Deakin University and Rajdhani College (University of Delhi) organized a two day (8 to 9 April ) International Conference on ‘Public Diplomacy in Theory and Practice’ at India International Centre, New Delhi . Public Diplomacy is rapidly becoming the focus of government initiatives, including those by Australian and Indian governments. It is also an expanding field of activity, with both state and non-state actors seeking to communicate with publics overseas. For this reason, public diplomacy warrants more thorough investigation as a phenomenon. This conference explores latest thinking and examples of public diplomacy in action, drawing on practitioners and academics, and in relation to Indian and Australian activities. It is supported by the Australia India Institute and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The two day international conference, featuring speakers from Australia and India, comes at a crucial moment in the development of public diplomacy. Various case studies have shown that the idea of addressing whole populations through a sense of ‘nation brand’ or dominant messages might be attractive but it is seldom quick or easy. A narrow approach sees public diplomacy largely as a form of public relations, intending that certain images are maintained and that negative images might be countered; while a more expansive approach sees relationships between nations benefiting from the richer context of exchange that it fosters.
Through exploration of prominent themes in Australian-Indian relations, including historical episodes, education, journalism, cultural exchange and contemporary international relations, we ask how popular perceptions have been shaped, how certain images have become entrenched, and what features make up the ‘brands’ of these two countries.
Given that the Australian-Indian relationship has been vulnerable to sudden shocks, it is also an opportunity for exploring what roles public diplomacy might play, and how the relationship might fare, in coming years.
Prof. David Lowe, Director, Alfred Deakin Research Institute said while many countries, including Australia and India, are embracing the idea that public diplomacy is integral to their overseas relations, we are still in a pioneering phase. Do we have the confidence to invite greater official use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook? Do we engage with foreign publics in the broadest way or do we target some groups more than others?'
'it is generally recognized that for public diplomacy to be most effective the generation of information needs to be for home publics as much as for foreign publics. We need to make our own publics more aware of important relationships overseas.'
'the recent shocks and jolts in Australian-Indian relations have also provided a great sense of opportunity - the opportunity to recapture forgotten ties, outline new connections, and build a richer relationship based on deeper mutual understanding. Public diplomacy might logically play a key role in this process'
Dr. Amit Sarwal, Professor, Department of English, Rajdhani College (University of Delhi) added Today, as the certitudes of the nation state are eroded under the pressures of globalisation, social prejudice, racism and new modes of exercising influence are prevalent in both multicultural and monocultural societies throughout the world. The case in point here is Australia, which has, through migration, developed into one of the world’s most culturally diverse societies. This increased diversity has also brought with it many new cultural experiences, and has undoubtedly made Australia a more multiculturally vibrant and animated place. In the wake of recent ‘opportunist violence’ on students from the Indian subcontinent in Australia this conference attempts to critique Australian and Indian theory and practice of public diplomacy and other government initiatives. In doing so it provides an important mutlidisciplinary forum to scholars and diplomats from the two nations to negotiate these issues to build a stable and secure future for a long term Australian-Indian relationship.
