USC Center on Public Diplomacy

CPD Faculty Fellow Bruce Gregory's latest list of "must reads" in public diplomacy include a new book on diplomacy’s public dimension, the evolution of public diplomacy in South Korea, public diplomacy in the Arab world after 9/11, and more!

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/story/latest-must-reads-public-diplomacy-may-2026

In a new "Meet the Author Q&A," Vedat Demir and Carola Richter of Freie Universität Berlin discuss their fascinating new book, The Public Diplomacy of Authoritarian Regimes.

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/story/meet-authors-vedat-demir-and-carola-richter-public-diplomacy-authoritarian-regimes

Our latest 'Public Diplomacy in the News' roundup explores the U.S.-China Summit, America's diplomatic corps in retreat, AP's expansive America 250 Hub, & more.

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/public-diplomacy-news-us-china-summit-diplomatic-corps-retreat-aps-america-250-hub

"We are already feeling what a stripped diplomatic corps means," writes Cari E. Guittard. "Among those forced out are officers with rare language skills, specialists with decades of institutional knowledge, and crisis responders with expertise in the very situations we are now mismanaging in real time."

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/endings-matter-we-need-get-better-them

There is still time to apply for our Summer Institute! Taking place July 12–24, 2026 on the USC campus, our signature, in-person training program is designed for mid-career professionals navigating today’s fast-moving public diplomacy landscape.

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/page/cpd-summer-institute

Watch Ameri Prize winner and U.S. foreign service officer Andrea Stanford’s conversation with USC student journalists, "What No One Tells You About Working Across Cultures"

🔗: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-YHvv-rLbc&t=592s

CPD Blog Contributor David Ellwood explores soft power "Made in Italy" in a new CPD Blog. As Carlo Cipolla once wrote, "Ever since Medieval times, Italians have always, in the shadow of their bell towers, produced goods which delighted the world."

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/soft-power-made-italy

CPD Blog Contributor Nancy Snow reviews the book, "Film Diplomacy," writing that the book provides "both a valuable historical account and a conceptual toolkit for understanding the evolving nature of public diplomacy."

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/review-film-diplomacy-media-history-turkey-us-relations

CPD's former U.S. Public Diplomat in Residence Matthew Asada reflects on his World Expo journey, exploring the power of the Expo and pavilion design in a new CPD Blog feature:

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/power-expo-and-pavilion-design-world%E2%80%99s-fairs

"To move forward, K‑Culture measurement needs to go beyond simple 'frequency of exposure' and evolve into a multi‑layered index that captures perception, attitudes, and meaningful behavioral change," writes CPD Research Fellow Myoung-Gi Chon.

🔗: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/proposing-k-culture-global-influence-index-k-cgi