"What the hell are they putting out? My relatives are soap."
--Henry Kissinger venting to his aides about The West German government's suggestion to the press that the then-National Security Adviser intended to visit some relatives; Kissinger photomontage from
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Shadow Government: QDDR -- No bull's-eye, but generally on-target - Stephen Johnson, Foreign Policy: "On Dec. 15, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rolled out the State Department's first ever Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) at an internal town hall meeting -- a year behind schedule. No surprise, it turns out to be more of a public relations document than a disciplined strategic review. Yet if it doesn't score a bull-eye, the QDDR at least hits an outer ring by describing an ambitious and needed reform agenda. ... [A]s a guide to intended reforms, the QDDR
seems ambitious. It would expand functional areas by adding new under secretaries for economic and security matters, make international communications a core competency, and strengthen links between diplomacy and development assistance by consolidating the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) into a department that would have more of a programmatic orientation. Under a new lead-agency concept, USAID would focus on food and health issues, while State would manage democracy promotion and stability operations. It would make antiquated State and USAID personnel systems more responsive to mission needs. And, it contemplates a goal-driven planning process to improve policy planning and crisis coordination. ... Consolidating USAID into the department and reorienting the whole to accommodate AID's functional nature further exacerbates [bureaucratic] tension. USAID employees remember what happened when State swallowed the U.S. Information Agency (public diplomacy) and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) in 1999. Chopped up and parceled out to regional bureaus, public diplomacy flailed [sic]. Arms control lost clout through neglect and personnel shuffles. Already brought under nominal State management in 2006, USAID has been saddled with an additional layer of financial red tape in a Department known for taking six weeks to process a travel voucher." Image from article
Verdict? The Jury is Still Out on QDDR’s Strategic Planning and Budgeting - Gordon Adams and Rebecca Williams, thewillandthewallet.org: "The QDDR defines how the strategic planning process will relate to the budget process. This is not simple. How do you simultaneously budget for the unexpected, the immediate, the necessary, the politically-important, and the longer-term? How do you ensure that if the Secretary decides to invest in one area that she is aware of the trade-offs being made with resources for other areas? And how to you integrate foreign assistance planning with the plans for the other tools like political engagement, public diplomacy, and trade policies?"
Why Does Religious Freedom Matter? - Jennifer Marshall, Heritage.org: "The most secure and consistent protection for religious liberty needs to be rooted in constitutional government. U.S. public diplomacy can support the development of such robust religious freedom by telling America’s success story. That requires that U.S. policymakers understand and be able to articulate the role of religion in the American constitutional order.
In the 21st-century war of ideas, U.S. public diplomacy must rely on the bedrock of American founding principles in the fight against potent ideologies that present strong, coherent, and deeply misguided explanations of the nature and purpose of human existence. Evaluating religious dynamics around the world should become a regular function of analysis, and articulating the role of religion in the U.S. should be a consistent feature of communications strategy." Image from
US embassy cables: Hillary Clinton asks for action against 'distorted' Haiti media coverage - guardian.co.uk: "Wednesday, 20 January 2010, 01:34 UNCLAS STATE 005277 SUBJECT: Personally Engaging on Haiti ... 2. I am deeply concerned by instances of inaccurate and unfavorable international media coverage of America's role and intentions in Haiti. This misinformation threatens to undermine the international partnership needed to help the people of Haiti, and to damage our international engagement across the range of issues. It is imperative to get the narrative right over the long term. Where you see ill-informed or distorted perspectives in your host country media, I direct you as Chief of Mission to personally contact media organizations at the highest possible level - owners, publishers, or others, as appropriate - to push back and insist on informed and responsible coverage of our actions and intentions, and to underscore the U.S. partnership with the Government of Haiti, the United Nations, and the world community. It is important that you and other members of your Embassy team engage opinion-makers in setting the record straight on America's commitment to assist the Haitian people and government in recovering from this disaster. 3. I also ask you to report back to me through your Assistant Secretary, citing specific examples of irresponsible journalism in your host countries, and what action you have taken in response. This is a personal priority for me and I will be looking for your reports. 4. The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, working with your regional Public Diplomacy Offices and your Public Affairs Officers at post, will ensure you have the latest facts and talking points. The Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) has assembled a regularly updated Haiti Earthquake Assistance page to assist your efforts: https://infocentral.state.gov/haiti-earthquak e- assistance. The Under Secretary will also coordinate a regular ALDAC cable conveying the latest facts and talking points. 5. Please let Under Secretary McHale and your regional Assistant Secretary know if you need additional information or other support to carry out this important engagement effort. ... CLINTON"
