“it's not just something we consume, it's something we use.”
--Media commentator Clay Shirky, regarding the Internet; image from
BLOG OF INTEREST
DIME BLOG: Information As Power Home Page: The purpose of the Information as Power blog is to generate academic and professional dialog regarding strategic and operational issues surrounding the Information Element of Power.
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Maximizing the Value and Impact of East African Broadband for Higher Education Judith A. McHale Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Keynote Speech at the East Africa ICT and Higher Education Symposium 2010 - Ethiopian Review
State Department Briefing by Phillip J. Crowley, July 1, 2010 - enewspf.com: "Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale was in Kenya today where she met with youth leaders, embassy staff, Kenyan entrepreneurs, and media officials. She also launched the Department of State-sponsored Apps for Africa competition
and met with Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. You’ll recall she also attended and met with Secretary Clinton last year when the Secretary was in Kenya." Image from
U.S grants Kenya Shs.20m for civic eduaction [sic] – Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: "The U.S government has announced a grant of 20 million shillings to the National Youth Forum to facilitate civic education on the forth-coming referendum. The US Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy Judith Mc Hale said the educators will be expected to hold televised town hall meetings throughout the country among other means of educating Kenyans on the proposed constitution."
Kenya: U.S. launches East Africa software competition “Apps 4 Africa” - afrik-news.com: "United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale launched the 'Apps 4 Africa' contest at the Innovation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, July 1. ... Apps 4 Africa, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is 'a competition meant to leverage the really exciting technology space in East Africa,' Josh Goldstein, an Appfrica Labs Fellow, said in an interview June 25. The contest challenges local coders and software developers to create software tools that will meet the needs of citizens across East Africa. ... What is most exciting about this contest, Goldstein said, is that it is meant to motivate the creation of local content. 'What that means is [designing] things that are relevant to the needs of everyday people and civil society groups in the region. They have different needs than the tools that are built in the U.S. and Silicon Valley.' ... In East Africa there are 50 million mobile phone subscribers and at least 15 million mobile Web users. The number of information technology graduates and tech entrepreneurs is growing, providing new opportunities to foster social and economic growth."
Thursday, July 01, 2010 - The Common Ills: "Staying with the topic of the US Congress, US House Rep Biill Delahunt's office released the following Tuesday: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt announced today that he would oppose further funding for military operations in Afghanistan. Delahunt, who serves as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, said the following: I believe that the time has come for a new approach in Afghanistan. Rather than the massive military and nation-building endeavor currently underway -- that continues to produce dubious results, according to the latest report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction -- the United States and its allies should focus our energy on combating al Qaeda and its ideology. Most importantly, emphasis should be placed on refuting al Qaeda's twisted perversion of Islam through public diplomacy, development, and other changes in policy that encourage ordinary Muslims to reject the fanatics who are trying to hijack their religion. Until there is such a shift in strategy, I cannot support any further funding for the war in Afghanistan."
Joe Malone Position Paper on US-Israel Relations - Cape Cod Today: "Had I served in Congress during the current term, for example, I would have: ... signed the recent bipartisan letter to Secretary Clinton responding to the Administration’s counterproductive public diplomacy following the Vice President’s visit to Israel.
Joe Malone is a Republican candidate for Congress in the 10th District which includes Cape Cod and the South Shore." Malone Image from article
House and Senate pass permanent authority for Radio Free Asia - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "How could anyone in Congress vote against a bill that has 'free' in its name? At the risk of being considered anti-freedom, I would like to argue why, by passing S.3104, the Senate actually did something bad. Just by dint of its expanse, East Asia is one of the most difficult areas of the world to get news out of, and news back into. This is compounded by the shortwave jamming, internet blocking, and satellite dish confiscating of China and other regimes in the region. Successful international broadcasting to this region will require all the resources the United States can muster. The resources of U.S. international broadcasting are, however, divided into two entities, VOA and Radio Free Asia, which compete with each other. Yes, the theory is that RFA transmits news about the target country, and VOA does news about United States and the world in general. If this were true, the audience would have to tune to two U.S. stations to get a complete newscast. Fortunately, the theory is not true. VOA does broadcast news about the target country, in addition to world and U.S. news. This means, however, that VOA and RFA are reporting on many of the same stories, and broadcasting them back to the same audiences. S.3104 perpetuates this unsatisfactory situation. The global media environment has become much more competitive. U.S. international broadcasting will not be equal to the task at hand until it stops competing with itself."
