"Fortunately, in America there was no Ministry of Rock to turn gems of rock genius into manure of mediocrity."
--Historian/drummer Larry Schweikart, co-producer of the film "Rocking the Wall," regarding rock during the Cold War; image from
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
1. WikiLeaks
Will the WikiLeaks release damage U.S. diplomacy? - Earle Scarlett, Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Diplomatic communications have changed, due largely to advancement of technology. But the essence of diplomacy remains intact. Beyond representing and explaining, diplomats have been engaged throughout history in private consultations with host country officials on an array of national and international matters. Trust and confidentially are the bedrock of diplomatic discourse, and reporting, analysis and recommendation its grist. In contrast,
public diplomacy has a different mandate: to promote U.S. interests by engaging foreign publics and projecting a positive U.S. image. ... The leaks will dampen customary official private candor. Fears that cables dealing with sensitive and strategic issues will be revealed circumscribe frankness and could impair the quality of dialogue between diplomats and host country officials. Cables that provide trenchant analysis, thoughtful comments and enlightened recommendation run the risk of being transformed into bland reporting. Such an outcome would weaken the effectiveness of our diplomatic missions and tarnish bilateral and multilateral relations. This would have wide negative implications for diplomacy. ... Earle Scarlett of Atlanta served 28 years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was director of political training at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute." Image from
All or nothing? The Wikileaks disclosures show the need to balance private and public diplomacy, writes Geoffrey Barker - Inside Story Current affairs and culture: "What diplomats say and write privately is different from what they say and write for public consumption. Those private exchanges can give crucial insights to policymakers and ministers. To compromise them is to compromise diplomacy itself and the ability of nations to speak frankly. The point is that publicity and privacy are both essential to effective diplomacy.
There has to be a balance between them – and governments generally tilt too far towards privacy while the media tilt too far towards unconsidered disclosure. Yet that perpetual tension is preferable to total disclosure or to total secrecy. We do not inhabit an all-or-nothing world. Modern political news management might be a dark and dreadful art, but the answer is not to strip diplomacy naked in the public square. It is to maximise disclosures without resort to indecent exposure that demeans both media and diplomatic practitioners. ... There is, of course, no denying that the Wikileaks dump contains much fascinating information. Some of it is finely written and reflects very favorably on the US foreign service. But it is far from obvious that Mr Assange has advanced the cause of the open society. More likely he is making it more difficult to achieve." Assange image from article
WikiLeaks, diplomacy and public diplomacy - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "There has been a lot of ink spilled on the WikiLeaks imbroglio. I am still trying to figure out how I feel about the whole matter. There is a lot I don't like about private diplomatic cables made public, and a lot that I see as grandstanding by Assange. I am also wrestling with how diplomacy-made-public fairs in the public diplomacy sense. At first I thought it would be a nightmare, but some have pointed out up an upside ... The fact is State comes across very sober and astute in its info gathering."
WikiLeaks Evolves - Raffi Khatchadourian, New Yorker: "This summer, when Wired.com reported that WikiLeaks was in possession of tens of thousands of State Department internal communiques, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, engaged in what might be called a small act of public diplomacy. Wired had identified one of his confidential sources, a low-level Army intelligence analyst named Bradley Manning, who had privately confessed to a hacker that he had given Assange '260,000 state department cables from embassies and consulates all over the world.' The revelation put WikiLeaks in a difficult position—as it would have for any news organization. How was Assange to respond to the story in a way that was truthful, but neither compromised his source nor confirmed the substance of a massively complex leak that he was not yet ready to publish? As Henry Kissinger
once said, 'Sometimes the art of diplomacy is to keep the obvious obscured.' Assange denied knowing whether Manning had provided his organization anything, and on June 7th WikiLeaks released a statement on Twitter: 'Allegations in Wired that we have been sent 260,000 classified US embassy cables are, as far as we can tell, incorrect.' We now know for certain that this statement was true in its particulars but untrue in its meaning." Image from
An increasingly public and competitive info system - balanceofculture.com: "Considering the possibility of true publicness within public diplomacy is a highly intriguing conversation that WikiLeaks has instigated for some. Admittedly, I also look forward to early 2011, when the cables regarding a certain U.S. bank's executive affairs will supposedly be released. Stockholders beware!"
