab audience. This official's concerns, however, were more parochial. She held up the offending photo, as wholesome as a Norman Rockwell painting, and pointed to a pack mule that, by other names, might be known as a donkey. This has to go, she said. Too pro-Democrat. And out it went." Image from

From the Long War and the War on Terror to the Long Change - New Political Communication Unit Blog: "‘We are not involved in the ‘long war’ or the ‘war on terror’ but the ‘long change’

and only soft power will bring that about’. So reads the latest report [to follow] from Wilton Park, the informal meeting place of invited foreign policy thinkers and practitioners in the English countryside, following a conference on ‘Public Diplomacy: Moving from Policy to Practice’ last month. Even if the phrase does not take hold, it indicates current thinking on how Britain and the US should engage with the world through public diplomacy. To exercise soft power is to project the attractiveness of one’s own country in order to make other states and societies amenable to one’s political and economic interests. The Long Change will be a change of opinion towards the UK and US and social change in target countries who contain people who don't like us. This is primarily couched as a security issue – making individuals at home or abroad less likely to use terrorist violence against UK/US interests. But the Long Change is also about making foreign publics more disposed to UK/US policies around trade, development, and climate change. What is new is that this public diplomacy can be done by publics themselves through social media. The clumsy strategic communication officers of the state can stand back." Image from

World Cup is a reminder of what's possible - Richard Calland, Mail & Guardian, South Africa: "[I]t would be foolish to romanticise the World Cup to the point that it blinds one from reality. Apartheid schooled this country in organising things for the benefit and enjoyment of the few, at the expense of the many. The World Cup was no different from that; a First World show superimposed upon a putrid, demeaning Third World squalor. And in this sense it has been a superbly marshalled exercise in spin: as the Financial Times said on Tuesday, the World Cup, 'it is generally agreed, has been a triumph'. This is the first measure of its success: as an act of rebranding or public diplomacy -- to use the new posh term of national marketing. But beyond the global spin, what the World Cup has done is to remind us all of what is possible -- competent delivery of infrastructure renovation, confident performance of public services, a different attitude to public space and public transport and a new outlook towards our fellow citizens."

2010 Soccer Reflections #13: Public Diplomacy, Private Despair - blogdotjpg.wordpress.com

Banyan Dammed if they do China's hydropower plans are a test of its avowed good neighbourliness - The Economist: "For all that it preaches harmony and good neighbourliness, China comes across as a regional bully, with its foot on the Mekong’s throat. ... [L]ast month China took officials from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to view both Xiaowan

and Jinghong dams. ... [T]he shift in public diplomacy may mark a slightly broader approach towards what China perceives to be in its national interest." Image from

Translated Japan News - jp.newses.net: "Public awareness of election rules apply to the first 30 years of diplomatic correspondence principle, the aim of highlighting the results • 37 books in total public diplomacy document file began on June 7, will first apply the new rules established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the principle of automatic document created after 30 years have elapsed. It aims to advance the understanding of the historical material published quickly."

http://twitter.com/Indiandiplomacy

Country needs huge investment in energy sector: PM‎ - Daily Times: "Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday urged the ministries to work in an institutionalised manner and enhance coordination to achieve optimal results despite resource constraints. ... Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh apprised the prime minister that potential areas of cooperation with the US have already been identified in the fields of food, agriculture, livestock, water and power, IT, education, social sector and public diplomacy."

B'nai B'rith gives out awards on Diaspora reporting: Keynote speaker, Information Minister Yuli Edelstein, says part of Israel's problems derive from new anti-Semitism, which takes on new name as anti-Zionism - Tamar Zmora, Ynetnews: "Information and Diaspora Minister Yuli Edelstein was the keynote address on 'Israel’s Public Diplomacy in a Hostile World' at the B’nai B’rith World Center Award for Journalism ceremony, which took place last Sunday at Beit Hatfutsot – Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, at Tel Aviv University."

Lesch Article on Assad; Syria Worst at Anti-Corruption; Bush Nixxed Israel 2007 Bombing – Syria Comment: "As Bashar [Syrian President Bashar al-Asad] gains confidence in his international standing,

one hopes he will become more comfortable with public diplomacy. To him it is a matter of trust, and he remains very suspicious, as does Syria as a whole, of the outside world. I have seen his public diplomacy at the domestic level improve immeasurably over the last six years." Bashar image from

Sri Lankans protest over UN panel - Feizal Samath, National: "Hundreds of supporters of a nationalist group led by a firebrand government minister marched to the United Nations headquarters in Colombo yesterday protesting at the appointment of a UN panel to review Sri Lanka’s human rights record. ... Dayan Jayatilleka, a former Sri Lankan ambassador and permanent representative at the UN in Geneva, said foreign policy cannot be made in the street and diplomacy – including public diplomacy – cannot be conducted on the street or sidewalk by mobs."