Wikileaks : Viewing cable 09BELGRADE841, SERBIA GRAPPLES WITH RUSSIA RELATIONS IN ADVANCE OF MEDVEDEV - orianomattei.blogspot.com: "Thursday, 03 September 2009, 13:41 S E C R E T BELGRADE 000841 ... ¶10. (C) While the European Union is and should remain Serbia’s ultimate goal, the country is also inextricably linked by energy dependency, military relationships, and cultural affinity with Russia. The Serbian government’s struggle to find the proper balance between these two imperatives stems from conflict between policymakers - such as Jeremic -- who see foreign policy as a zero-sum game, and those who believe in mutually beneficial relationships. We can strengthen the hand of pragmatic forces in the Serbian government by recognizing in our public statements that Serbia needs to devote effort to having a healthy, balanced relationship with Russia. We can afford to be magnanimous on this point because we have the better story to tell: the foreign direct investment statistics and the results of our programs supporting economic, political, and security reform demonstrate that Serbia
benefits far more from cooperation with the United States and the West than it does from Russian rhetoric. While the Serbian public has not yet fully accepted these facts, our constant public diplomacy efforts to highlight the results of U.S. engagement are having an impact. We should continue to let our actions speak louder than our words by engaging with Serbia on issues of mutual interest, avoiding any direct comparisons with Russia, and flatly rejecting the notion that in the 21st century any country must choose between East and West. End Comment. BRUSH" Image from
A Different Kind of Public Diplomacy - Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch: "The United States–which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month–is doing things a bit differently in the chamber today. About two weeks ago, Ambassador Rice solicited feedback from young people around the world for the kinds of topics and issues they would like taken up by the Security Council. Young people responded in droves, sending in short video clips and posting notes to the Ambassador’s Facebook page. In all, over 900 youth from 90 countries entered submissions." Entry includes videos.
BBG seeks sources that can provide "cell phone messaging services into the borders of closed societies" - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "Setting up a 'proxy mobile network' inside a closed target country is the international broadcasting equivalent of 'bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West!' As mobile networks involve cell towers and landlines entirely inside other countries, they are very gatekept systems. (The actual 'sources sought notice' does not mention proxy mobile networks.) If this works, excellent. However, it's prudent to seek independent verification of claims by companies and government agencies that they can get information into countries where that information is thoroughly blocked and censored. Also keep in mind that mobile phone users can be annoyed by the reception of text messages that are 1) unsolicited, 2) solicited but arrive too often, or 3) incur costs."
Laura Rosenberger: Advancing US interests abroad, Washington Post - "When Laura Rosenberger finished graduate school at American University and landed a fellowship at the State Department in 2004, she never dreamed that the two-year program would so quickly launch a challenging career and bring the world to her doorstep. ... Throughout her six years with the State Department -- two initially as a Presidential Management Fellow -- the 30-year-old Rosenberger
has worked on an array of issues ranging from human rights and nuclear non-proliferation to refugee assistance. ... During her time at the State Department, Rosenberger has held a series of positions, including serving as a Foreign Affairs Officer where she worked on public diplomacy programs, policy and strategy for the Korea desk." Rosenberger image from article
Tess Onwueme Receives an Exalted New Post - Nduka Otiono, Vanguard: "Africa’s foremost female playwright and Distinguished Professor of Cultural Diversity and English at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, USA, Osonye Tess Onwueme has been honoured with a new appointment as the University Professor of Global Letters at her institution. ... In 2007 she was appointed to the US State Department Public Diplomacy Specialist/Speaker Program for North, West, and East India."
Public diplomacy Jiujitsu – on the buses: A new form of attack calls for a new form of defence? - Five Minutes for Israel: "According to Seattle KING5 TV an ad campaign 'Israeli War Crimes: Your tax dollars at work' will hit Seattles buses on December 27. It’s already raised controversy which, if you look at it, was its major purpose and that at a cost of only $1,794!‡ ... If history is any guide banning the ad will generate more and wider publicity that if it runs. The BBC Board decision not to run an advertisement about Gaza, coupled with BBC News giving it more publicity than they give any similar issue, probably meant far more people saw the ad or heard about it than if it had run, for a few days. The charities have been remarkably reluctant to tell us how much was raised which suggests not as much as hoped but the publicity was priceless."
