Jim Murphy

Minister for Europe

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Tuesday 22 July, 2008

Public diplomacy - what do you think?

I took part on 21 July in a joint FCO/Chatham House seminar focused on the FCO publication on public diplomacy I launched recently in Washington “Engagement: Public Diplomacy in a Globalised World”. I want to drive forward the debate and the event was a part of this effort. With participants from business, NGOs, the media, civil society, government and academia, there was some pretty lively discussion. I want to hear what you think too. Comment on this blog to share your thoughts about the publication and I’ll come back to you in a few weeks with a round-up of where I think the debate has got to.

Posted at 11:29 22 July 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]

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I was interested in the article called "The importance of national reputation ". And I had to ask what kind of national reputation the United Kingdom has? Well, I'm afraid the United Kingdom does not have a good image. Look at the rise in knife crimes, or the continuing breakdown of society through alchohol abuse. The elderly in this country are treated terribly by this country; deaths through hyperthermia have increased since Labour came into power. Compare that with any other western european country. The minimum wage is the lowest in western Europe, and nurses, police and other vital servants are treated with contempt. We have draconian laws equal to China and Iran. Our MPs are overpaid and underworked.

Posted by Stu on July 22, 2008 at 04:00 PM BST #

Hi - Jim Murphy! Here I'm at local library holidaytime. I've read your speeches in US/etc. But haven't read your book on "Globalised Diplomacy". Am waiting till cheapest version becomes available in five years or sooner - and to then have more time. With your FCO-blogs am often so frustrated: 100-symbols only and spaces also counting - and sometimes also rejected as SPAM when auto-count at 998/999! Also your blog-policemen seem to have powers of excessive rejection: SPAM again? But has surely by now improved simple maths old 'rithmetic. And why enforce URLs for elderly/OAPs?

Posted by Stefan Peter. on July 24, 2008 at 09:12 AM BST #

Jim, your paper ‘Engagement’ has presented some valid points. I am especially pleased to read of your opinion regarding elites and the use of public diplomacy within our increasingly global world. However, I think it is important to note that British neo-liberal economics has increased the power of corporate elites, and reduced that of Britain’s traditional institutions. This change must be recognized by the FCO by utilizing British elites through CSR to promote public diplomacy aims. British corporations are much more effective than traditional British institutions because they have the ability to export public diplomacy on a massive scale the same way they export merchandise. United States indirect public diplomacy provides an excellent example of this. I am more than happy to discuss this with you in more detail.

Posted by Michael Murphy on August 28, 2008 at 01:40 PM BST #

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