Peacetalk: Memo to the new government negotiators for talks with the MILF - Atty. Camilo “Bong” Montesa - MindaNews: "My unsolicited advice: ... go up to the mountains, close the doors . ... The rest, i.e. negotiating strategy, strategic communications, constitutional and legal review, coalition building, public diplomacy, can follow. These are the easy parts."

Frankie Sturm – Truman National Security Project: "Frankie Sturm is a public diplomacy officer in the US State Department. Before starting as a Foreign Service Officer, Frankie served as the Truman Project’s Communications Director from 2008-2010."

RELATED ITEMS

Twitter credibility – Intermap: Social media like Twitter and facebook are not just other vehicles to address target audiences; touchpoints in a slick marketing campaign. They are means by which the State Department can be rendered something other than a monolithic voice of the US government.

They reveal the human faces of the US government, and not just another sloganeering or exposition platform. It is through these media that credibility can be cultivated, by providing ways to identify with communities of social media users, to show that government social media users listen and participatein such communities. Image from

5 FAM 790: State Dept Releases New Regs on Use of Social Media - Domani Spero, Diplopundit: "The good news? The new regs says 'As a general matter, the Department encourages the responsible use of social media consistent with current laws, policies and guidance that govern information and information technology. Department organizations will not arbitrarily ban access to or the use of social media.' ... I've read that section on 'Personal Papers' and there is nothing striking there except emphasis on 1) the separation of official and personal files (including emails) and 2) that 'There is no guarantee of privacy for personal materials maintained on a Department computer.' ... A blog friend who read the entire thing last week had a spot on comment: Bless their hearts, they seem to be trying their best not to look like the British leaving Afghanistan (both times) - desperate to stay graceful under pressure and appear to be reasonable, while actually feeling petrified with fear."

America in Alexandria, de Tocqueville in Arabic - Cynthia P. Schneider, Huffington Post: "If the U.S. government underwhelmed with its ambition for delivering on the promise of the Cairo speech, the same cannot be said of the Library of Alexandria, which has projects in film, with NYU's Tisch School; in developing a Universal Networking Digital Language, with UNESCO; in building an Arab network for women in science and technology, with various international science and education organizations; and in translation, with Yale University -- to name but a few. ... Is the world ready for de Toqueville in Arabic? Akbar Ahmed's recently published book Journey into America interpreting American history and life through the eyes of Muslim Americans gives one version of a Muslim de Tocqueville."

Gates to the Military: Shut Up - Rowan Scarborough, Human Events: Defense Secretary Robert Gates is consolidating his power over who can speak and what they can say. The casualty will be candor about the wars America fights. Gates sent a memo last week ordering officers and officials not to talk to the press unless his personal staff approves. That was chilling enough.

But Gates has sent other shut-up signals that leave the impression he wants his voice, and his message alone, to represent the Pentagon. The most onerous was a far-reaching gag-order he had top and mid-level officials sign during internal deliberations on the 2010 defense budget. With the threat of firings hanging over their heads, it essentially shut up the world's largest office building. Gates image from

Maria Conchita Alonso: 'Oliver Stone is Hugo Chavez's Minister of Propaganda!': en.terra.com: Oliver Stone's new documentary South of the Border has generated a lot of controversy since it hit theaters two weeks ago. In Hollywood, one of the most vocal critics of Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro whom Stone paints in a positive light in South of the Border¿is Maria Conchita Alonso. Last Friday, Alonso, who was born in Cuba but raised in Caracas, Venezuela, organized a protest against the film in Santa Monica, where Stone held a Q&A session following a screening of the new doc. 'Oliver Stone is Hugo Chavez's minister of propaganda!'

How Kim Jong-il Ruined World Cup Propaganda Push for Heir – The Chosun Ilbo

CNN Mideast Affairs Editor Fired Over Hezbollah Tweet - chattahbox.com: Octavia Nasr, CNN’s Mideast Affairs Senior Editor for 20-years was fired for a controversial tweet, remarking on the death of Lebanese Shiite cleric, the Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah.


Nasr expressed sadness over his passing and mentioned that she respected the late cleric. But Fadlallah is considered a terrorist by the U.S. and other Western nations for his support of Hezbollah’s violence and suicide attacks against Israel. The reaction from supporters of Israel was angry and swift. And by Wednesday, Nasr was asked to leave, with CNN citing damage to her “credibility.” Nasr image from article.

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The past is one son of a bitch."

--Dick Hanley, Elizabeth Taylor's confidant and personal secretary; cited in Vanity Fair (July 2010), p. 131; image from

July 6

"The Russian spies tried to blend in. They were acting like Americans. As a matter of fact, for two weeks, they were pretending they loved soccer."

--Talk-show host David Letterman, cited Bulletin News, LLC.; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Democracy in trouble - ‎Anne Applebaum, Washington Post: "It was standing-room only on Saturday for Hillary Clinton's speech at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Community of Democracies, and the American secretary of state had the crowd behind her. ... American democracy promotion has taken different forms in recent decades, from the Reagan administration's covert support for anti-communist dissidents to the relaunching of Radio Free Afghanistan in 2002. Right now, though, the whole concept is in trouble. This is partly because -- as [Secretary of State] Clinton and others have recently noted -- democracy is in trouble. ... But democracy promotion has also been unfairly discredited by the invasion of Iraq, a decision too often remembered as nothing more than a foolish 'war for democracy' that went predictably wrong. ... In fact, democracy promotion was not invented by a secret cabal of neocons

but is, rather, a long-standing tool of bipartisan American as well as Western foreign policy, one that has overlapped at times with both public diplomacy and foreign aid. ... We Americans tend to spend money on media (Radio Free Europe and its modern offshoots), on training (for judges, journalists, activists) and, yes, sometimes on covert funding of democrats in authoritarian countries. ... [W]e can continue funding those training programs and radio stations that might, someday, bear fruit. Clinton announced the administration's intention to contribute $2 million to a fund that would provide lawyers, cellphones and quick support for embattled civic organizations. It's not much -- a friend pointed out that some in the audience Saturday have more in their bank accounts -- but these things don't have to cost a lot." Image from

US cannot lecture Zimbabwe on democracy‎ - Nancy Pasipanodya, The Zimbabwe Guardian: "United States Minister of Foreign Affairs (or Secretary of State, as they would like to call her), Hillary Clinton recently made some ridiculous statement about Zimbabwe not being able to protect its own citizens. Following in the footsteps of former president George W Bush's famous 'Axis of Evil' speech, the U.S. chief diplomat said Zimbabwe, Iran and Egypt are countries that are responsible for 'crushing democracy'. ... As much as the government in Zimbabwe is not perfect, the crescendo about Zimbabwe is really about western countries' desire to control that country's mineral wealth. They have not been able to do so because of President Robert Mugabe; who is ever alert to the manipulations of the western world. No amount of public diplomacy by the U.S., E.U. and their allies will alter our view of what is just and what is not. In any case, the U.S. and other western countries have appaling human rights records themselves. Just look at Guantanamo Bay, Afghan[i]stan, Iraq, etc."

Terrorists: Nitwits or Masterminds? - Aaron Mannes terrorwonk.blogspot.com: "Recently, in the Atlantic Monthly Daniel Byman and Christine Fair (two first-rate analysts) argue that the reality is that the terrorist enemies of the United States are not highly disciplined religious fanatics – but in fact are a bunch of nitwits. ... I would be remiss if I did not note two important points their article makes. First that the less than pious behavior, as well as their tactical mishaps, could be important tools for American public diplomacy efforts to discredit them.

Second, Fair and Byman point out the importance of disrupting terrorist training facilities so that they can remain stupid. This is dead on – terrorist groups are adaptable, 'learning' organizations. If they cannot learn and transfer knowledge, they cannot survive. But another recent event highlights the adaptability of asymmetric opponents and perhaps is a caution against any kind of over-confidence. The Gaza Flotilla was a brilliantly planned operation on every level (tactical and strategic). ... There have been important gains against terrorism, but very serious dangers remain. There are a lot of dumb terrorists – but there are also more than enough smart ones." Image from

An Interview with Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks - Shlomo Zuckier, Kol Hamevaser, The Jewish Thought Magazine of the Yeshiva University Student Body: "While living in the Diaspora, how can we best support our brethren in Israel? Through constant hasbarah (public diplomacy). Many people do not understand the existential threat that Israelis live with every single day that began with the moment of Israel’s birth and that has continued to intensify ever since. We have to explain that Israel is the last great bastion of hope in the Middle East for democracy, with both an independent judiciary and a free press – in essence, a liberal democracy. If we lose Israel and that last best hope, God forbid, the Middle East will be impoverished, the world will be impoverished; freedom will have suffered one of its greatest defeats ever."

CfP: Transnational Dimensions of Cold War Anticommunism - d-princetonian.livejournal.com:

"In recent years there has also been growing interest in importance and impact of propaganda and public diplomacy conducted in particular by the US and its allies. When it comes to assessing these developments, the key question of the 'transnationality' of anti-communism has rarely been raised. This conference looks to explore this field in breadth and depth." Image from

Scholarships for female teachers and high school girls to participate in "Women2Women – America" - Education USA weekly updates – No. 180 *17 May 2010: "The purpose of the conference is to empower young women to become future leaders. To be accepted into Women2Women, applicants must demonstrate interest in leadership development, the democratic process and public diplomacy."

RELATED ITEMS

Obama's worst foreign-policy mistake - Mitt Romney, Washington Post:

Given President Obama's glaring domestic policy missteps, it is understandable that the public has largely been blinded to his foreign policy failings. In fact, these may have been even more damaging to America's future. The president's New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New-START) with Russia could be his worst foreign policy mistake yet. The treaty as submitted to the Senate should not be ratified. Romney image from

World Cup dreaming: Although soccer is the most popular sport around the world, in the U.S. it's far down the list. But our population is changing, and our view of ourselves may also change - Ariel Dorfman, latimes.com: We are living a moment in history when the very notion of American exceptionalism is under siege. If the United States were indeed to abandon the idea that it has been chosen by God to save the world, if its citizens were to really entertain the notion that they are just the same as humans all over the globe and not uniquely endowed with shining virtue, could they not someday join the rest of the species in celebrating the most beautiful sport of our time? Would it then be inconceivable that a few decades from now the U.S. could win the World Cup?

We Can All Still Cry for Ghana: World Cup soccer is a game that is beautiful — but also cruel and unfair - Matthew Kaminski, Wall Street Journal:

Maybe Americans will find soccer too unfair, hidebound and exasperating for the game to take off at home. Or maybe not. Team USA's dramatic run, though prematurely ended, gave Americans a taste of the awful, exhilarating feeling that comes with bleeding for your national team at a World Cup. Traumatic soccer memories only fester, never fade. World Cup image from

New Psy Ops Name Illustrates Dark Art's Spin - Elizabeth C., crabbygolightly.com: The U.S. military brass is performing a little psy ops on its own, changing the name of its psychological operations to Military Information Support Operations. The change is intended to make the propaganda branches sound "less ominous,"’ but the new terminology is ticking off service personnel who practice the manipulative arts to benefit the U.S. "I'm a psyop officer in afghanistan (sic) right now," wrote Mindbender at Wired. "…By pigeon-holing us into 'information,' the new name is either an attempt to limit us to the misperceived notion of 'leaflets' and 'loudspeaker' (which is but a very small fraction of our full capability), or some Orwellian attempt at subterfuge.


Either way, I and my brothers want no part of it." Image from article

Arabs And The Holocaust - Farooq Sulehria, arguewitheveryone.com: The Zionist propaganda machine happily advertises the outbursts of Holocaust deniers to paint Arabs and their supporters as barbarians lacking humanism. To further discredit Arabs, they swamp the West with literature on the Grand Mufti of Palestine, Hajj Amin, who was a supporter of Hitler. The London-based Arab intellectual Gilbert Achcar has come out with a brilliant book on the subject. His book, The Arabs and the Holocaust, debunks all clichés about Arab attitude towards the Holocaust. Arab attitudes vary on the Holocaust.

In ambitious India, workplace etiquette rounds out the coursework - Emily Wax, Washington Post: Although many skilled Indian workers have degrees from top universities, analysts said they are often jaw-droppingly inept at the basics of international workplace etiquette:

dressing properly, hosting a meeting, making inoffensive small talk and even using cutlery. Fearing that such deficiencies are hurting India's leadership potential, companies are spending millions of dollars on corporate finishing school for tens of thousands of workers. In many cases, those workers are products of India's burgeoning middle classes who are the first generation in their families to enter the nation's booming and globally minded economy. Image from

July 4-5

image from

“Perhaps a tendency toward adulation and loathing comes naturally with the weakness for great causes.”

--Ian Buruma, in a review of Christopher Hitchens’ “Hitch 22”

VIDEO

Founding Fathers' Rap 2010 via Facebook

BLOGS OF INTEREST

US Cultural Engagement: Adventures, comments, impressions and information sharing about U.S. cultural engagement and cultural policy at home and on the road

Erin's Works in Progress: Musicals, Public Diplomacy, Southeast Asia, Latest Writings and More... via

The Cultural Diplomacy of Food via

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Pakistan, US to enhance cooperation in media‎ - Associated Press of Pakistan: "Pakistan and United States on Wednesday decided to explore the possibilities of enhancing cooperation in media sector. A meeting to explore the possibilities of enhanced cooperation between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the United States under Pak-US Sectoral Dialogue was held here. Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Mansoor Suhail headed the Pakistani side whereas the Americans were led by the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Alina Romaniski [sic] who was assisted by Dr. Jonathan Margolis, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Information Programme, Larry Schwartz, Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs,

US Embassy and Jonathan Cebra, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Islamabad. ... The Secretary made an elaborate presentation highlighting the working of the Ministry that is working on a range of initiatives to address the growing needs of strategic communication, public and cultural diplomacy of the democratic government on Pakistan. The plan includes strengthening of democracy, fighting terrorism, leading sustainable and equitable economic growth, upholding independent judiciary, cementing cordial relations with the world, ensuring responsible freedom of the media, its facilitation and growth and ensuring access of the citizens of Pakistan to information." Image from

USA commited to reforms in Kenya - George Okore, allvoices: "US envoy to Kenya Michael Ranneberger while speaking on the occasion of his country’s 234th independence anniversary celebrations, said the vibrant, strong and expanding partnership between the two countries was based on mutual understanding and democratic values. Mr. Ranneberger affirmed that Kenya continues to be USA’s most significant strategic partner in East Africa. ... The occasion was also attended by visiting US under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Affairs Judith McHale, who had earlier met with youth leaders, embassy staff, Kenyan entrepreneurs, Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Wangari Mathia and the media. During her visit, she officially launch the Department of State-sponsored 'Apps 4 Africa', a regional competition that seeks to harness the power of African software developers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda and leverage the power of digital technology to improve the lives of ordinary people in East Africa and worldwide."

Senate Reception for YES Students – News Blaze: "[Remarks by] Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar Russell Senate Office Building Caucus Room Washington, DC: With the support of Senators Kennedy, Lugar and Leahy, this program has grown from 13 to 35 countries; and from 163 students in 2003 to 2004 to nearly 1,000 students for the 2010-2011 academic year - with students placed in every state and the District of Columbia. The Senators' support has also included funding for alumni activities around the world, and the launch of the Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program, which gives young Americans the chance to travel to certain YES countries and live with host families just like each of you has done here.”

General McChrystal and Public Diplomacy – John Brown, Huffington Post: "America is increasingly perceived overseas as wearing combat boots rather than projecting new ideas and providing innovative products.

This view about America-as-an-aged-centurion fighting against social and political change, held among foreigners, including the young, is not in our long term economic and political interests." Image from

Declaring Independence through reason‎ - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: "The Declaration was not received on either side of the Atlantic as the declaration of life and liberty it is celebrated today, but as a declaration of grievances, prerogatives, and justification. It was ultimately a document of public diplomacy, written and disseminated to the world to create support for a cause."

Beaconiite to attend moot in US – The News: "Islamabad Jasmine Hoti, O Level student from Beaconhouse School System, has been selected for the Women to Women America 2010 Conference, sponsored by Empower Peace, scheduled to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in August 2010, says a press release. ... Jasmine Hoti is thrilled at having qualified and met the challenging criteria of acceptance at the conference. Her application process for the conference required for her to exhibit her interest in leadership development, the democratic process and public diplomacy."

Hasbarapocalypse — Leaked Frank Luntz memo: Israeli public diplomacy in US on Flotilla failed dismally - Indybay: "The Israel Project (TIP),

an American Hasbara outfit, commissioned Republican political consultant Frank Luntz to examine the effectiveness of Israel’s public diplomacy in the US on the Flotilla debacle. TIP gave the memo to the Prime Minister’s Office, where someone promptly leaked it to Chico Menashe, Channel Ten TV News diplomatic affairs correspondent. Luntz’s findings are grim. Here’s a summary: 1. 56% of Americans agree with the claim that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza; 2. 43% of Americans agree with the claim that people in Gaza are starving; 3. [Only] 34% of Americans support the Israeli operation against the Flotilla; 4. [Only] 20% of Americans 'felt support' for Israel following announcement of easing of Gaza closure. Menashe wraps: The figures are troubling and worrisome. If that is the situation with our great friend the US, it is easy to imagine the situation in other, somewhat less sympathetic countries." Image from

Timing is Everything‎ - Ari Bussel, NewsBlaze: "It was a very inconvenient time for Israel this past month. Israel was condemned by one and all, but time is the ultimate healer. It is a month later and another emissary is on a speaking tour, a policy adviser to the Foreign Minister. 'We need a unified message' he says, but stops short at defining the message. According to him, it was not the Foreign Ministry's fault, the fiasco that ensued. It is always someone else's fault. His mission, too, is so secretive that everyone seems to know about it, but he refuses to highlight some of what he did over the past week in Los Angeles. 'Why do you need to know,' he asks. In retrospect he is correct. If the speaking engagements were opened to the masses, these six hundred some thousand members of the Jewish community at large and three hundred some thousand Israelis who reside in the area, we would have witnessed for ourselves why Israel fails in Public Diplomacy."

219th Presbyterian Assembly Faces Its Moment of Truth - James M. Wall, posted at FPI (Friends of Palestinians and Israelis): "No amount of hasbara propaganda can resist the power of voices in the US, like an aroused church public and enlightened journalists . ... Hasbara as a tactic is losing some of its bite, yet another reminder of the wisdom in the phrase often used by Martin Luther King, Jr., 'truth crushed to earth, will rise again'. For those still unfamiliar with the term hasbara, Jane Adas provides a valuable description of the term in an essay she wrote for the November-December, 2009, issue of Link, a publication of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU): Hasbara literally means 'explanation' and is often translated as 'public diplomacy,' but can perhaps best be thought of as problem solving through marketing techniques, like rebranding (Israel as the victim of Hamas’ aggression), product placement (hide the Goldstone Report in the darkest, least-frequented corner of the shop), and promotional lingo ('The side that seems to want peace more will win…' (from The Israel Project’s 2009 Global Language Dictionary)."

An example in tolerance - Claude Salhani, Khaleej Times: “'There is a need to un-learn the fear of the other and to unlearn xenophobia,' said Jorge Sampaio, the European Union’s representative, adding that people are not naturally hot-wired for intolerance.

'They are taught to hate.' And just as they are taught to hate, they can ‘un-learn’ to hate. Of course, this is a long-term process but it is also the only way the world will solve its problems of racial, religious and ethnic intolerance. The media, of course, plays a big role in this project as it can help promote understanding or it can help promote strife. 'With patience and strong public diplomacy we can gain hearts and minds,' said Simpaio. A well-studied public diplomacy campaign must be launched to education the people and to prove show that myths about the ‘other’ are simply that: myths." Sampaio image from

Chevening Scholarship Programme - The Sun Daily: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the £10 million (RM49 million) cut to the global Chevening scholarship programme by the UK government contributes a fraction of over £18 million (RM88.2 million) savings this year. ... Other programmes affected by budget cuts include the low-carbon high-growth programme, FCO’s programme spending on drugs and crime and public diplomacy programmes amounting to cuts of some £5.6 million (RM27.4 million). However, Hague added, the FOC would explore alternative sources of funding for the first two programmes while seeking to sustain its public diplomacy programmes in the future."

Translation of Interview Published in Ming Pao - Charles Burton, Principled realism: "[I]n February of last year Burton published a report entitled A Reassessment of Canada's Interests in China and Options for Canada's China Policy. It systematically and penetratingly analyzed relations between Canada and China in the areas of trade and investment, immigration and consular matters, development and human rights, Taiwan, Tibet, Uyghur, Mongolian issues and Falun Gong issues as well as public diplomacy, etc. The Report makes recommendations on how to improve Canada-China relations."

Confucius schools bridge cultural divides [China Daily USA] - Wandering China: "The Confucius Institutes are helping spearhead China’s public diplomacy and charm offensive toward the world, at a grassroots level. The idea is really quite simple (simple, not simplistic – not to say that the execution of the project is easy), make them like you and understand why you do things, and managing the expectations of the world becomes that much easier."

Finland - Veera Heinonen looks forward to new challenges at challenges at Ministry for Foreign Affairs - ‎ ISRIA: "Press Counsellor, Ms Veera Heinonen has been announced as the new Director of Communications at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. ... Veera Heinonen

is keen to stress the trailblazing role of her predecessor Petri Tuomi-Nikula, who has been instrumental in promoting public diplomacy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and at Finnish missions around the world. The next step in developing Ministry communications, she insists, is to reform digital communications. 'Innovative online communications and social media are extremely powerful tools of communication for instance in emergency and crisis situations, as we saw during the recent ash disruption. Digital diplomacy is the next step forward, i.e. how we can promote our foreign policy goals by means of digital communications. Finland’s communications campaign with the UN Security Council is the first bigger project where we could try this out,' Veera explains. She is also interested in finding new creative approaches to promoting Finland, and is therefore looking forward to the final report from the Finland Promotion Board in the autumn." Heinonen image from

Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations - New Era: Newpaper for a New Namibia: "IUM will present in the capital a 5 day Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations as from 26 July – 28 July and 24 – 28 August 2010. Topics to be presented include; Technical Diplomacy, Economic Diplomacy, Commercial Diplomacy, Military Diplomacy, and Cultural Diplomacy targeting current Practicing Local and Foreign Diplomats, newly appointed Diplomats, Directors and Chiefs of Ministries of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and International Relations, and officials coordinating, liaising with or being posted to Regional, International agencies and organizations."

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Michelle Obama's artistic thank you to Svetlana Medvedev – The Reliable Source, Washington Post (June 24, 2010): "Michelle Obama displayed her skill for cultural diplomacy -- and social reciprocity -- when she invited Russian first lady Svetlana Medvedev to an afternoon of song and dance Thursday at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Students at the Georgetown campus danced to Prokofiev and Cassandra Wilson and sang odes to their school's famous namesake and to New York City -- and jaws dropped when student Victoria Davis performed a dazzling version of George Gershwin's 'Summertime.'"

U.S. Diplomacy: Hitting the Right Notes: The State Department's Rhythm Road Program Sends Musical Ambassadors to the World, Conveying American Values With a Beat – CBS News: "On any given day, somewhere in the world, they're lining up . . . to hate us. But even in places where they denounce the United States, the U.S. government is, in many cases, reaching out . . . with music. ... The program, called the Rhythm Road, is a $10 million-a-year effort, in

partnership with the Jazz at Lincoln Center organization. There's no speech-making . . . no U.S. aid handouts . . . just Americans performing American songs. In this kind of diplomatic mission, the music does all the talking. When asked if there are times a musician can do her job better, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton replied, 'Well, I think that there are certainly times when music conveys American values better than a speech.' ... The State Department now sends music groups to places like Syria, a country on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. But where jazz was the coolest sound of the 1950s, the young target audience in Syria calls for a totally different kind of music, such as Chen Lo and the Liberation Family, a hip hop band from Brooklyn, New York. Why would the State Department pay to send a hip-hop band overseas? 'Hip-hop is America,' Clinton said. 'And so is jazz and so is every other form of music with American roots that tell a story.'" Image from

Zaza finds her way to success as a female Kurdish musician - Boran Zaza, The Kurdish Globe: "The YES Academy ... is prepared by a Houston-based NGO called American Voices. According to the academy: 'This year, 250 young musicians, dancers, and actors of the YES Academy have been recruited from Erbil, Duhok, Suleimaniya, Kirkuk, Koya, Rania, Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, and Mosul.' This is its fourth consecutive year in Kurdistan, and lasts from July 2-12, 2010. It is a summer performing arts program providing professional training for aspiring musicians, dancers, and actors aged 6 to 26. There will be a comprehensive program of daily classes in music, dance, and theatre ranging from Broadway musical theatre and hip-hop dance to jazz and classical music."

Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays arts fete for Henry Segerstrom; now it's his turn – Los Angeles Times: "Trial lawyer Wylie Aitken ... [is] the South Coast Repertory board president whom Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently appointed to the California Arts Council . ... Some delicate cultural diplomacy may be needed on Aitken's account when the JapanOC festival comes to Costa Mesa: His Santa Ana firm is representing plaintiffs in a huge class-action suit against Toyota in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, over deaths and injuries allegedly caused by the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles."

Towards a more cultural Europe‎ - Marie Anne Zammit, Malta Independent Online: "Intercultural Dialogue is an important tool for cultural diplomacy as it serves as a perfect bridge for endorsing cultural dialogue between states, different cultures and different social groups. Europe with its expansion and migration is enriched with many individual identities, adding to an affluent cultural diversity and creating more dialogue. In 2008, the European Union

designated the year for Inter cultural dialogue, supporting various activities in raising awareness of the idea of Intercultural dialogue." Image from

Lords debate Foreign Policy - DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) – [from Google entry] "Lord Howe: The Foreign Secretary spoke eloquently this morning about the importance of cultural diplomacy, and I too pay tribute to the British Council and the World."

Hardsell soft power‎ - Hindustan Times: "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is obsessed with building ‘soft power’ — the attractiveness of a country’s civilisation, culture, values and political system — as well as ensuring that China is respected and admired for its achievements since reforms began in 1978. In contrast, India puts little emphasis on promoting the country’s historical, economic, political and cultural credentials to the world. Its appreciation for the value of ‘cultural diplomacy’ is poor. One result is that the mere mention of India as a Great Power usually evokes only chuckles from an Asian audience."

China's cultural diplomacy in Africa‎ - Bram Posthumus, Radio Netherlands: "This year – or the next – China will become Africa’s Number One trading partner. The value of their business will exceed US$100 billion. But Sino-African relations are not just about money. Culture and language are now an integral part of the equation, as Dr Chris Alden explains. He is an expert on China and Africa."

Australia told: Engage with Asia - Claudette Werden, Australia Network News: "An international forum has heard that Australia needs to broaden its cultural engagement with Asia - and not be so ready to judge events in neighbouring countries.

Michael L'Estrange, the former head of Australia's Foreign Affairs department, called for a more honest approach to relations with Asia. 'What I'm saying is that we do need to broaden our cultural engagement, we do need to develop our community linkages,' he told the forum, which attracted regional diplomats, academics and commentators to the south-eastern city of Melbourne. John McCarthy, Australia's former ambassador to Indonesia, Japan and Thailand warned Australia risks being complacent about its reputation in Asia. ... China's ambassador went further, saying Australia should watch very carefully how it handles its cultural diplomacy in the region. Zhang Junsai says Australia should develop its bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect, stepping carefully when dealing with what he described as taboo or sensitive subjects." See also. Image from

India needs to flex its soft muscles - ‎John Lee, Sydney Morning Herald: "The Chinese Communist Party is obsessed with building 'soft power' - the attractiveness of China's civilisation, culture, values and political system - as well as ensuring China is respected and admired for its achievements since reforms began in 1978.
In contrast, India puts little emphasis on promoting the country's historical, economic, political and cultural credentials to the world. Its appreciation for the value of 'cultural diplomacy' is poor. The mere mention of India as a great power usually evokes chuckles from an Australian audience. Although loathe to admit it, New Delhi would do well to learn lessons from Beijing about the importance of selling its strengths and achievements to the world." See also (1) (2)

Resources of Indonesian soft power diplomacy - Siswo Pramono, Jakarta Post: "The Asian market demands values that are both universal in character (to help Asians integrate with globalization) and original in nature (to help Asians preserve their cultural identity). ...If Indonesia is to embark on the contest of soft power, it should look for a home-grown, credible value which is attractive to the Asian market. We need to trace our perceived cultural resources back during the glorious era of the Kingdom of Majapahit (1293-1527)."

