The Way Ahead for Human Terrain Teams
Christopher J. Lamb, James Douglas Orton, Michael C. Davies, and Theodore T. Pikulsky/NDU Press
The Army fashioned Human Terrain Teams (HTT) to assist in garnering public support in Iraq and Afghanistan. The teams gather sociocultural understanding, which is essential to protecting host populations and obtaining their cooperation, but the knowledge takes time to develop and must be updated and shared among units.
Bottom Line Diplomacy: Why Public Diplomacy Matters
Tara D. Sonenshine/Department of State
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Tara Sonenshine, spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday June 18th. Sonenshine outlined her belief in “bottom line diplomacy” and the continued efforts of the State Department to maintain the U.S.’s image abroad.
Why projecting soft power is so hard to do
Nichola J. Cull/Russia Direct
Contemporary soft power is different from its predecessors in more than name: it now underlies any fundamental understanding of international relations, a shift brought about by the key role of communication in our lives.
China: From hard to soft power
Dr Manzoor Afridi/Pakistan Observer
China has the biggest military, biggest and fastest growing economy and nuclear status in its region, but still there is no balance of power by the neighboring countries against her. A question arises that why balance of power notion doesn’t work in China’s case?
Visa Exchange Program Draws Scrutiny Under Immigration Bill
NPR Berlin
Landing a job at a summer camp or at an amusement park is a rite of passage for many young Americans. Those jobs also appeal to foreigners participating in a cultural exchange using J-1 visas. But with U.S. youth unemployment at 25 percent, Congress is now taking a close look at the J-1 visa exchange program.
On Our Flashpoint Blog…
The Straits Forum, Thawing China-Taiwan Relations?
Christian Mull
With the Fifth Straits Forum opening this week in China, one must question if these talks are enough to breach the nearly six decades of hostilities that have existed between China and Taiwan.
Sonenshine: “Policy without People is Policy Flying Blind”
Katrina Trost
Yesterday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies hosted Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine on Bottom Line Diplomacy: Why Public Diplomacy Matters. She discussed the ongoing Public Diplomacy activities of the State Department and made a case for their continued attention and funding.
Upcoming Events…
US-Iran Cultural Engagement: A Cost Effective Boon to US National Security
Where: Atlantic Council 1101 15th Street NW, 11th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
On June 27, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force will launch a new issue brief by Ramin Asgard and Barbara Slavin entitled US-Iran Cultural Engagement: A Cost Effective Boon to US National Security, along with a public briefing on people-to-people exchanges with Iran.
