The Future Soft Power and Public Diplomacy

Co-organized with Sanctuary Counsel
In recent years the dynamics of global geopolitics have been wracked with uncertainty. Over the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising China, a revanchist Russia and a struggling West have added to this, with potential implications for the balance of global soft power. The pandemic itself has had significant implications for the operating context of foreign policy and public diplomacy practitioners.

A new critical issues report published by Sanctuary Counsel and CPD: "The Future of Soft Power and Public Diplomacy" seeks to shed light on the emerging challenges and opportunities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a major reset in U.S. foreign policy under a new administration. Drawing on the insights of a global series of roundtables with experts and practitioners from the fields of international affairs, politics, media, culture and academia, the report aims to chart a way forward for governments, diplomats and international organizations working to foster understanding and build trust across borders.

On May 4, 2021 the formal launch of the report took place alongside leading public diplomacy practitioners and experts. Our panel discussed the future of public diplomacy as the world looks to move beyond the pandemic. Other topics included the latest developments in soft power and public diplomacy in the context of a reset in American foreign policy and the UK’s post-Brexit reset following publication of the UK government’s Integrated Review: "Global Britain in a competitive age."

Event page: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/event/...

Panelists

Katherine Brown, President and CEO, Global Ties U.S.
Ambassador Maureen Cormack, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Kate Ewart-Biggs OBE, Chief Executive, British Council
Jonathan McClory, Partner, Sanctuary Counsel
Macon Phillips, CEO, Starling Strategy (moderator)
Lord Peter Ricketts, former Permanent Secretary of the UK Foreign Office, National Security Advisor and UK Ambassador to France 2012–16
Jay Wang, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD)