This list, #60 dated March 2, 2012, is periodically produced and distributed by Bruce Gregory, Professor of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University. It is a necessary and thoughtful review of resources for teachers and students, practitioners and policy makers of public diplomacy and related courses and activities. Bruce welcomes suggestions for future updates.
Continue reading “Public Diplomacy: Books, Articles, Websites #60
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Author: Matt Armstrong
A Brief History of the Smith-Mundt Act and Why Changing It Matters
“Modern international relations lie between peoples, not merely governments.”
Memorandum on the Postwar International Information Program of the United States by Dr. Arthur MacMahon (July 1945)
The importance of information in international relations was well understood by many before the end of World War II. The traditional levers of power — diplomacy, military, and economic — were known to be inadequate in the new world that was emerging. The role of information was fundamental to the success of foreign affairs and critical to the development of foreign policy.
Continue reading “A Brief History of the Smith-Mundt Act and Why Changing It Matters “Event: Global Reach: Innovative Communication for a New Diplomacy
Readers may be interested in an upcoming discussion with the French on their perspective of diplomacy in the modern communication environment. Global Reach: Innovative Communication for a New Diplomacy with Bernard Valero, Spokesman, Head of the Press and Communication Office, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Embassy of France, will take place Thursday, Friday 23, at 10:30am – Noon at 1717 Massachusetts Ave NW in Washington (the Johns Hopkins DC Center).
Continue reading “Event: Global Reach: Innovative Communication for a New Diplomacy
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“An inch closer feels like a good mile” – Foreign Relations moves on Tara’s nomination
Today’s business meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee includes Tara Sonenshine, nominee for Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs). While perfunctory and the time spent on Tara and her cohort will be measured in single-digit minutes (all the real work is done before the business meeting), it is a major move toward confirmation. Continue reading ““An inch closer feels like a good mile” – Foreign Relations moves on Tara’s nomination
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Beijing makes its voice heard: CCTV expands in the U.S.
The FT today reports on the continuing expansion of China’s CCTV in the United States. “China has started to serve US citizens its own side of the story with CCTV America,” writes the FT’s reporter.
CCTV America, from its studio in Washington, D.C., is part of Beijing’s outreach of telling its own story through its own voice. The expansion has been dramatic and expensive. They are covering stories of Chinese interest that are not covered by Western media or not covered in a way the Chinese want. Such is the purpose and advantage of Government International Broadcasting.
Continue reading “Beijing makes its voice heard: CCTV expands in the U.S.
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BBG’s 5yr Strategic Plan: to inform, engage and connect (Updated)
The Broadcasting Board of Governor’s strategic plan for 2012-2016 provides a serious starting point to discuss and debate the future of America’s international broadcasting. Download the Executive Summary for the BBG’s FY2013 Budget Request and the BBG Strategic Plan 2012-2016 (OMB-Final) from MountainRunner.
More to appear on this site about the plan. Feel free to leave comments below or via email.
Update: the link to the plan was fixed. Such are the challenges of posting on the road (or train or conference room) from an iPad.
To Inform, Engage, and Connect: a look at the BBG’s new strategy
The Broadcasting Board of Governors released their strategy supporting their 2013 budget request today. The plan is far ranging and addresses many of the major challenges facing America’s international broadcasting today directly and several more indirectly. As good as the plan reads, the devil, as they say, is in the details.
The BBG’s narrative on this plan, released earlier, created unnecessary confusion with its lack of details. The specifics, some described as tactical but still strategic in scope and time to implement, are welcome and necessary to foster an informed discussion on correcting the mission and capability of U.S. International Broadcasting. For too long, the BBG has been effectively silent, or reticent at best, on its plans, to its own detriment.
Continue reading “To Inform, Engage, and Connect: a look at the BBG’s new strategy
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Michael Lynton Becomes the BBG’s New Interim Presiding Governor
Just in from the Broadcasting Board of Governors:
Washington, DC – Following the departure of Chairman Walter Isaacson, the Broadcasting Board of Governors today unanimously approved BBG member Michael Lynton as its new interim presiding governor.
“It is a pleasure to work with this multi-talented, bipartisan board, and an honor to be elected to help lead the organization,” Lynton said. “We are each committed to the cause of making this agency the best it can be. And with our various strengths and diverse backgrounds, we all bring something to the table.”
Continue reading “Michael Lynton Becomes the BBG’s New Interim Presiding Governor
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Where do we go from here? The troubled future of the BBG
The sudden resignation of Walter Isaacson as Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors will further paralyze an already dysfunctional organization in desperate need of restructuring to move beyond yesterday and meet the requirements of today and tomorrow. This comes at a critical time when the BBG is attempting to complete and gain support for a new strategic plan. Continue reading “Where do we go from here? The troubled future of the BBG
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MountainRunner will be in Boston later this week
I’ll be in Boston starting tomorrow for a few days to be on a panel at an interesting conference entitled “Neuroscience and Social Conflict“. In what is a working meeting, it is the kick-off event for a multi-year initiative by the Project on Justice in Times of Transition. It is a closed door event, so don’t expect live tweeting or a blog post from me.
The Art of the Bio: Jobs is there, but another job isn’t
We all forget to put things on our resume. Before, and indeed after, Walter Isaacson published his bestselling book Steve Jobs, Walter had worked another gig. He was Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. Government agency that runs America’s non-military broadcasting, at least until he suddenly resigned before the end of his term, to the surprise of many, write another book.
But interestingly, an email from Walter’s prep school fails to mention his time at the BBG. Walter’s time at Time and CNN and his books are of course there, but no BBG.
