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The Public Diplomacy Blog is intended to stimulate dialog among scholars, researchers, practitioners and professionals from around the world in the public diplomacy sphere. The opinions represented here are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School.

SINKING, CRACKS DETECTED ON QINGHAI-TIBET RAILWAY
JUL 31, 2006 - 2:15PM PDT
Posted by Joshua Kurlantzick

Via http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-07/28/content_652320.htm

This article is interesting because it demonstrates an increasing Chinese understanding of spin and damage control, something suggesting a more sophisticated style of diplomacy.

From China Daily:

The Qinghai-Tibet railway, opened this month to great fanfare, is developing surface cracks in its concrete structures while its permafrost foundation is sinking and cracking at some sections.

"The frozen ground that forms the foundation of the railway is sinking and cracking in some sections, making the railway unstable in some places," the Beijing News quoted railway ministry spokesman Wang Yongping as saying.

"The concrete is cracking on some of the railway structures... FULL TEXT

A SOFT POWER, NOOPOLITIK APPROACH: PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD’S LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH
JUL 24, 2006 - 1:56PM PDT
Posted by Mohammad Ganjidoost

The letter of President Ahmadinejad to President Bush, its wide range of topics on different context and in various dimensions, deserves detailed discussions by the people of knowledge and experience in the related fields. The purpose of this writing however, is not to analyze and judge the content of the letter, rather it's a small contribution to ring the bell that the noopolitik is already on its dawn, at the doorstep of the new century, and people of creeds and values should not miss the opportunity.

Many scholars of politics and international relations are of the view that the world... FULL TEXT
 
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THE FOG OF WAR (ON CABLE TV)
JUL 21, 2006 - 1:00AM PDT
Posted by Lawrence Pintak
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Napa Valley, CA -- As someone who lives and breathes Middle East politics and media, I have had the strange -- and frustrating -- experience of watching the current conflict play out on U.S. cable television. I am reminded again why Americans have such a limited -- and distorted -- view of the world.

I run a center for television and new media at The American University in Cairo, which puts me at the crossroads of journalism in the Arab world. Normally, monitoring a crisis like this would involve the voracious consumption of Arab and U.S. media -- television, newspapers,... FULL TEXT
 
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NEW YORK LOVES RUSH AND HANNITY AND L.A. JOINS THEIR FAN CLUBS
JUL 20, 2006 - 5:01PM PDT
Posted by Alvin Snyder
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New York and Los Angeles have gone conservative. Well, a good number of folks anyway, judging from the immense and growing popularity of conservative talk radio personalities in these two largest cities in the U.S., and the flame-out of their liberal talk show competitors in those locations, as well as in most other radio markets.

The topics presently dominating talk radio are the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and U.S. Middle East policy, while the prevailing interactive talk is decidedly conservative and pro-President Bush. These views are reported in several public opinion polls these days.

Newly-released Arbitron radio ratings for Spring (second-quarter) 2006... FULL TEXT
 
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WHEN WILL WE LEARN?
JUL 19, 2006 - 4:19PM PDT
Posted by Shawn Powers
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Consistent criticism by Arab and Western governments, far from damaging al-Jazeera, has perhaps served as the channel's most effective public relations. Accusations of the news organizations' intent to thwart everything from the American-led War on Terror to the stability of several key Arab regimes has not only drawn increased attention to the channel, but also inspired renewed vigor in al-Jazeera's coverage of issues and controversies sensitive to today's geopolitical players. After all, if every government openly criticizes the channel, than whom else can al-Jazeera represent than its 50 million loyal viewers?

American efforts to discredit the organization, exemplified by Donald... FULL TEXT
 
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