KC Executive Calls Anti-Israel Bus Ads a Waste of Time and Money - Cienna Madrid, slog.thestranger.com: "This afternoon, King County Executive Dow Constantine ordered a review of KC Metro's policies concerning non-commercial bus advertisements, in response to controversial posters advertising 'Israeli War Crimes,' which are slated to appear on 12 King County buses on December 27th and run for a full month. Earlier today, King County Council member Peter von Reichbauer claimed that the ads, purchased for $1,794 by the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign, could incite anti-Semitic violence. Interestingly enough, Constantine takes a different approach—he makes the argument that the ads are wasting more time and money than they're worth. (The Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign argues that they ads are generating discussion—in other words, they're doing their job.) ... [Comment;] The Israeli government promotes 'hasbara,' or 'public diplomacy,' by supporters of the regime. The old-school American Jewish organizations have poured money and effort into creating a hasbara network in the United States. So you can count on massive efforts to suppress debate whenever Israel is criticized in public. Posted by ZenDog" Above image from article
Our World: A time to shout - Caroline B. Glick, Jerusalem Post: "Since taking office, Obama has only used public diplomacy in the Middle East to convince one government to take action it believed was antithetical to its interests. Last year he waged a forceful, unrelenting public diplomacy campaign to convince Netanyahu to abrogate Jewish property rights in Judea and Samaria. And it worked. Although it harmed the sacrosanct pillar of Zionism that Jewish rights are nonnegotiable, although it weakened Netanyahu’s standing with his party and voters and although it empowered the Palestinians to expand their political war against Israel on the international stage, Netanyahu gave in. The public pressure Obama exerted on him compelled him to act against his interests. The US is not an evil empire. And it is hard to see how a clear demand for
Pollard’s release [Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard ... convicted on one count of transferring classified information to Israel during his service in US Naval Intelligence] on humanitarian grounds will have any fundamental impact on its nature. And that is fine. But the fact is that Obama has no interest in freeing a suffering Israeli agent who was railroaded by Weinberger and remains in prison due to the efforts of Israelhaters who wrongly insist he did untold damage to US national security. Indeed, many of Pollard’s detractors are members of Obama’s political camp." Image from
Independent Media Investment Pays Off - Michael Hedges, followthemedia.com: "In the 1990’s wealthy Western governments began pouring money into struggling and post-conflict democracies. Along with safety and security issues, getting information to local populations independent of entrenched actors became a public diplomacy priority. International broadcasting through shortwave services lost favor to establishing local media outlets. Media development NGOs like Fondation Hirondelle and Internews brought specific capacities for bringing local participants up to speed with technologies and best journalistic practices. Another media development legend is Belgrade, Serbia’s B92 radio station. Founded as a voice of opposition to the Yugoslav regime, it has become a model for media development. It is now a dynamic – still independent – multimedia player in the Balkans."
"Bhutto": another pretense of "democracy" - Yelena Osipova, Global Chaos: "All the 'back channel' as well as public diplomacy efforts of NATO, and especially those of the U.S., do not seem to be yielding substantial results in terms of reducing security concerns [regardig Pakistan], anyway. Is 'Democracy' - Pakistan-style - the only viable answer, again?" Image from
Squeezed from All Sides? - Watanabe Hirotaka, japanechoweb.jp: "Japanese diplomacy needs to think in terms of a long-term strategy for building multilateral cooperation. The question is how feasible this approach is. Japan will not necessarily succeed in making its position convincing just by demonstrating strategy and vision, even if arguments are right. In the past Japanese diplomacy has focused almost exclusively on economic strength, overseas development assistance,
and other aspects of hard power. We need to remember the importance of soft power: ongoing, everyday public diplomacy aimed at increasing understanding and appreciation of Japan’s position in other countries, and making them more likely to cooperate with it. The only way to achieve this is to develop a realistic, down-to-earth public diplomacy policy, even if it does not produce results right away." Image from
Yang Jiechi expounding on Chinese diplomacy - vifindia.org: "Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talked in detail about the achievements of Chinese foreign policy in the 11th FYP in an interview with the reporters of the People’s Daily. ... Yang identified following seven important aspects of Chinese diplomacy [among them]: ... 6. Building soft power through public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy. 7. Continuously developing and enriching theoretical foundation of diplomacy with Chinese character. Yang Jiechi also discussed China’s achievements in public diplomacy. The minister personally attaches utmost importance to this aspect of diplomacy. The purpose of Chinese public diplomacy is, in domestic front to create greater understanding among the people about Chinese foreign policy and draw people’s support for its diplomatic activities, and to craft a so called 'correct' China view at the international level."
