Category: Cultural Relations

Social Media in Public Diplomacy

Posted on By Wandren PD
Collaborative Public Diplomacy, Cultural Relations, International Communcation, Network analysis, networks, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

Two posts I have written recently with Jeanette Gaida for the IPDGC Take Five Blog: The use of Social Media in Public Diplomacy: Scanning e-diplomacy by Embassies in Washington DC Social media is one of the fastest growing tools of modern public diplomacy. The advantage of social media provides the opportunity to reach citizens of … Read More “Social Media in Public Diplomacy” »

Guest post on Guerrilla Diplomacy: Tools for a more resilient public diplomacy

Posted on By Wandren PD
Cultural Relations, Dispersed Networks, Foresight, Habits of engagement, Network analysis, networks, Public Diplomacy

I had the pleasure of presenting via videoconference to Daryl Copeland’s MA class at Ottawa University on October 10. The guest post on his blog, Guerrilla Diplomacy,  approximates the thoughts I presented. Tools for a more resilient public diplomacy With the right tools, smarter networks and collaborative strategies there is potential to deliver a more resilient … Read More “Guest post on Guerrilla Diplomacy: Tools for a more resilient public diplomacy” »

Article: Innovation in the big data era

Posted on By Wandren PD
Cultural Relations, Data mapping, International Communcation, Network analysis, Open source, Options for Influence, Public Diplomacy

Everybody’s getting hooked up; Building innovative strategies in the era of big data The potential in the era of big data comes not from drowning in a sea of data but navigating the most useful ways to derive insight and develop innovative strategies from that data. Faced with complex problems, limited resources, and an increasingly … Read More “Article: Innovation in the big data era” »

Cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy (part 2)

Posted on By Wandren
Cultural Relations, Public Diplomacy

Does it matter in Public Diplomacy terms if an organisation with which you partner is heavily criticised in an official report? This post continues from an earlier post on the British Council’s partnership with weapons manufacturer BAE Systems. The earlier post focused on the  considerations which must exist alongside the potential benefits of partnership in … Read More “Cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy (part 2)” »

A cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy

Posted on By Wandren 2 Comments on A cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy
Cultural Relations, Public Diplomacy

The current vogue for conducting Public Diplomacy through ‘partnerships’ and the movement in theory on collaborative / collective action can create some difficult challenges in practice. For those who conduct Public Diplomacy in partnership with BAE Systems, the announcement that BAE Systems faces prosecution over bribery allegations, while as yet unproven, creates awkward questions. This … Read More “A cautionary note on partnership in Public Diplomacy” »

Folly of soft power?

Posted on By Wandren
Cultural Relations, Public Diplomacy

Came across this provocative analysis of British foreign policy and instruments such as The British Council. It suggests, amidst other media comment that “what British still has in spades is cultural power”, that: The Council’s purpose is not to extend soft power; it is to build trust, engagement, and the genuine exchange of ideas. The alternative … Read More “Folly of soft power?” »

Taking international communication off the grid

Posted on By Wandren 1 Comment on Taking international communication off the grid
Cultural Relations, International Communcation, Off Grid, Public Diplomacy

Take international communication off the grid Grab the dominant ideas about how international communications should be conducted and take them off line. If after looking at it, it is a good idea, feel free to put it back online – after all, some ideas have stood the test of time purely because they are effective. … Read More “Taking international communication off the grid” »