RESEARCH
CPD Publishes Policy Brief on Water Diplomacy
 As part of CPD's Water Diplomacy Initiative, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy recently drafted a policy brief with three main recommendations for the sectors of water, development and diplomacy. The policy brief calls for: - Water diplomacy as a priority for the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development;
- The fulfillment of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 205;
- The establishment of an internationally coordinated water diplomacy working group.
On April 16, CPD hosted a policy briefing on water and public diplomacy at the USC Federal Relations Office in Washington, D.C. The briefing brought together panelists to discuss global water challenges, U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy. CPD director Philip Seib chaired the session, which included Jaehyang So, managing director of the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program, Dr. Katherine Bliss, director of the CSIS Project on Global Water Policy and Naomi Leight, CPD Assistant Director for Research & Publications. |
NEWS
British Council CEO Martin Davidson Speaks to CPD
on Cultural Diplomacy
On March 1, Martin Davidson, CEO of the British Council, participated in a "CPD Conversations in Public Diplomacy" round table. At the event, he discussed his organization's approach to creating international opportunities for citizens of the U.K. and other countries as well as building trust between them worldwide. Watch the video below for footage from the event.
To read more about the event, click here.
 CPD Conversations in Public Diplomacy
Martin Davidson
|
"CPD Conversations in Public Diplomacy" are round table discussions for members of the USC and Los Angeles community interested in the study and practice of public diplomacy.
Related Links: Seib/Davidson joint Huffington Post blog, "Independent Power of Cultural Diplomacy" I PDiN Headlines on Cultural Diplomacy |
|
COMMENTARY
CPD Perspectives Issue Reviewed:
Promoting Japan: One JET at a Time
CPD's U.S. Public Diplomat in Residence for 2009-11 Robert Banks reviewed the latest issue of CPD Perspectives. An excerpt appears below.  "Emily Metzgar asserts that, despite JET's longevity, size and international profile (helped, no doubt, by an inspired brand name), there is no publicly available research that assesses its value as a PD program. This may stem from the fact that the program's management is split between three Government of Japan (GOJ) ministries, and as a consequence, has experienced an evolving and at times competing set of objectives, ranging from helping Japan to internationalize on the local level and improving its citizens' English skills, to improving the country's international image.
While previous studies of the program have tended to focus on its educational component, Metzgar's survey of 500 U.S. participants examines JET, not from a functional, but from a PD (i.e., a broader, more national interest-based) perspective. Specifically, she seeks to understand what influence the JET program had on its participants and whether that influence has redounded to Japan's benefit. She concludes that only when viewed from a PD perspective does JET's real value emerge."
Read the full review here.
|
|
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
CPD Summer Institute Alumni Spotlight
CPD's Summer Institute Alumni Spotlight features news, perspectives and first-hand accounts from participants in the Center's annual professional training program.
Leah Kasera, Special Assistant and Coordinating Officer, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa (Summer Institute Alumna, '09 and '11).
Bio: While working at the African Union Commission, Leah is responsible for advancing Africa's development priorities, exploring common platforms of collaboration and planning Policy Organization meetings.Leah is bilingual in French and English and holds an MA in International Policy and Diplomacy from Staffordshire University, UK. She also holds an Executive Masters in Organization and Systems Development from Gestalt Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. After attending CPD's Summer Institute in 2009, she returned last year for a "refresher". She answered the following questions posed by CPD:
1. What do you consider to be the greatest public diplomacy challenge for the African Union Commission?
The African Union Commission (an organization of the African Union) does not have an independent news network like similar institutions (e.g. the European Union Commission and the United Nations) to tell its story. Even though there exists a Communications Division, the organization still relies on other networks to communicate its public diplomacy efforts, which has relegated Africa to the role of a passive bystander. The most prevalent messages are those related to conflicts and insecurity; and so the outcome is rarely a complete picture of the progress Africa has made. In the past decade, Africa has made strides in creating partnerships to boost food security, infrastructure development, accelerating intra-African trade and implementation of democracy and governance frameworks. What's needed are opportunities between the Commission and reputable news networks/channels within the five African regions to work together on expanding broader messages.
2. What influenced your interest in public diplomacy? How did the Summer Institute help you in your work?
During my time at the CPD Summer Institute in Public Diplomacy I learned that the requirements of public diplomacy and traditional diplomacy are vastly different as they develop different perspectives and "cultures". After the two-week program, I was able to deepen my understanding of the scope of a public diplomat and their mandate to reach a much broader and more diverse segment of society. Since attending the professional training program, I have used my platform and skills to position the Commission to generate awareness around global issues, and form strategic partnerships (with both public and private sector) in the areas on food security and regional integration.
2012 CPD Summer Institute in Public Diplomacy Application Deadline extended to May 15.
|
|
ABOUT CPD
The USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) is a research, analysis and professional training organization dedicated to furthering the study and practice of global public diplomacy.
|
|