Turkey's FM calls for wider press freedom in Turkic world: Turkey's minister of foreign affairs said on Tuesday that media organs were important actors for public diplomacy - worldbulletin.net: "Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu attended the 'Turkish-Speaking Countries Media Forum', jointly organized by Turkey's Directorate General of Press & Information and Turkish Foreign Ministry's Center for Strategic Research, in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Speaking at the opening of the forum, Davutoglu underscored the importance of public diplomacy. 'Today, diplomacy is no longer a series of negotiations carried out by diplomats behind closed doors or in wide conference rooms.
New diplomacy fields are rising nowadays,' he said. Describing public diplomacy as one of such fields, Davutoglu said media organs were important actors for public diplomacy. The minister said, no matter what kind of decisions were taken by political leaders and how successfully diplomats implemented such decisions, those decisions could not gain respectability in public unless a healthy public diplomacy was launched. Davutoglu said that media organs were responsible for creating the perception of a positive and friendly atmosphere between countries. The minister also noted that press should be institutionalized and freedom of press should become widespread in the Turkic world." See also (1) (2). Uncaptioned image from article
Looking Back: Gandhi Legacy Factor As A Backdrop To India's Global Aspirations - India of My Dreams: "Mahatma Gandhi was referred to by the speakers in practically every session this morning on Public Diplomacy starting with the keynote speaker in the inaugural session, Shashi Tharoor."
Azerbaijan’s economy preserves regional leadership in 2010 - Elnur Aslanov, chief of the political analysis and information department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan: "Those, who stay, live, work and study abroad, are facing a few problems. This is a mission, which comes from understanding the essence of the national idea. Every Azerbaijani must clearly understand his role, which is to provide not only personal but also the national interests. Today the main, priority interest is to bring the Karabakh problem, the just position of Azerbaijan, the historic essence of the matter to the attention of the world community.
It is necessary to talks about it to everyone, everywhere and all the time. It is part of public diplomacy and persistent policy, which President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly underlined. Students who study abroad should actively use all their potential for holding conferences and round tables, various presentations, for every teacher, every student from their university, dormitory, neighbors, friends and colleagues to know more about the Karabakh problem. We discussed this a couple of weeks ago during a meeting with Azerbaijani students studying in France and the UK. Discussions were very lively." See also. Aslanov image from article
What materials do I need to study to become a Foreign Diplomat, and where would I find them? - salesmanagements.com: "George L says: December 21, 2010 at 12:56 am well, when you say a foreign diplomat, do you mean a Foreign Service officer or a diplomat for some other, foreign government? in either case, languages are always very useful. however, if you are talking about the Foreign Service, you need to think about the various job divisions, or cones within the Service, political, economic, administrative, consular and public diplomacy and concentrate on studies that will help you in that cone."
RELATED ITEMS
Analysis: 'Lady al Qaeda' in propaganda - Thomas Joscelyn, longwarjournal.org: Aafia Siddiqui has become the subject of popular mythology. In the Pakistani public's imagination she is not an al Qaeda operative who evaded American authorities for years, but instead a victim of the American-led "war on terror."
The Pakistani government has attempted to placate this resentment by lobbying for Siddiqui's release, but has failed. Al Qaeda knows this and is attempting to win more support for its jihadist agenda by highlighting the ineffectiveness of the Pakistani government's attempts to secure Siddiqui's release. Al Qaeda also seeks to play on the widely held misconception in Pakistan that the US is "anti-Muslim" for imprisoning Siddiqui. Image from article
Review: The war you don’t see - J. Sadie Clifford on John Pilger's latest documentary, redpepper.org.uk: The war you don’t see is whatever our governments don’t want you to see, argues John Pilger’s ITV documentary. Military propaganda is directed, not just abroad, but at the British and American public. It works to manipulate public opinion with the complicity of a supine and short-sighted media – covering up the bloody limb-tearing, body-shattering killings of civilians by its armed forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. The most effective censorship is the co-option of mainstream media into the propaganda effort. In today’s news culture, this is easier than ever.
Letter: Wikileaks - Audi alteram partem - Andre Carrel, castlegarsource.com: The story of interest to citizens with a passion for democracy is not WikiLeaks the organization, or Julian Assange, its founder. The real value in this story is the demonstration that communication technology can be applied not only to entertain and titillate,
but also to compel governments to be truthful and accountable, and to tell people what is really happening. Image from
Rise of the image men: PR Man has conquered the world. He still isn’t satisfied - The Economist: Even if the PR men are in danger of believing their own spin about the opportunities the online world will bring, at least they are showing signs of adapting to it and finding ways to use technological change to further their business. They may not achieve the power and glory they have ached for since the industry’s early days. But it is clear that another century of spin, perhaps greater than the one gone by, is in prospect. Via PR.
AMERICANA
Garter belt for saggy pants, from Boing Boing
