Top 10 public diplomacy stories of 2013 reveal global trends

Originally published by USC News on January 21, 2014.

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) has released its picks for the 10 most significant public diplomacy stories of 2013. The list is part of the center’s new review of global trends that are shaping the expanding field of public diplomacy.

“Engaging foreign publics is now essential to a nation’s international relations,” said Jay Wang, director of CPD. “This year’s leading stories represent a wide spectrum of PD practices, from policy communication and national projection to cultural diplomacy and global advocacy. They also demonstrate that PD is not only global in nature but [it] involves a multitude of actors and networks.”

The story entries were sourced from PD News (formerly PDiN), CPD’s daily aggregation of English-language stories from around the world that have public diplomacy impact or implications. CPD considered a variety of factors in narrowing down the stories to 50, which were then presented to a global panel of experts for selection and commentary.

In February, CPD will publish the first Annual Review of Public Diplomacy, a full report and analysis of last year’s trends and what to expect for 2014.

Here is the list of the Top 10 public diplomacy stories of 2013:

1. Pope’s global outreach spotlights poverty and inequality

Since the inauguration of Pope Francis in March, the Vatican has been engaging with publics around the world by acknowledging local equality, economic and development issues. The resulting shift in public perception of the Catholic Church continues to unfold.

2. Putin embraces soft power, with mixed results

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a busy year of public diplomacy efforts, including addressing the American public through a New York Times op-ed and authorizing the release of activists imprisoned on charges of blasphemy. However, his efforts toward enhancing Russia’s soft power in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics have been undermined by his public stance against gay rights, which created negative fallout in much of the Western world.

3. Girl power, Malala’s quest for education

16-year-old Malala Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize nominee in the award’s history. Yousafzai’s message of peace has made her an international symbol of survival and strength for young people, women and others impressed by her resilience against all odds.

4. Brazil leads the charge against the U.S. after Snowden revelations

In the wake of whistleblower Edward Snowden’s revelations about U.S. surveillance of other countries, Brazilian president Dilma Roussef condemned the United States’ actions in the strongest terms before the United Nations General Assembly. Roussef’s statement is representative of the tremendous hit the U.S. government’s image has taken across the globe.

5. Beyond Mandela, South Africa’s global icon lives on

Nelson Mandela leaves behind a legacy of unity, reconciliation and human rights activism. For South Africa, and more importantly, for global society as a whole, Mandela continues to inspire those who work for peace.

6. Kosovo is a nation, according to Facebook

Facebook has added Kosovo, recognized as a nation by only 103 countries, to its menu of home countries that users can select for their profiles. By taking a stance and recognizing Kosovo, Facebook demonstrated the expanding global reach of social media companies and their growing agency in the international arena.

7. Newcomer Angola takes top prize at Venice biennale

In the first year of its involvement with the festival, Angola won the 55th Venice Biennale’s Gold Lion Award for best national participation. One of 88 countries in the running, Angola’s triumph emphasizes the strength of its cultural diplomacy and the rise of a truly global culture of art.

8. Muppet diplomacy goes to Kabul

Though the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan is far from perfect, the arrival of children’s television show Sesame Street signals a promising new chapter in U.S. cultural diplomacy in that nation. The Sesame Workshop has a programming presence in approximately 145 countries, now including its Baghch-e-Simsim program, designed specifically for Afghan youth.

9. China’s first lady makes her debut on the world stage

Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan, a popular folk singer, accompanies her husband on high-profile state visits. Her public image is a component both of China’s tremendous push to promote its own soft power abroad and to improve relations with citizens at home.

10. Dubai set to host the first World Expo in the Middle East

Dubai’s winning bid to host the 2020 World Expo makes the United Arab Emirates the first Middle Eastern nation to receive this honor. Dubai is expected to receive the most international visitors in the history of the World’s Fair.