'WikiLeaks propaganda can't harm Pak-US ties' Abrar Saeed - The Nation, Pakistan: "Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter shared the views that WikiLeaks like misleading and malicious propaganda could not harm deep-rooted and multifaceted Pak-US relations. While talking to US Ambassador Cameron Munter who called on him at Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday Premier Gilani said that his government had already released its reaction on the WikiLeaks and would ensure that country’s national interests and relations with other countries would not be affected by such mischief in any manner. Reciprocating the same similar views the US Ambassador
stated that the malicious wikiLeaks would not have any effect on the strong and strategic partnership between Pakistan and the USA, as both sides were resolute to address the misperceptions in the interest of long-term cordial bilateral relations." Image, with caption: How do you relax after a hard day of international diplomacy? With a bone and a chew-toy. At least that's what goes on at the home of our Deputy Chief of Mission, Cameron Munter. Cameron's dogs were recently profiled in "Moj Pies [My Dog]," a leading magazine for animal-lovers in Poland. In an article on diplomatic pets, the publication explores why Blackberry and Ditka won't just roll over and play dead in the face of an international challenge.
ENGAGEMENT WITH MUSLIM COMMUNITIES – FRANCE - turknorthamerica.com: From a telegram from US Embassy Paris: "Summary: The Ambassador and all of Mission France support a sustained and focused effort to engage France’s Muslim minorities, recognizing that organizing and executing such an effort will continue to require considerable discretion, sensitivity and tact on our part. Although there is some evidence that France’s Muslim minorities are better integrated than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe, the French have a well-known problem with discrimination against minorities. French media has fallen short in their reporting on these issues and French government and private institutions also found it difficult to face up squarely to the challenges involved. We can engage the French both privately and via the media on the issue of minority inclusion,
but superior French language skills are crucial to make effective use of the French broadcast media. ¶2. Our specific goals for this strategy: a) demonstration of our commitment to these issues, b) sharing of our American experiences in managing diversity, and c) encouraging social reforms within France to improve the lot of its minorities. ¶3. Post will continue to grow its established minority outreach effort, identifying Arab-Muslim outreach projects as such in expanded program reporting. Effectiveness will be measured in terms of audience and participant totals, improved French media treatment of minority issues, a measurably improved perception of the U.S. among target audiences, and the initiation of new policies and programs by both the French government and French non-governmental organizations to improve the lot of French Arabs and Muslims. ... End summary. ... Target Audiences by Goal ... ¶28. While much of the existing effort already ties into our current Embassy public diplomacy strategy, increased funding for exchanges, speakers and grants would be most welcome. So would more help from Washington with recruiting minority speakers (Francophones) and further access to short-term exchanges, such as ECA’s summer institutes, to target minority educators. ... ¶31. As with the earlier goal, a considerable effort is already underway, tied to our existing public diplomacy strategy, but increased funding for exchanges, speakers and grants would enable us to reinforce our current efforts." Image from article, "Should France Ban the Burka?"
Who leaked Canadian WikiLeaks cables: Canada’s “inherent inferiority complex" - Luiza Ch. Savage, macleans.ca: "[A US Embassy] memo critiques the 'anti-American melodrama' in several CBC shows [:] 'While this situation hardly constitutes a public diplomacy crisis per se, the degree of comfort with which Canadian broadcast entities, including those financed by Canadian tax dollars, twist current events to feed long-standing negative images of the U.S. — and the extent to which the Canadian public seems willing to indulge in the feast — is noteworthy as an indication of the kind of insidious negative popular stereotyping we are increasingly up against in Canada.'”
America to the World: "Do these Tyranny Jeans make my bum look big?" - Whetam Gnauckweirst, hotdogfactory.blogspot.com: To 'Wilkins' at the American embassy in Ottawa, Canada: I read the Wikileaked cable 08OTTAWA136 -- SUBJECT: PRIMETIME IMAGES OF US-CANADA BORDER PAINT U.S. IN INCREASINGLY NEGATIVE LIGHT today; a description of a few Canadian television shows as anxiously viewed by an American bureaucrat with his 'Love America Meter' firmly in hand, taking readings and measurements.
