Two Washington-based Organizations Merge On April 15, 2022, the Public Diplomacy Council merged with the Public Diplomacy Association of America to form The Public Diplomacy Council of America (PDCA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the state of Virginia. The PDCA will combine programs of both organizations to offer an annual award for outstanding public diplomacy…
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It’s nothing less than a revival of a new Cold War to counter VOA and BBC broadcasts during Russia’s assault and occupation of Ukraine. The international community, the United States and NATO are all reacting vigorously to the latest news about Russia’s forces threatening Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, and its southern shore communities. The Associated…
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By Fidaa AlFakih and Raisa Dukas Traditional public diplomacy practices were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when—arguably—outreach and connections were more critical than ever. As the world retreated to their homes, it was imperative to grasp the adage of “meeting people where they are” by pivoting to virtual engagement. U.S. Embassy Beirut…
DetailsA United Nations panel issued a report on February 28 describing the impact of climate change globally, and possible ways of combatting its threat to humanity. Climate change’s impacts are worse than scientists expected, the panel warned, and will only accelerate. Summarizing its conclusions about the threat: *Its impacts are increasing rapidly, and some are…
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United States defense experts said they believe the Russian assault on its East European neighbor has encountered “considerable global resistance.” Moscow apparently has won no public support from its neighbors and significant domestic opposition since it launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine on February 23. Five days later, Russian forces were still facing unexpectedly fierce…
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Leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, major media such as MSNBC, CNN and FOX interviewed numerous experts and pundits about Russian state propaganda, and how the U.S. government was responding. One regular on MSNBC is Richard Stengel, a former TIME magazine editor who served as under secretary of state for public diplomacy in the…
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In a comprehensive roundup 24 hours after Russian forces began swooping into Ukraine on February 23, Voice of America correspondent Steve Herman summarized the outlook: “In the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine — although no country has declared war on Russia — many are asking: ‘Is this the start…
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The Hans “Tom” Tuch PDC Graduate Fellow, Marcela “Marci” Falck-Bados, interviewed our Rising Professional member Maritza T. Adonis, who was named U.S. 2021 National Security and Foreign Affairs Leader by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Marci: Thank you for joining me for an interview today and congratulations on your recent honor as a…
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Summary: Public Diplomacy Officers make valuable contributions to U.S. foreign policy, but some PDOs are uncertain about their vital role in developing policy and how or when to seek to influence policy discussions. The good news is that PDOs are welcome to participate in and thereby improve the interagency foreign policy process. For those still…
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As 2022 dawned six weeks ago, it was difficult to imagine that America would be reading headlines about two new life-threatening crises in Europe and Asia: *In Europe, Russian threats to invade neighboring Ukraine, potentially causing the loss of thousands of lives. *In Afghanistan, a growing hunger crisis that could kill 23 million people after…
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