Dolly Parton on Radio Farda. Oh, sorry, but she looks a bit like Dolly Parton - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting
VOA and Pakistan cable channel launch joint English-language program - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting
Cyber Power - Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School:
“Abstract: Power depends upon context, and the rapid growth of cyber space is an important new context in world politics. The low price of entry, anonymity, and asymmetries in vulnerability means that smaller actors have more capacity to exercise hard and soft power in cyberspace than in many more traditional domains of world politics. Changes in information have always had an important impact on power, but the cyber domain is both a new and a volatile manmade environment. The characteristics of cyberspace reduce some of the power differentials among actors, and thus provide a good example of the diffusion of power that typifies global politics in this century. The largest powers are unlikely to be able to dominate this domain as much as they have others like sea or air. But cyberspace also illustrates the point that diffusion of power does not mean equality of power or the replacement of governments as the most powerful actors in world politics. ... [p. 6:] Cyber information can also travel through cyberspace to create soft power by attracting citizens in another country. A public diplomacy campaign over the internet is an example. But cyber information can also become a hard power resource that can do damage to physical targets in another country.” Image: Cyber Power Princess from
VOL. VI NO. 13, June 18-July 1, 2010 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media:
"The General in his Afghan Labyrinth
Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal’s disparaging remarks in an interview with antiwar magazine Rolling Stone brought President Obama to relieve him of command and replace him with General David H Petraeus. While there is a consensus that Obama’s decision was the appropriate response, many have expressed doubts about the future success of US operations in Afghanistan.
Al-Hurra under Criticism; BBG Nominees Get Confirmed
The report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee commissioned by Senator Lugar (R-IN) regarding the state of the BBG criticized Al-Hurra’s performance, citing various reasons, while supporters of the US-funded channel disagree, heralding its success, notably in Iraq.
A Lithium Moment in Afghanistan
News that the American military found $1 trillion worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan
may turn out to be the result of propaganda efforts to revive and bolster fading popular support for the war in Afghanistan. Image from
Science and Cultural Diplomacy in the News
Despite increased funding being poured into engaging and connecting with other communities, some core programs of public diplomacy have been set aside, hampering US global engagement efforts.
Muslims Disillusionment Growing
A year after the Cairo speech, the Pew Center’s spring survey of global attitudes found that, with the exception of Indonesia, Muslims worldwide have expressed a growing disillusionment with Obama and his foreign policy.
Obama’s Problems of Policy and Popularity
While the gulf oil spill crisis persists, President Obama continues to face mounting criticism and diminishing popularity levels - in America and abroad. Meanwhile, various individuals and groups weigh in on how the president can change his cabinet, his foreign policy strategy and ultimately his lagging popularity.
Technology as a Tool of Empowerment: Playing with Fire?
The State Department has been experimenting with SMS and other new media programs as diplomatic tools to be used all over the world. However, Golnaz Esfandiari believes that the media and the government are giving Twitter too much credit for the opposition's successes in Iran.
Arab Media Still Peddling
Recent joint media attempts, such as the Arab Media Forum and the first Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, call for strengthening inter-Arab dialogue and removing obstacles facing Arab media. However, media restrictions and censorship still threaten media freedom in some Middle Eastern countries.
Israel Attempts to Save its Sinking Image
Although the Israeli government announced an ease of restrictions on goods entering Gaza, Hamas and other Arab governments call for a complete lift of the blockade. Israeli officials and experts gather to pitch ideas about a hasbara (public diplomacy) campaign to restore Israel's image all over the world."
Lords debate Foreign Policy, press release, DeHavilland (subscription):
"Responding to a debate on foreign policy, Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell of Guildford recognised that the world was entering a less ‘western’ age, and one that was in many ways more dangerous and unpredictable." [from Google entry]: "What he did not say was that two days ago he cut the public diplomacy programme in the Foreign Office by £1.6 billion for this year." Image from
Britain’s pragmatic foreign policy - periscopepost.com: "The Financial Times [in a by subscription only article] today praised British foreign secretary William Hague’s first set-piece speech on foreign policy. ... Hague ... signalled a greater British commitment to public diplomacy, quoting Lord Salisbury’s observation that it is no longer sufficient to 'float lazily downstream, occasionally putting out a diplomatic boat hook to avoid collisions'." PDPBR compiler's note: An email was sent to the British Council requesting clarification on the apparent inconsistency of the content of the two above entries.
Thai officials condemn planned Chinese dams - Simon Roughneen, Financial Times: "Thai officials have spoken out against the Chinese government’s plan to build 12 hydropower dams on the Mekong river, on the grounds that the development will cause further environmental damage to the waterway. ... China recently brought lawmakers from the four MRC countries to Yunnan province, in a rare public diplomacy initiative designed to soothe concerns about Chinese activity on the river."