Specifically, the bureaucrat in question examined the level of 'American stereotyping' and 'anti-Americanism' on Canada's 'State run' (actually, 'Crown run'; same thing) television network the CBC. Shows viewed were The Border, Intelligence and even Little Mosque on Prairie, each causing varying levels of concern because America, American police, border and intelligence agencies were not presented as the benevolent entities showering candy upon children, as the bureaucrat in question seems to believe they are. The pervasive issue in this memo? Negative stereotypes of America and American officials. My observation: When Americans learn how they are perceived by others they often don't like those perceptions and therefore accuse the obervers of 'stereotyping'." See also (1) (2) (3) (4) (5). Image from article
2. Other PD items
US Under Secretary [of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs] To Meet Senior Education Officials On December 7 - Bernama
Today's Opening at America - World In My Mind: Do you know @America? Today's Opening @America - U.S. Tech Culture Center First in the World Opens in Jakarta 02 December 2010. Jakarta - "After U.S. President Barack Obama's visited Indonesia, the U.S. government turned out to have chosen Indonesia as the location of the cultural center of the first American high-tech in the world. Cultural center that is named @ america it is a new American cultural center, featuring high technology and sophisticated design.
This is the place to learn about American culture, diversity, history, education and American innovation. It's futuristic and lesspapper (means no papper or book.. touchscreen, ipad, etc) all using technology to know closely America. Located at Pacific Place Mall 3rd Floor, Unit 325, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53 Jakarta 12190, @ america is an area of 600 square meters. This is a place for programs and events in which the citizens of Indonesia and the United States can establish relationships and strengthen relationships. This facility also will unite Indonesia's young people, together with young American citizens using American technology as a vehicle to create dialogue." Image from article
Stratégies d'attraction: le soft power - François-Bernard Huyghe, huyghe.fr: "Le nouveau softpower de l'ère Obama est-il une simple reprise de celui de l'ère Clinton (public diplomacy républicaine et softpower démocrate alternant au gré des élections)? Certainement pas. La nouvelle stratégie de séduction peut, certes, s'incarner dans un président universellement applaudi (sauf dans son pays) et qui, par exemple, reçoit un prix Nobel d[e] la P[a]ix pour l'espoir qu'il a suscité (et au moment où il envoie 30.000 soldats en Afghanistan). ... [S]urtout, la nouvelle stratégie est en train de découvrir la singulière résistance des cultures particularisantes à l'effet unificateur de la technologie. Des gens peuvent porter des Nike, écouter des clips, surfer sur les réseaux sociaux et faire le jiahd haïr les valeurs dites occidentales. La résistance de ce que nous nommons archaïque aux effets sophistiqués de nos machines à produire le consensus global."
Cuban punk rock singer questioned by authorities about his Radio Martí interview, etc. - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting
Power Chords of Freedom - Larry Schweikart, History News Network: "Central to our argument in the film ['Rockin’ the Wall'] was the hypothesis that rock music was about more than lyrics. While it was true, as one 'witness' from the Ukraine told us, that 'all the boys learned their English from rock music,' we heard repeatedly that the music itself was inherently appealing. Why? In the 1950s, when the State Department sent jazz bands on tours of the Iron Curtain, it had the same appeal. Why? We concluded that the very nature of jazz, country, and above all, rock, was the key element—that rock music, especially, structurally represented America. ... Rock music was blasted to through the Iron Curtain through government-subsidized Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, and we interviewed the legal counsel for VOA
who described the debates inside the Reagan administration about the appropriateness of sending 'degenerate' rock music eastward. But even the advisory boards came to understand that it was the structure of rock, as much as the lyrics, that counted. Yet that raised another interesting argument about the freedom inherent in rock music: until it reached VOA, rock was entirely unsubsidized and unregulated. It was a music that grew up from the people, not government. Fortunately, in America there was no Ministry of Rock to turn gems of rock genius into manure of mediocrity. No National Endowment for the Arts fueled the Golden Age of possibly the greatest music form of the twentieth century—and for that, based on our interviews, the people of the former Soviet Bloc seem extremely grateful." Image from article
Rock music through the Iron Curtain via US international broadcasting -- a bit overstated - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "In the 1960s and 1970s, VOA was anachronistically transmitting more jazz than rock to Europe. VOA Europe came along in the 1980s, but was intended for Western rather than Eastern Europe. VOA did not provide much of a 'subsidy' to US rock music: it just paid (and pays) ASCAP and BMI fees, just as other radio stations did (and do). Radio Luxembourg, on its powerful medium wave channel, plus shortwave, probably had the greatest penetration of rock music into Eastern Europe."
Communicating a Deployment - informationdissemination.net: "All of the cells considered effective strategic communications – defined as the sum of all actions and messages (intentional and unintentional) influencing target audiences – as an integral part of any successful U.S. strategy. An important corollary was that the Navy had to develop and disseminate coordinated and consistent strategic communications.
