"Le silence éternel de ces espaces infinis m'effraie.”
--Pascal; image from
VIDEO (from “Russia Today,” posted at Global Chaos blog): Union of Soviet States of America?
SITE OF INTEREST: E-DIPLOMACY: Exploring Appropriate Use of New Diplomatic Tools
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
US aid unlikely to reverse diplomatic woes: Relief to Chile won't reverse Washington's poor standing in Latin America, as recent aid efforts have elsewhere, experts say - Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times:
"The U.S. aid that poured into Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami paid handsome dividends for its donor, polishing America's image and leading some government officials to view disaster relief as a pillar of public diplomacy in a wary world. But as the U.S. gears up to help earthquake-ravaged Chile, it appears any public relations benefit from the effort will be more modest. Latin American diplomats and private experts say that although Chileans will respond with gratitude, the larger region's strained ties with the Obama administration are unlikely to improve. ... The Obama administration began its term amid warm feelings and high expectations from Latin America, sentiments that were apparent when President Obama traveled to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago last spring. But in the intervening year, many governments in the region have begun to feel that the new team has not lived up to its promise." Image from
A Path to Peace: It’s time for Obama to let go of his unimaginative strategy in the Middle East and take a more proactive approach - Daniel Levy, Amjad Atallah, New America Foundation: "It is striking to note, particularly for an administration that places such a premium on shows of public diplomacy, that in his eight visits to the [Middle East] region, special envoy Mitchell has yet to set foot in Gaza."
Obama in Savannah: 'It's hard to import windows from China' - Jim Galloway, Atlanta Journal Constitution: "[Comment by] White Conservative Turned Blue: In June, Obama reset
the tone of our relations with the entire Arab world with a single speech — an accomplishment that the Bush administration failed to achieve despite a series of desperate PR moves (anyone remember Charlotte Beers?) and a 'public diplomacy' budget of $1 billion a year." Image from
Can Brand Obama Rescue Brand America? - John A. Quelch, Katherine E. Jocz, Brown Journal of World Affair (Fall/Winter 2009 • volume xvi, issue i) (no link): "Right now, Obama’s personal reputation is holding up the reputation of the American brand. So are his promised changes to previous policies and expressed desire to create relationships with other countries characterized by mutual respect and partnership, which could, for example, include Russia and the United States leading by example on arms control. Rhetoric and public diplomacy can buy time, but neither strategy can trump tangible action. ... If Obama fails to show significant progress on changed policies within a year, public opinion ratings could fall as quickly as they rose."
Kim's notes on Cohen and Dale's "Russian Anti-Americanism" - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting:
"By grouping international broadcasting within public diplomacy, the implication [of the Cohen/Dale article] is that the United States can send message (A) to audience (B) to achieve desired effects (C). However, audience (B) has a different reason for using international broadcasting, that is, to get news that is more reliable than what is available from the state-controlled domestic media. This involves a communication process that is a bit more nuanced. ... RFE/RL was never part of USIA, and I hardly need mention that BBC and the other Western broadcasters never were. ... U.S. international broadcasting, which must focus on objective, reliable news if it is to have an audience, should address the 'segment' that seeks objective, reliable news. Public diplomacy is a separate activity: some of its products can address those who favor liberal democracy and freedom, and some can be targeted at those who don't." See also. Image from
Union of Soviet States of America? - Lena, Global Chaos:
"As for [TV channel] R[ussia]T[oday]'s 'success' in promoting Russia's public diplomacy, I will get to it in a separate post some time in the near future. Stay tuned to Global Chaos, and follow RT on YouTube: just for fun (amusement and many laughs are guaranteed, trust me)!" Image from
Heritage Foundation advice about broadcasts to North Korea. Much clean-up required - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting
Internet Freedom: Beyond Circumvention - Ethan Zuckerman, my heart’s in accra: "To figure out how to promote internet freedom, I believe we need to start addressing the question: 'How do we think the Internet changes closed societies?' In other words, do we have a 'theory of change' behind our desire to ensure people in Iran, Burma, China, etc. can access the internet? Why do we believe this is a priority for the State Department or for public diplomacy as a whole? I think much work on internet censorship isn’t motivated by a theory of change – it’s motivated by a deeply-held conviction (one I share) that the ability to share information is a basic human right. ... I think much work on internet censorship isn’t motivated by a theory of change – it’s motivated by a deeply-held conviction (one I share) that the ability to share information is a basic human right.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that 'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.' The internet is the most efficient system we’ve ever built to allow people to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, and therefore we need to ensure everyone has unfettered internet access. The problem with the Article 19 approach to censorship circumvention is that it doesn’t help us prioritize. It simply makes it imperative that we solve what may be an unsolvable problem. If we believe that access to the internet will change closed societies in a particular way, we can prioritize access to those aspects of the internet." Image from
A call for religious diplomacy - John Bryson Chane, On Faith: "The hypothesis of Samuel Huntingdon as expressed in his book 'The Clash of Civilizations' may be refuted but there is merit in coming to terms with what he calls the end of ideological conflict and the emergence of conflict along cultural and religious lines. To that end, religious diplomacy must emerge as a real hope in solving some of the most egregious conflicts that currently confront significant portions of the world. It must assert itself as a force of engagement in cultural, economic and political affairs. Religious leaders must be seen as equal partners and positive agents of change in 21st century public diplomacy. Diplomacy carried out by religious leaders must finally receive the respect and ear of their nation's political leaders if we are to begin a new journey that extends far beyond traditional inter-faith dialogue. They must work with their nation's diplomats and politicians toward a new form of active religious public diplomacy. This work will supersede the more traditional forms of statesmanship and diplomacy that have shown themselves lacking in the face crucial 21st century diplomatic challenges."