Java ship seeks ancient Japan ties‎ - Christine T. Tjandraningsih, The Japan Times: "A ship representing the spirit of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom on Java Island

set sail Sunday from Jakarta on a 9,000-km voyage to Japan and other countries to celebrate the sailing history of the Majapahit Kingdom and the historical relationship between Majapahit and the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa. ... The Japan Majapahit Association, a group of businessmen in Japan interested in the history and culture of the Majapahit Kingdom, initiated the project, which cost about 1 billion rupiah (about ¥9.65 million) and was backed by the Indonesian and Japanese governments. ... The crew includes other Japanese and five people from the Bajau ethnic group, well-known in Indonesia for its seafaring traditions. Five university students selected from 800 applicants across Indonesia also joined the voyage. 'We, the students, are carrying the cultural diplomacy mission to Japan to promote closer ties between the two countries,' Agung Setiyo Wibowo, 22, a student of the International Relations School at the Paramadina Islamic University, said." Image from

A tradition to hold dear‎ - Irish Times: "Not only do words like 'traditional arts' and 'economy' seem like an intelligent pairing, but more of us are starting to see the plain good sense of concepts such as 'cultural tourism' – the traditional-music community has vast expertise in cultural tourism, cultural diplomacy, enterprise, adaptability and finding smart ways of fitting into and exploiting new environments. ... The state already invests heavily is sustaining Irish jobs in tourism, food, agriculture, financial services, IT, pharmaceuticals and other sectors that operate in a competitive global environment. We are world leaders and standard-setters in traditional music – in any other sector this would be recognised and celebrated as a definitive strategic and competitive advantage. The Minister for Arts, Mary Hanafin, delivered the keynote speech at An Chúirt Chruitireachta in Termonfeckin last week. In her view, the traditional arts, in particular, make us considerable in the world. She has already made these views clear to the Arts Council."

FG To Set Up Centre For Black Civilisation In USA‎ - LeadershipNigeria: "The Federal Government through the ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation yesterday in Abuja, said it is committed to a centre for African Arts, culture and civilization in Atlanta, U.S.A, with the objective of propagating Nigeria's historical role as the leader of the black race. ... Dr. Tunde Babawale, the coordinator of the project on behalf of the ministry, said the Centre was borne out of the need to project Africa to the diaspora. Babawale maintained that the centre on completion will serve as spring board for Nigeria's cultural diplomacy."

Notable participation of UAE in Morocco's Asilah Arts Festival in July‎ - WAM, Emirates News Agency: "In co-operation with the Ministry of Culture, ADACH [Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage]

will also hold several workshops and art exhibitions, lectures and seminars. These will address the topics of cultural diplomacy, the book industry and publishing (especially the Abu Dhabi Book Fair), Kitab, Qalam and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award." Image from

Istanbul gets cool with Istancool - Hurriyet Daily News: "'Istancool,' the festival of art, design, fashion, literature, film, music and ideas aiming to enhance the reputation of Istanbul as a great cultural city and pay tribute to Turkey’s cultural heritage, begins Friday. World-renowned names, including internationally-recognized Turkish artists, will be on stage through until Sunday throughout the city. Bringing together a mesmerizing brand of art, design, fashion, literature, film, music and ideas, Istanbul is celebrating 'Istancool' from Friday to Sunday. The festival, organized by the British cultural diplomacy brand Liberatum, Turkish partner Istanbul 74er, the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency in association with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, provides a riveting artistic journey that aims to boost cultural dialogue."

What's on (or not) in BA - Marjan Groothuis, Buenos Aires Herald: ["T]here are ...exhibitions that certainly do deserve a visit. The first one is being held in the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo (Libertador 1902) and concerns the German artist Gerhard Richter.

Of course, this is not the ultimate Richter show, but it serves as a good approach to the output of this prolific and well known German artist. There are drawings, prints, paintings, both figurative and abstract and a video about a major project of his with stained glass windows. True, this is one of those travelling shows used for cultural diplomacy, but on the other hand this Richter presentation will be as good as it gets here." Richter image from

Global voices detail a history of gender bias in journalism‎ - Sandra Ordonez, Online Journalism Review: "'Yes, I have been favored for being a woman.' Louise Belfrage, former WIP news editor and Swedish national currently working as a cultural diplomacy advisor in the Middle East."

RELATED ITEM

Turkish Propaganda Campaign, Part II: Exploiting Akhtamar Church Once Again - Harut Sassounian, asbarez.com: Readers may recall that the Turkish government embarked on a worldwide publicity stunt in 2007 when it renovated and reopened as a museum the Armenian Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island in Lake Van. At the time, Turkey had gone to great lengths to lure to the opening ceremonies Armenians from around the world. Turkish officials did not conceal that their real purpose was to exploit this event for propaganda purposes.


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