Thus, to be successful, the Navy must establish the ability to design and implement a standardized process at the Navy component commander level for effectively coordinating maritime actions and messages so as to convey consistent U.S. government purposes and objectives. Findings from the executive summary Global 08, Title X Wargame, 'Implimenting the Maritime Strategy,' August 4-8, 2008 For whatever reason, following Global 08 at the Naval War College, this lesson from the wargame fell through the cracks and never went anywhere - at least no where I can find today. The intent was to develop information as an extension of naval activity and link that activity to a public diplomacy effort. More than 2 years later the Navy information model is still about communicating how and what the Navy does, and it still lacks the declaration of why and therefore is not 'strategic' at all." Image from article
Minister Chin-Tien Yang of Foreign Affairs Discussed Flexible Diplomacy at NCKU - businesswire.com: "Minister Chin-Tien Yang of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China serving under President Ma Ying-Jeou has delivered a speech at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, acknowledging that flexible diplomacy will replace money diplomacy and transform into a provider of humanitarian assistance, creator of business opportunities and promoter of cultural exchange, thus illustrating a new image of Taiwan under the policies of flexible diplomacy. The Tainan 2010 Public Diplomacy, organized by Southern Taiwan Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-organized by Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University, is held in the Conference Room and Art Corridor of the Library, Cheng-Kung Campus. ... Senior Executive Vice-President Hwung-Hweng Hwung also mentioned, 'National defense and diplomacy are the inner and outer strength of a country. Currently, Taiwan has encountered some difficulties in diplomacy, but there are still many ways to break through. Academic diplomacy is one of the many ways to break through the difficulties as academic strength is respected and valued everywhere in the world. Thus, NCKU Department of Political Science has held a public diplomacy forum.' ... The first session of Tainan 2010 Public Diplomacy was held at National Kaohsiung University in October and the second session is held at National Cheng Kung University, aiming to strengthen the public understanding of national diplomatic work and international perspectives and support the current diplomatic policies, thus reaching the effect of participating in international exchange and government diplomatic expansion."
Basketball: The Jewish Game… A To Z - chutzpahmag.com: "Tal Brody, the Trenton native who became an Israeli national hero and icon. As an All-American at Illinois in 1965 Brody led the US five to Maccabiah Games gold. Drafted by the NBA, he chose instead to join Maccabi Tel Aviv
and led them to Maccabiah gold in ’69 and then made aliyah, becoming an Israeli citizen. In ’79, Brody was awarded the Israel Prize, the first athlete to win the country’s top civilian award. ... Most recently Tal was appointed a goodwill ambassador for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this role, Brody assists with Israel’s international public diplomacy efforts." Brody image from
Interview with Prof. Zisser on Syria - progressivethink.com: "Guest Blog Interview by: IsraeliGirl, co-founder of Giyus.org, a pro-Israeli public diplomacy group. Follow IsraeliGirl On Twitter @IsraeliGirl"
Business for Diplomatic Action to Close Operations at Year’s End – Press Release, Business for Diplomatic Action: "(New York – Nov. 29, 2010) Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA), the not-for-profit group formed in 2002 to enlist the U.S. business community in actions to lift America’s standing in the world, will bring its operations to a close effective December 31, 2010. In announcing the decision, BDA founder and president, Keith Reinhard,
noted that BDA has, over its eight years of operation, been a significant force in raising awareness of the need for the United States to be more positively engaged with the world. ... In explaining the decision to end BDA’s activities, Reinhard said ‘our research has shown a clear shift toward more positive perceptions of America and its leadership role in the world. This makes our mission a less urgent priority for U.S. corporations who have joined and supported our initiatives.’ ‘We are proud to have lent our energies and our voice to the improvement of America’s relationship with the world,’ said Reinhard. 'And while there is always work to be done, we are pleased that so many U.S. corporations are integrating best public diplomacy practices into their day-to-day operations. We hope our efforts have laid a strong foundation for a new era of public-private partnerships that will continue to improve America’s global leadership position.’” Reinhard image from
Muppet Ambassadors? - Going Global: "In order to determine whether Sesame Street is a form of public diplomacy, we must first establish which lens to view public diplomacy through. If public diplomacy is citizens—or in this case Muppets—acting on behalf of a political body to establish interpersonal connections, then no, Sesame Street is not a vehicle for public diplomacy. However, if public diplomacy is measured by outcome, and not intention, then I dare say that Elmo and friends are cultural ambassadors.
