Public Diplomacy

China: The First Soft Power Superpower

Philip Seib | Posted 05.29.2012

Philip Seib

If the United States and other nations persist in engaging with China within the realm of public diplomacy, China might be nudged toward increased openness. This could enable the newest superpower to continue to rely on soft power.

Propaganda, Public Diplomacy and the Smith-Mundt Act

John Brown | Posted 05.26.2012

John Brown

Propaganda is an instrument of war used by a government, primarily but not exclusively, against a present or possibly future enemy, and a democratic government should not propagandize its own people.

Brazil Amps Up Human Rights as Spike Joints in to Chill Favela Fever

Eric Ehrmann | Posted 05.23.2012

Eric Ehrmann

Brazil's human rights conundrum is likely to continue with Dilma's recent approval of closer military, intelligence and security cooperation with Washington, ostensibly linked to the World Cup and the Rio Olympics.

International Bargaining, the Pakistani Way

Aziz Nayani | Posted 05.18.2012

Aziz Nayani

Pakistan cannot afford to live in international political isolation, and it needs to have an active role and vested interest in securing the safety and sustainability of Afghanistan. An uncooperative, nuclear Pakistan risks instability and violence in the Af-Pak border region.

Arab Youth and Economic Prospects

Philip Seib | Posted 05.08.2012

Philip Seib

Public diplomacy involves long-term strategies, and the mix of hopes and concerns so clearly reflected in the responses to the Arab youth survey should be integrated into the planning of public diplomacy programs directed at this part of the world.

Silence.com

John Brown | Posted 05.04.2012

John Brown

I hereby propose a new portal/site (call it whatever you want) dedicated to total silence. You would click on silence.com, no content/graphics/sound would appear on it.

The U.S.'s Unwelcoming Approach To Welcoming Foreigners

Philip Seib | Posted 05.01.2012

Philip Seib

Presumably, the training of the men and women working at U.S. entry points includes instruction in the religions and cultures of the people they will encounter. In this case, at least, the training didn't work.

U.S. Diplomat Peter Van Buren Speaks About American Public Diplomacy

John Brown | Posted 04.24.2012

John Brown

"Any communications strategy plays second to reality. So as long as deaths from misplaced drone attacks, atrocities by soldiers and videos of Abu Ghraib exist, you are not going to fool anyone regardless of how many tweets you send out."

Not Loving Like

John Brown | Posted 04.21.2012

John Brown

"Like" is not only America's number one verb, it's, like, its most humongous verbal tic in our, like, most, like, likeable land.

NATO and Facebook Join Forces in the Global Digital Age

Dr. Stefanie Babst | Posted 04.19.2012

Dr. Stefanie Babst

At first glance, NATO and Facebook have very little in common to address the changing nature of public communications jointly, but we have started to collaborate. We believe that instruments of diplomacy, no matter how hard or how soft -- or how smart, for that matter -- bring people together.

NATO Still Pondering Soft Power

Philip Seib | Posted 04.12.2012

Philip Seib

NATO is like the Tyrannosaurus Rex -- a fearsome fighter wielding unmatchable hard power. Of course, for the Tyrannosaurus hard power was not enough. It became extinct. NATO is still with us... for now.

Public Diplomacy With Brazil Puts Boeing Deal at Risk

Eric Ehrmann | Posted 04.04.2012

Eric Ehrmann

Brazil's reluctance to help Washington topple Syria and their support for Iran's nuclear program have drawn the ire of a White House eager to turn foreign policy into political currency during a presidential election year.

Cultural Diplomacy and Cultural Autonomy

Philip Seib | Posted 05.21.2012

Philip Seib

For foreign policy strategists, cultural diplomacy has great value as a trust-builder, providing groundwork on which broader, non-arts initiatives can be constructed.

The Independent Power of Cultural Diplomacy

Philip Seib | Posted 04.30.2012

Philip Seib

Soft power is precious because it is built upon trust earned over time. But trust requires a willingness to listen. Real friendship cannot survive in a one-way street, but thrives on mutuality and exchange.

Public Diplomacy That Lasts: The Value of International Visitor Exchanges

Stuart W. Holliday | Posted 04.28.2012

Stuart W. Holliday

While people are rightly pointing to the power of social media to bring people across societies together, exchanges still represent a key component of public diplomacy. Exchanges offer an in-depth experience with a foreign country, its culture, its systems, and most importantly, its people.

Cultural Diplomacy for the 21st Century: Empowering Local Voices

Cynthia P. Schneider | Posted 04.23.2012

Cynthia P. Schneider

The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people to people or arts/culture/media to people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran all contribute to core goals of U.S. policy in those countries.

Intellectual Diplomacy: Deflating a Buzz Word

John Brown | Posted 04.14.2012

John Brown

"Strategic intellectual competitiveness?" What does that jaw-breaker have to do with the pleasures of the mind -- or, indeed, with our new supposedly collaborative, interconnected new world of the 21st century?

Green Technology: The Key to More Jobs, Higher Exports, Cleaner Environment, Better Reputation?

Stuart W. Holliday | Posted 03.25.2012

Stuart W. Holliday

While the days of a quick fix through quotas and 100 MPG retrofitted Priuses are largely behind us, a number of reasoned engineers, businesspeople, and government leaders have quietly moved forward using the spirit of the boom and the lessons of the bust to their advantage.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul's YouTube Presentation From a Public Diplomacy Perspective

John Brown | Posted 03.17.2012

John Brown

I've looked at/listened to newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul's recent video presentation to the people of Russia. Based on my Foreign Service experience in Moscow as Cultural Affairs Officer (1998-2001), several aspects of the talk struck me.

U.S. Public Diplomacy and the Arab Islamists

Philip Seib | Posted 03.14.2012

Philip Seib

The Islamists who were once viewed as adversaries by American policymakers are now in the mainstream of Arab politics. In Egypt and other Arab states, their efforts are helping to stabilize emerging democracies. U.S. public diplomacy needs to catch up with this new reality.

U.S. Presidential Politics as Public Diplomacy

Philip Seib | Posted 03.04.2012

Philip Seib

Although it is unfortunate that Americans take their political system for granted, it remains a showcase that can enhance America's standing throughout the world.

Enjoy This Killer App for the Holidays!

John Brown | Posted 03.01.2012

John Brown

No, no need to buy it online -- you already have it in you if you use it! Note: While this product can be used by every human being on the face of the earth, it can be especially useful for diplomats.

Lebanon Finally Sees Its Twitter Dawn

Faisal J. Abbas | Posted 01.14.2012

Faisal J. Abbas

With Lebanon suffering one of the world's slowest Internet connection speeds, it is certainly not surprising that social media hasn't picked up in this country as quickly as it did in other parts of the globe.

Considering Soft Power's Future

Philip Seib | Posted 12.19.2011

Philip Seib

For much of the past decade, "soft power" has been touted as a means for making foreign policy more effective by emphasizing enticement rather than coercion, conversation rather than conflict.

The Arab Awakening and Public Diplomacy

Philip Seib | Posted 11.08.2011

Philip Seib

Arabs' continuing efforts to fix the broken domestic political systems should be coupled with refocusing Arab perspectives on the rest of the world, and public diplomacy can be a significant part of that process.