Andy Pryce

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Tuesday 21 October, 2008

The Listening Project is a documentary film that examines what a range of people around the world think of America.

I suspect a similar project on the UK would produce a range of results (I am tempted to conduct one around DC some time soon). The question for diplomats like myself is whether a mixed opinion of my country amongst the public at large overseas makes it more difficult to project soft power. It is tempting to say yes, of course. But the public at large in a number of countries are either disassociated or not interested in all but the most crucial foreign policy decisions. Simon Anholt gave his thoughts in the Foreign Office's recent publication on public diplomacy.

Posted at 09:58 21 October 2008 by Andy Pryce | Comments[5]

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Having spent some time visiting friends in America over the last few years and having an American girlfriend my thoughts on America have become increasingly positive. I could not say the same 5 years ago as I watched US foreign policy nose dive and take the UK with it. How Americans view Britain and indeed how the rest of the world views Britain seems to be taking a nose dive of its own through our own making. The FCO's notoriously unstable servers and systems have created an emergency of their own worldwide with almost no visas being issued since October 9th when the system went down. My girlfriend having worked damned hard to get a work permit for the UK is now stuck in the US while the biometric computer system writhes around in a fit. Meanwhile the British consulates and embassies pull the shutters down and put their fingers in their ears. Apparently they are 'not authorised' to communicate with anyone. Not even on the FCO website to make people aware or manage expectations. They are probably singing Bread of Heaven and rationing ammunition as I type.

Posted by Linguini Genie on October 21, 2008 at 02:20 PM EDT #

I dont think thats fair Linguini...here the fco is communicating with me, a Canadian, a land far far away...which is interesting . I like it. It seems like your criticizing them even as they allow you to write in with your complaint...but I have been called nieve...and I criticize my government a lot too : Heres a question...when you say America...does that include Canada or just the States in your mind, I mean, what does America mean? To us, Canadians although i dont want to speak for all Canadians it means the States. Which is something I'm not sure that most Europeans realize...but I dont know...although in very many ways The States and Canada are not distingusihable...but in some ways we are 2 offical languages,Univeral Health Care, not quite as hyper-freemarketist... for eg., ...but , anyway, we like to think we are : . I think the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan caused us to recoil from the States more Iraq the Afghanistan.Though as with europe I think Obama is drawing us back again..but I think it will depend on policy and how insular he is or protectionist if he reaches out to the world in a cooperative way. Even though Tony Blair went along with the war. I think the feeling here is he didnt have much of a choice. atleast among some people..not all. though I think we like him and would probably give him the benefit of the doubt and I think the financial crisis and how it is resolved has will have us wondering again...If we really know who the States or Britain are. but i get the feeling average United Statesians and average Brits are wondering too. YOu know I read somewhere on this blog site about the separation of government and the people? well...I think at this moment were feeling pretty separated in spite of neat blog sites :

Posted by Steve Mc. (Canada) on October 22, 2008 at 10:12 PM EDT #

Steve, I'd be very interesting to hear how the FCO is communicating with you. I do understand that the British diplomatic mission in Canada is both exceptionally friendly and open by most standards but also has gotten into trouble over stepping outside of the FCO ring-fencing policy of issuing communiques unilaterally when told not to. Personally I don't believe that allowing me to write in with a complaint should shield government departments from criticism, when it is due. Otherwise it wouldn't be called feedback it would be called a fanclub. The situation I wrote about in my earlier comment is adversely affecting British diplomatic relations as I type. Both in the US, in Canada and in missions around the world. It remains ongoing. I have contacted the FCO and UKBA in London and at the BCG in Chicago but none are able to authorise a person to speak to me. You spoke of separation of government and the people, well I am experiencing it. Neat blog sites and cool web sites are all very well but unless they achieve anything beyond good PR for government departments and actually reach out and empower people they represent little more than a marketing campaign. Enabling change is not blithely putting up a feedback form on your website. As regards to what I consider 'America' to be I was speaking about the US. I consider 'North America' to include Canada.

Posted by Linguini Genie on October 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM EDT #

Linguini I am sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time with a visa application. I have asked my colleagues at the UK Borders Agency about what we can do. Please e-mail "pat@britainusa.com" and we can get back to you.

Posted by Andy Pryce on October 23, 2008 at 04:34 PM EDT #

Hi Andy, While I do think the Listening Project is worthwhile, I came across these blogs because I'm in the exact same situation as Mr. Linguini and very anxious! I haven't heard a thing from the consulate where I applied as a student for nearly three weeks! I am supposed to be able to enquire after ten days, but really I can't, as the phone lines say that status enquiries won't be entertained and my emails get sent back to me because of a restriction in the system. I'm fully willing to wait, but only if I knew what was going on. As for the project, having traveled a lot, I agree that opinions on America tend to be very strong, even when the person speaking has not even been to America! As for Linguini, it makes me sad that before he visited America, he only had a negative bias. I'm happy to hear that he doesn't now, but sometimes I am afraid to speak out because I think people will stereotype me as a noisy American! I'm actually a quiet person. :

Posted by Holly Dolan on October 25, 2008 at 01:10 PM EDT #

Andy Pryce

First Secretary Public Affairs Washington

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