Their mission is to act on behalf of their audience to educate them—equipping them with lessons on literacy, counting, cultural awareness, friendship, self-esteem, kindness, and tolerance. Providing youth around the world with an educational outlet, emphasizing morals and values (both local and shared) is one of the best forms of diplomacy. There are some hearts and minds that Big Bird can touch that a government will never be able to—so let the show go on, and tell everyone how to get to, how to get to Sesame Street." Image from
The Signature of the City: The Place of Cities in Public Diplomacy - Arts and Events Calendar, University of Southern California: "The Center on Public Diplomacy presents a talk by Dr. Mark Kristmanson, incoming 2011Canada-U.S. Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Public Diplomacy. Dr. Kristmanson
will discuss the emerging field of 'city diplomacy.' He will examine how cities present an increasingly important subnational dimension for the study of public diplomacy, comprehending aspects of security, development, economy, culture, networks and representation. This conversation will introduce research questions related to the role of cities as subnational actors in international relations, the positioning of cities in nation branding, and the role of 'place' in public diplomacy." Kristmanson image from article
Sister Cities International-Sustainable Development Intern - yourinternships.com: "The Sustainable Development department works on energy and environmental issues, humanitarian projects, and economic development. The department’s primary program is the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Project (AUPAP), a 3-year project designed to perform water, health, and sanitation activities in up to 25 African cities through U.S. and African sister city programs. ... Applicants should be graduate students with exceptional writing, communication, and research skills, as well as an interest in international development, sustainable development, public diplomacy, or Africa. The intern will be required to work at least three days or 24 hours per week."
RELATED ITEMS
How WikiLeaks embarrassed and enraged America, gripped the public and rewrote the rules of diplomacy - Economist: The mass leaks of terse, jargon-ridden fragments of reporting from the battlefield form a mostly confusing mosaic. The diplomatic cables, professionally drafted by ambitious officials eager to display their sharp minds and silver pens, are more compelling and revealing.
Preventing the publication of the cache of cables looks hopeless. Journalists are relishing the chance to print, with clear sourcing, the sort of thing they are normally told only in off-the-record briefings. That will keep America on the defensive for weeks and maybe months, as intimate and damaging details of its diplomacy dribble out into the public domain. Image from article
WikiLeaks Revelations: The Implications for Diplomacy - Daryl Copeland, Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rather than spending all of their time at receptions and ceremonial events, envoys get out and about, talk to decision-makers and opinion leaders, make representations and perform analysis. This is good news for foreign ministries, who could certainly do with more of that kind of PR. On the substantial side, it is certainly true that diplomacy has not adapted well to the change in the operating environment heralded by the shift from the Cold War to the globalization age. Diplomatic practice remains too hierarchic, authoritarian, convention-bound and risk-averse.
A banquet of secrets: What does WikiLeaks' treasure trove of diplomatic traffic show? A State Department on its game - Timothy Garton Ash, latimes.com: [W]hat we see here is diplomats doing their proper job: finding out what is happening in the places to which they are posted, working to advance their nation's interests and their government's policies.
In fact, my opinion of the State Department has just gone up several notches. In recent years I have found the American Foreign Service to be somewhat underwhelming, a bit dandruffy, especially when compared with other, more self-confident arms of American government, such as the Pentagon and the Treasury. But what we find here is often first rate. ... Yet one question remains. How can diplomacy be conducted under these conditions? A State Department spokesman is surely right to say that the revelations are 'going to create tension in relationships between our diplomats and our friends around the world.'" Image from
Foreign Policy: What If All Diplomacy Was Public - Stephen M. Walt, NPR: Diplomatic problems still need to get solved, and a world of full disclosure might actually force leaders of all types to explain the realities behind their decisions a bit more, and educate the population when public opinion was off-base.
Degenerate Music: the Nazi Propaganda Exhibition - Eric Brothers, Suite101:
The Nazis wanted to present the difference between culturally acceptable good “German” music and “degenerate” music in the form of major cultural events. Image from article
AMERICANA
"Today is the first day of Hanukkah. ... And President Obama issued his annual Hanukkah message. See, this is what America is all about, when the son of a black Kenyan father and a white Kansas mother, elected president, thanks the Latino voters, issues a statement over his Japanese-made computer, serviced by technicians in India, congratulating the Hebrew-speaking people of a land we took from the Native Americans. That's what this country is all about!"
--Talk-show Host Jay Leno
"Tonight at the White House, President Obama is going to hold a ceremony for the first night of Hanukkah. And in response, the Republicans said, 'It's even worse than we thought. He's a Jewish Muslim.'"
--Talk-show Host Conan O'Brien
From Bulletin News, LLC (December 2)
