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Soft Power

Cuba's Soft Power: Exporting Doctors Rather Than Revolution

Steve Clemons | Posted 11.12.2009 | World

Read More: Bruno Rodriguez, Central America, Pakistan, United Nations, Henry Reeves Brigade, US Foreign Policy, China, Medical Diplomacy, Susan Rice, Smart Power, US-Cuba Relations, Embargo, Fidel Castro, Sichuan Earthquake, Kashmir, Soft Power, Cuba, World News
Steve Clemons

I would have encouraged Cuba's foreign minister to say that the embargo was an anachronism of the Cold War, has not achieved the goals the US had for it, and harmed both Cuban and US interests.

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Obama's "Timidity" is a Foreign Policy Virtue

Joseph Nye | Posted 11.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: President Obama, One Year Later, Soft Power, Obama One Year Later, Obama Foreign Policy, Barack Obama, Arianna Huffington, Timidity to Govern, Politics News
Joseph Nye

Considering what he inherited, and the accomplishments he has made regarding America's image and extension of soft power abroad, Obama's first year cannot be said to have lacked audacity.

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A Soft Power Opportunity for Iran

Kevin Sullivan | Posted 10.14.2009 | World

Read More: Hezbollah Lebanon, Lebanon, Yemen, Iranian Revolution, Quds Force, Iranian-Revolutionary-Guard-Quds, Houthis, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Qods Force, Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, Iranian-Revolutionary-Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, Israel, Saada, Sana'A, Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Quds), Al-Qaeda, Irgc, Al Qaeda, Smart Power, Islamic Republic of Iran, Middle East, Soft Power, Mideast, Shia, Shi'a Militias, Shiites, World News
Kevin Sullivan

In the neighboring country of Yemen, a very real opportunity to make good on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's promise of friendship is rapidly emerging for Iran.

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Joe Wilson, You're No Joe Nye

Nancy Snow | Posted 11.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Public Diplomacy, Soft Power, Joseph Nye, Public Diplomat, South Carolina, Joe Wilson, Syracuse University, Public Diplomats, Joe Nye, Nancy Cantor, Joseph Wilson, Smart Power, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Newhouse School, Politics News
Nancy Snow

I promise you this: If I see Joe Wilson this Thanksgiving, I'll make sure not to shout out or finger point as I reach for the pecan pie.

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Zinni Calls on Obama to Release "National Strategy Report" and for US "Smart Power" Functions to be Organized in a New Military Command

Steve Clemons | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: National Security Strategy, Defense Depoartment, Smart Power, Anthony Zinni, National Security, Centcom, Defense Policy, US Aid, Soft Power, Envoys, State Department, Politics News
Steve Clemons

Zinni's proposals are provocative and substantive. I have asked someone at the Department of State about possibly responding. Hopefully this will happen in the near term.

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Best Communications Practices for Making a World of Difference

Colleen Turner | Posted 09.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: Clinton, Best Practices, Obama, Diplomacy, International Relations, Stategic Communication, Biden, Communication, Joseph Nye, Soft Power, Politics News
Colleen Turner

At home and abroad, the words of our leaders obviously matter. Why then do presidents, cabinet members and congressional leaders so often say things that make matters worse, not better?

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Netanyahu's Speech: One Step Forward, Four Steps Back

Michal Lewin-Epstein | Posted 07.17.2009 | World

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Soft Power, World News
Michal Lewin-Epstein

After an introduction that accentuated Israel's desire for peace, it is a pity that Netanyahu chose to continue in a manner that does not offer the Palestinians a sincere partnership.

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Hillary Clinton's First 100 Days

Stephen Zunes | Posted 06.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: u.s. Foreign Policy, Soft Power, Israel, Obama Administration, Hillary Clinton Secretary of State, Obama's Cabinet, Politics News
Stephen Zunes

It is not unusual for a president to want to be his own secretary of state, but rarely has a secretary so badly wanted to be her own president.