Raising the bar for peace - Nissim Dahan, Palestine Note:
"[W]hat will Abbas and Netanyahu need to do to maneuver through this politically charged ideological minefield, in an effort to broker a peace deal? The answer may be that the negotiations themselves will have to be strategically positioned within the context of a higher and brighter vision for the future, within a Vision of Hope, so as to rise above the political fray, and beyond the restraints that have been imposed by domestic and foreign players. ... Public Diplomacy: If the extremists continue to use their propaganda machine to disseminate hate, then Abbas and Netanyahu should not only sell a Vision of Hope, but should sustain a sense of hope by launching a series of public diplomacy programs which are specifically designed to prop the vision up, and to carry it forward, such as: a program to Empower Women, a Student Exchange, a Cultural Exchange, an expanded version of the Peace Corps, a Media Campaign, and a set of International Conferences. Take, for example, the program to Empower Women by financing female entrepreneurs and promoting women's rights. Empower Palestinian and Israeli women in ways that they deem appropriate, and you will have changed the dynamics of the conflict. Who are women? They are the givers of life and the caretakers of life and as such are uniquely qualified to reconstitute their societies consistent with a Vision of Hope." Image from
Living in fantasies - Frontier Post, national daily published from Pheshawar and Quetta: "[I]t is India that is reaping the benefits from Washington, in particular, and its acolytes and allies, in general. If nothing else, the Saudi message of dissatisfaction with our counter-terrorism act, sent out to us on the eve of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the kingdom, should jolt this hierarchy out of its blissful fantasies. Not only that message tells tellingly that New Delhi and Riyadh are now on the same page. It shockingly knocks the bottom out of the hierarchy’s loud assertions that the world appreciates its role in combating terrorism. It will stand unforgivably culpable in the nation’s eye if even now it doesn’t assemble together foreign affairs bureaucracy, defence establishment and other related ministries and agencies and evolve an imaginative, creative and effective foreign policy, including public diplomacy. The chaotic, directionless and incoherent policy it is pursuing now is neither here nor there."
Highlights of Jia Qinglin's work report of CPPCC - China Daily: "Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of the country's top political advisory body at the opening meeting of its annual full session which started here in the Great Hall of the People Wednesday afternoon. Following are the highlights of the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee,
which was distributed to journalists upon the opening of the session: ... -- In 2010, the CPPCC will actively undertake its public diplomacy, and increase its contacts with the parliaments and congresses, governments, political parties, major think tanks, mainstream mass media, and influential figures from all walks of life in foreign countries." Image: CPPCC emblem
CPPCC work p[er]formance in 2009 - cctv.com: "The foreign affairs committee calls for further public awareness of public diplomacy. It suggests to enact the nation's public diplomacy strategy, better the mechanism and integrate resources, and build a high-level public diplomacy platform. It also conducts seminars on the 2010 Shanghai World Expo."
Benidorm News-Drugs/Technology /Parks - AMLA Spain News & Property in Spain on The Spanish Property MLS: "The Ministry of Defence has handed over the old navel building on the Paseo de Colon to the regional government in valencia.
The navy moved out of the building in 1992 and since then it has been unused. It is hoped to upgrade the building for the Casa Mediterraneo Public Diplomacy Institute which is an organisation which should improve relations between Mediterranean areas and central government." Image from
Wisconsin Women in Government: Karen Hughes to keynote 23rd annual WWIG to keynote 23rd annual WWIG Scholarship Recognition Banquet: "Hughes ... served as U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2005-2007. In that role, Ambassador Hughes dramatically reshaped the State Department’s communications efforts, launched a new focus on America’s 'diplomacy of deeds' through health, education and English-teaching programs, and made public diplomacy central in the development of foreign policy." On Ms. Hughes, see John Brown, "Karen Hughes and Her 'Diplomacy of Deeds'," (2007).
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End British Obsession with anti-Israel propaganda - Ron Breiman, Haaretz, posted at SanFranciscoSentinel.com:
Britain, with a growing Muslim population that continues to expand, is an example of European hypocrisy. It is not the only one. It is right to expose Britain’s shameful actions and to neutralize its threatening anti-Israel propaganda. British and European support for a Palestinian state, as well as Britain’s and Europe’s hypocritical hesitancy to act against Muslim terrorism, contradict British and European interests. This is the line that needs to be taken by Israeli representatives overseas. Image from