Continue reading “The Art of the Bio: Jobs is there, but another job isn’t
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Amb. Kathleen Stephens named Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs)
From the State Department:
The Secretary announces that President Obama has designated Ambassador D. Kathleen Stephens as the Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs pending the Senate’s confirmation of the President’s nominee, Tara Sonenshine. Ambassador Stephens will begin work on February 6, 2012, and will exercise all of the authorities of the office for the duration of this designation.
Tara’s nomination remains in limbo as we wait for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to refer her to the floor. Maybe there will be a business meeting next week to move her to the next step, along with several Ambassadorial nominees. However, the real challenge is not the Committee but the floor of the Senate where the general sense is few if any confirmations will be allowed in the current less-than-bipartisan environment. Hence, the appointment of Stephens as Acting Under Secretary.
Amb. Stephens was most recently the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
For more on the unencumbered Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs), see “R we there yet? A look at the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs).” Unless there is some surprise in the Senate, perhaps a Valentine’s Day gift (to both Tara to give her the office and Amb. Stephens to relieve her of it), this Under Secretary position will have been empty, or not encumbered by person confirmed by the Senate to the position, for 1 out of every 3 days since the position was established in 1999. The question will be how much more than 1/3 the time will the seat be vacant (no slight to Amb. Stephens intended)?
Note: Amb. Stephens’s bio at state.gov hasn’t been updated in a while. In fact, “outofdate” is actually in the current URL of her bio: http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bios/109797.htm
Welcome Back, DiploPundit
Welcome back, DiploPundit. Many were undoubtedly pleased when DP went on hiatus and hinted not to return. Alas, the State Department’s foil returns with a new URL – www.DiploPundit.net – and a new look.
R we to have a new “acting” Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs)?
There’s word there will be a new “acting” Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs) as early as next week. The current “acting” for R, as it is known at Foggy Bottom, is Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock. I have not heard a single negative comment on Ann’s leadership while the “acting” U/S, except for early concerns she’d pay less attention to ECA. However, I’ve also heard no complaints about the “acting” leader of ECA in Ann’s “absence,” Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary Adam Ereli.
So what is the reason for replacing Ann? Continue reading “R we to have a new “acting” Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs)?
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Call for Papers: Journal of Strategic Security
The Journal of Strategic Security (JSS), a publication of Henley-Putnam University, seeks manuscripts for the Summer 2011 (Vol. 5, No. 2) issue on the effects – if any – of the Arab Spring on strategic security around the globe. Continue reading “Call for Papers: Journal of Strategic Security
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Happy 70th VOA! David Ensor to discuss accomplishments, road ahead today
VOA Director David Ensor hosts a discussion today at 10:30am ET on VOA’s “accomplishments and the road ahead.”
I’d like to share my vision of the future with you and hear your thoughts. The meeting will give you a chance to see some of the exciting programs we have recently launched and others we have in mind.
The public may (check for yourself) be able to watch live via Windows Media, listen live via Windows Media, or download the event later as an MP3 or Windows Media. Continue reading “Happy 70th VOA! David Ensor to discuss accomplishments, road ahead today
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What is Walter Isaacson’s next “big writing project”?
Last week, Walter Isaacson surprised everyone by resigning as the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Why? Because, according to Isaacson, he did not have the time because he had a “big writing project” coming up.
What is this project? According to In the Loop‘s Emily Heil, Isaacson will “chronicle the history of the digital age, from the famous Ada Byron Lovelace to the present.”
Discussing the BBG’s (dys)function
The importance of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to U.S foreign policy has, at least for the last couple of decades, but under-appreciated. Perhaps this is because of the shift in the late-1960’s & early-1970’s from the struggle for minds and wills to the Cold War known to many, an arms race of boomers, bombers, tanks and warheads. The change was noticed by Senator Fulbright in 1972 when he declared “the Radios [VOA, RFE, and RL] should be given the opportunity to take their rightful place in the graveyard of Cold War relics.” Continue reading “Discussing the BBG’s (dys)function
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Looking for Part-Time Work? The Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors just opened up
The Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Walter Isaacson, is resigning his position at the BBG. Walter’s decision has surprised many. He was a well-respected leader of the BBG, a prolific author (most recently of the Steve Jobs biography, but also biographies of Einstein and Benjamin Franklin) and tremendously busy person (he continues to be president & CEO of the Aspen Institute).
The Chairmanship of the BBG is, like the other board members, a part-time job. Five of the eight Governors are serving beyond the expiration of their term (they serve until replaced). Walter’s term expired later this year. Continue reading “Looking for Part-Time Work? The Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors just opened up
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The Public Diplomacy of Drones
Today’s article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “More Drones, Fewer Troops” looks at the policy behind the increasing use and reliance on drones, but it misses an essential point: unmanned warfare’s impact on public opinion and public diplomacy. While the technical and budgetary advantages of unmanned systems are front and center, their impact on foreign policy are often an aside, usually in the context of meddlesome by-products of using “drones.” We have seen, if not acknowledged, the powerful impact of human intervention (e.g. SEAL Team Six) over the powerful impact of robots, either remote controlled or autonomous. Leaving the issue of the public diplomacy of these activities on the margins of planning is short-sighted and unwise.
In my article “The Strategic Communication of Unmanned Warfare” (Serviam, June 2008), I explored the impact of ground robots, intentionally avoiding flying drones because, since World War II, flyers and targets were largely anonymous from each: death rained from above. Today’s communication environment and technical advances are removing the “air gap” between the ground and the flyer, or drone in this case, allowing for direct links between policy and the people on the ground.
This topic requires a deeper discussion. Public diplomacy and strategic communication must be on the take-offs of drones, not just the landings, crash landings or otherwise. In lieu of an organization that could look at this, I invite comments and articles on the subject to be posted at MountainRunner.us.
See also Unintended Consequences of Armed Robots in Modern Conflict from October 2007.