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Need Another 100 Days To Grade Obama's Foreign Policy

Lionel Beehner | Posted 05.29.2009 | World

Read More: Obama, Obama Foreign Policy, Darfur, Obama Pakistan, Obama Genocide, Obama Darfur, Sudan, Pakistan, Obama First 100 Days, 100 Days, Obama Pirates, Soft Power, Pirates, Foreign Policy, World News
Lionel Beehner

Obama has had a remarkably productive first 100 days on the foreign policy front. It's hard not to like what I see. But let me try.

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The Age of the Unthinkable Explained by Joshua Cooper Ramo

Martin Varsavsky | Posted 05.20.2009 | World

Read More: Age of the Unthinkable, Soft Power, Joseph Nye, Foreign Affairs, Joshua Cooper Ramo, Foreign Policy, World News
Martin Varsavsky

Maybe it is Joshua's background in physics that has made him see foreign policy as an area where Heisenberg's uncertainty principle also applies.

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Living In The Possibility-Based Global Community

Indra Adnan | Posted 05.09.2009 | Living

Read More: Yes We Can, Islam, Women, Michelle Obama, Nato, Turkey, Hope, Optimism, Globalization, Democracy, Media, Faith-Based Community, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown, Internet, G20 Summit, Positive Thinking, Hugging, Reality-Based Community, Soft Power, Youtube, Love, Living News
Indra Adnan

If we are unaware of the deliberate grasping and transforming of reality that Obama is exercising through the world's media, we will be constantly led by the images of Barack and Michelle "being the change."

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Israel's Muted Soft Power

Michal Lewin-Epstein | Posted 05.18.2009 | World

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Palestinians, Soft Power, Yossi Beilin, Israel, Peace, Joseph Nye, World News
Michal Lewin-Epstein

Israel has the potential to become a regional soft-power player. Its political values: democracy, transparency and accountability, are very attractive, and seem to be appealing to the Palestinians.

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"Mission Accomplished" Bush Gets the Last Laugh in Iraq and Afghanistan

Joseph A. Palermo | Posted 04.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Al Qaeda, " Project for New American Century, "Afghan Arabs, Pakistan, General Raymond Odierno, George W. Bush, Xe, General David Petraeus, "Soft Power, Obama Administration, Iraq, Robert Kagan, Pnac, Dick Cheney, Kbr, Blackwater, Kashmir, Iraq Policy, Middle East. Baghdad, Inter-Services Intelligence, President Barack Obama, Isi, Halliburton, Iraq Occupation, Afghan Policy, Afghanistan War, The Foreign Policy Initiative, Thomas Ricks, " General Pervez Musharraf, " Iraq War, Afghanistan, India, William Kristol, "Mission Accomplished, Politics News
Joseph A. Palermo

For years, George W. Bush has been roundly criticized, even lampooned, for declaring "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. But maybe declaring "Mission Accomplished" was not that crazy after all.

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Is Hillary Soft Enough to be Smart?

Indra Adnan | Posted 03.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Leadership, Public Office, Children, Obama, Media, Politics, Indonesia, Balanced Leadership, Feminine, Soft Power, Pacific, Families, Asia, Confidence, Korea, Voting, Joseph Nye, Women, Work Life Balance, New Paradigms, Time, Hard Power, Obama Leadership, Daughters, Feminism, Masculine, Foreign Policy, Gender, Girls, Smart Power, Secretary of State, Cabinet, Hillary Clinton, China, Politics News
Indra Adnan

Hilary could not then and cannot now afford to promote 'soft power' for fear of appearing weak. 'Smart power', given her own concerns about politics and gender, is the best she can do.

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Brand Obama Trumps Brand America

Nancy Snow | Posted 02.25.2009 | Style

Read More: Brand America, Soft Power, Brand Obama, Obama's First 100 Days, Day Six, Fipod, Style News
Nancy Snow

Obama's ascent was a triumph in marketing a relatively obscure political neophyte into a figure whose visage is likely to grace Mount Rushmore someday.

