Global Listening: It's all that it's cracked up to be

I spent the better part of this morning at a briefing on the Brookings Institution's latest report regarding public diplomacy - Voices of America: U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century. The author and a number of commentators at the briefing gave an overview of the findings and their agreeable opinions about what the report details. In short, the report calls for a new quasi-government (or NGO) to lead in public diplomacy efforts for the U.S. The new entity would work collaboratively with Dept. of State, Dept of Defense, and other government agencies, but be more flexible and innovative than the traditional bureaucratic government institution. The report itself is well written and draws a knowledgeable range of opinion, facts, and previously reported conclusion but points toward a specific way forward.

This report, and it's timing, will give inside-the-beltway-types plenty to chew on for the new few months as the Obama Administration sets up shop. What was striking to me was less about the report and whether I agree or disagree with the findings (which I was duly quizzed afterward by colleagues and associates), but rather a comment that was made a number of times by the panelists: "We need to listen more." The "we" meaning the U.S. It was noted that our public diplomacy instruments have focused on telling others around the world (or in some instances broadcasting) what we stand for and what they should do, rather than having a conversation, which involves both talking and listening. I agree, however, a fundamental piece of the puzzle is missing: what are we doing after we listen. It seems to me, this has been the bigger problem. We, (I'm using the royal "we" of course), need to listen, absorb, and then respond based on that new information and feedback. This is hard work. Much more complicated and nuanced and it means we need to be willing to bend, adjust, or even recalibrate our positions to reach a collaborative working state. I see this dance being performed by our volunteer leaders constantly in sister city partnerships. I've experienced this even in our own work on international projects with fellow NGOs who are already working on a common goal (whether it is a grant, project or event.) Public diplomacy and international relationships are a series of dynamic dialogues. We need to listen and then do something with what we've heard.

To twist that old saying about trees: If the diplomacy falls on deaf ears - did the diplomacy happen?