Powering PD

Posted on By Wandren 1 Comment on Powering PD
'Listening', Habits of engagement, International Communcation, Options for Influence, Public Diplomacy

Picking up on the last discussion of power and the articulation of power in relation to ‘allies’, it is also worth considering the power relationship with the potential target community when planning PD activities. In Options for Influence, we discussed the options which exist between telling and listening. At the ‘telling’ or message orientated end … Read More “Powering PD” »

Is there a glass ceiling in “network engagement”?

Posted on By Wandren 4 Comments on Is there a glass ceiling in “network engagement”?
Dispersed Networks, networks, online, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

James Glassman’s first speech on his vision for Public Diplomacy, hosted at the Council for Foreign Relations, provides an interesting view of the tensions that arise when the US perspective on Public Diplomacy is articulated. To be fair to Glassman, the tensions he faces are not unique to the US. They are problematic for any … Read More “Is there a glass ceiling in “network engagement”?” »

A short note on influence

Posted on By Wandren
'Listening', Dispersed Networks, Habits of engagement, International Communcation, Listening exercises, networks, Public Diplomacy

A key part of the Dispersed Networks project is considering them as networks of influence – When engaged in any form of international communication, public diplomacy, cultural relations, or whatever other label practitioners or theorists wish to put on the work, the aim of the activity is not just changing people’s perceptions, but rather influencing … Read More “A short note on influence” »

The meaning of networks

Posted on By Wandren
Dispersed Networks, International Communcation, networks, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

As I’ve starting to pull together the elements for a project on dispersed networks of influence, I thought I’d better start by thinking about the idea of networks in Public Diplomacy and then more specifically dispersed networks. Within the study of public diplomacy there has been various discussions about networks vs. hierarchies. For example RS … Read More “The meaning of networks” »

Linking ideas

Posted on By Wandren
Dispersed Networks, networks, online, Virtual Communities

Due to busy week I’ll just put two great links that demonstrate the importance of creating empowering links between peopel and particularly between different specialisms online. Yochai Benkler: Open-source economics from TED and a site sharing the Many Eyes; A service that combines information visualization with social software, enabling collaborative visualization by groups of users. … Read More “Linking ideas” »

Looking at the Iranian Blogosphere

Posted on By Wandren
Dispersed Networks, networks, online, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

The publication of Mapping Iran’s Online Public: Politics and Culture in the Persian Blogosphere by John Kelly, and Bruce Etling at Harvard demonstrates the way in which mapping the networks of bloggers can provide and insight into the way they cluster around certain topics. This is the image that study produced; Both image and report … Read More “Looking at the Iranian Blogosphere” »

of networks and data maps

Posted on By Wandren 1 Comment on of networks and data maps
'Listening', Data mapping, Dispersed Networks, International Communcation, Listening exercises, Network analysis, networks, online, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

The rapid development of new technology has enabled the creation of mass instant communication and rapid information dissemination. This technology also allows rapid collection of data and the production of data maps and network diagrams. While I’ll pursue the important variations of network diagrams another day, today I’ll focus on highlighting the potential of these … Read More “of networks and data maps” »

Engaging with the social and cultural expectations online

Posted on By Wandren 2 Comments on Engaging with the social and cultural expectations online
International Communcation, Listening exercises, networks, online, Options for Influence, Public Diplomacy, Virtual Communities

Each community, particularly online, has its own cultural and social expectations. To be able to engage successfully, the international actor has to navigate not just the practical barriers, for example learning how to upload videos, but also these cultural and social barriers. (Options for Influence, p. 43) Recognising the social and cultural expectations online will … Read More “Engaging with the social and cultural expectations online” »

Wandren PD; considering online networks

Posted on By Wandren 1 Comment on Wandren PD; considering online networks
Dispersed Networks, International Communcation, networks, online, Options for Influence, Public Diplomacy, Technorati, Virtual Communities

The current vogue in many practitioner organisations is for developing networks as part of their public diplomacy activity. After surveying the technological landscape and their options online, some organisations may seek to continue this network building in virtual worlds and social spaces. This presents a vast array of options – as such it requires an … Read More “Wandren PD; considering online networks” »