Brand Ghana's Football Diplomacy on the move: 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond - Jean Yaw Twum Lukaz, modernghana.com: "The question is, if sports should actively become a tool of public diplomacy, must it be a government function or must it be privatized? Government led public diplomacy creates distrust in an environment where the publics are prejudiced against the nation brand. To be effective, public diplomacy must be a function of publics, not governments and the best way to practise public diplomacy is through ordinary people. Only private actors have got the credibility to make a difference.
This means building relationships in the spheres of everyday life in sports, business, arts and entertainment. These forms of connection are important because they promote a two-way conversation. ... If Football means so much to governments as their Public Diplomacy tool, why would they gamble with ineffective coaches who may not necessarily share the national vision? Maybe the Italians, British and Americans would need a New Public Diplomacy Strategy incorporating football as a full-time cultural institution. Or maybe it should just be football and no politics? Have sports really a place in foreign policy? Can sports be a proactive tool instead of its usual reactive position?" Image from
An encounter with Azerbaijan - Vignesh Ashok, Cherwell Online: "What kind of services does the embassy offer for members of the public? The embassy provides information to anyone who wishes to visit or work in Azerbaijan. We also provide a wide-variety of services for Azeri citizens living in the United Kingdom. Besides consular work, the embassy actively engages in both cultural and public diplomacy. Our diplomats have given talks in several universities including a recent talk by the Deputy Foreign Minister at the Oxford Union. Over the last year, we have hosted several cultural events such as ‘Hundred days of Azerbaijani Culture,' where Azeri culture, dance, music and food were promoted. In an effort to promote the fine arts, we actively support musicians, painters and other Azeri artists who are in the UK."
Leftist Doublethink in Another " New Cold War" - Karl Naylor Central-Eastern Europe Watch:
"If there is any legacy left from the Old Cold War, it lies in the sphere of influence exerted by rhetoric and what is now termed 'public diplomacy', that is, mass propaganda which newly emerging states such as Venezuela have been using for using external threats to consolidate domestic authority." Image from
RELATED ITEMS
U.S. embassy launches campaign to correct errors in Pakistani media - Karin Brulliard, Washington Post: The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan for nearly eight months has issued statements countering every major error about American foreign policy that it finds in Pakistan's boisterous media. It's a herculean task that embassy officials say has been undertaken by no other U.S. mission in the world -- because nowhere else, those officials say, does U.S. policy face such disdain and misrepresentation. Television, where 70 percent of Pakistanis get their news and anti-Western venom flows, may be the biggest arbiter of public opinion. The embassy rarely issues corrections about television reports, which are too numerous to monitor. Via PBC.
USAID compound attacked in Afghanistan; 4 killed - Amir Shah, The Associated Press, Washington Post: The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which began about 3:30 a.m. in Kunduz when a suicide car bomber blew a hole in the wall around a building used by Development Alternatives Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based global consulting company on contract with the United States Agency for International Aid, or USAID. The company is working on governance and community development in the area.
The Myth of Modern Jihad - Robert Wright, New York Times: Maybe America can win the war on terrorism without winning the war in Afghanistan.
Terror -- and candor in describing the Islamist ideology behind it -
Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post: The administration's cowardice about identifying those trying to kill us cannot be allowed to pass. It is demoralizing. It trivializes the war between jihadi barbarism and Western decency, and diminishes the memory of those (including thousands of brave Muslims -- Iraqi, Pakistani, Afghan and Western) who have died fighting it. Image from
Afghanistan and the 'Resource Curse': With its newly discovered mineral wealth, it could end up like Nigeria. Or like Mexico - Stephen Haber And Victor Menaldo, Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Iran Sanctions: Where We Go From Here: A coordinated strategy by the U.S. and the European Union will determine success or failure - Stuart E. Eizenstat, Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Pincus article on military information activities is part literature review, part ignorance – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us
New Xinhua English-language news channel "not a propaganda station." Which, if true, would really be news – Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting
'Toy Story 3' flops in Russia: The blockbuster has surprisingly frigid box-office results in one of the hottest international markets for animated movies - Ben Fritz, Los Angeles Times: People familiar with the Russian movie market point to a variety of factors that have hurt the movie, including unseasonably warm weather that sent many children fleeing the oppressive heat of cities to stay with relatives in the cooler countryside.
But perhaps the crucial reason, they say, is that Russians are unfamiliar with the story and characters because the first two "Toy Story" movies were released in the 1990s, before the country's recent explosion in theater growth. Image from article: Jessie, Buzz Lightyear and Woody return in "Toy Story 3," a blockbuster in many countries. But in Russia, the Pixar film is doing surprisingly poorly.
The NYT: We Changed Reality Because Cheney Wanted Us To – Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish: If newspapers will not defend the English language from the propaganda of war criminals, who will? When historians look back and try to understand how the US came to be a country that legitimizes torture, the New York Times will be seen to have played an important role in euphemizing it, enabling it, and entrenching it. Via PDC