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Bush and Future Historians

Joseph Nye | Posted 02.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Soft Power, History, Bush Legacy, Bush, Bush Administration, Inauguration, Politics News
Joseph Nye

Will the enduring icons of the 43rd presidency be Iraq, Guantanamo and Katrina? Or will they be 9/11 and his "freedom agenda?"

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Must-Read About Alhurra TV

Nancy Snow | Posted 01.14.2009 | Media

Read More: International Broadcasting, Dumb Power, Middle East, Political Journalism, Soft Power, Public Interest, Public Diplomacy, State Department, Journalism, Foreign Policy, Propaganda, Media News
Nancy Snow

Technorati Profile Correction: The University of Missouri has received a grant to train Alhurra TV journalists. It may be for $50,000, but I'm wait...

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Alhurra TV: Uncle Sam's Boondoggle

Nancy Snow | Posted 01.12.2009 | Media

Read More: Broadcasting, Dumb Power, Propaganda, Alhurra, Government Propaganda, Soft Power, Public Diplomacy, Broadcasting Board of Governors, Foreign Policy, Broadcast TV, Bbg, Media News
Nancy Snow

I've been sifting through several studies of Alhurra Television that dropped like a "cascade of candor," to paraphrase David Frost's hoped for outcom...

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Obama Grows a Beard

Nancy Snow | Posted 12.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: President Barck Obama, Thanksgiving, Soft Power, Inauguration Day 2009, Barack Obama, Obama Soft Power, Politics News
Nancy Snow

I can't be the only one who has noticed that this President-elect who ignited his Democratic base and the world has grown in stature and gravitas since the election.

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What Will the World Think of Us Now?

Nancy Snow | Posted 12.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Public Diplomacy, Public Opinion, President Obama, Soft Power, Globalization, Obama World Opinion, Politics News
Nancy Snow

Will Obama's victory signify a rise in international engagement with the world and a trust in government to competently handle foreign affairs?

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Soft Power is Obama's Greatest Strength

Indra Adnan | Posted 12.14.2008 | Politics

Read More: Dialogue, Terrorists, Pakistan, Joseph Nye, New Administration, Violence, Obama, Iran, Media, Pacifism, Peace, Barack Obama, Fake News, Iraq War, Armistice Day, Smart Power, Activism, Dennis Kucinich, Soft Power, Non-Violence, Participation, Politics News
Indra Adnan

Perhaps all that is needed is a good role model for soft power: someone who seeks to engage rather than stand off, capable of dialogue not just debate.

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Obama, the Arts, and Soft Power

Raymond J. Learsy | Posted 08.11.2009 | Entertainment

Read More: Lafayette, Agnes Gund, John McCain, Michael Chabon, Hal Prince, Soft Power, Americans for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, America, Barack Obama, France's Ministry of Culture, John Lynch, Entertainment News
Raymond J. Learsy

I have always been struck by the paucity of interest and support our government gives to the arts. In Obama's opinion it appears the arts have become essential to reengage our standing in the world.

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Financial Crisis and American Decline?

Joseph Nye | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Soft Power, American Power, Financial Crisis, Obama, Latin America, Economy, Bound to Lead, Wall Street Crisis, Bailout, Dmitry Medvedev, Politics News
Joseph Nye

In 1989, the conventional wisdom was that the United States (and its economy) were in decline. I did not believe it then, and do not believe it now.

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How About a Different Kind of Rescue Plan?

William Fisher | Posted 10.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Henry Paulson, Soft Power, Relationships, Federal Spending, Peace Corps, Foreign Policy, Politics News
William Fisher

I know, I know. I'm supposed to be writing about Hank Paulson's "rescue" plan, or the wisdom of sending more troops to Afghanistan, or the first presi...

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The Olympics and Chinese Soft Power

Joseph Nye | Posted 09.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Soft Power, United States, China, Olympics, Politics News
Joseph Nye

Even though polls show an increase in the attractiveness of China in recent years, it will take more than a successful Olympics to overcome the self imposed limits on Chinese soft power.

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