Dalbir Singh: Public diplomacy is the Integration of Non-State Partners

11/12/2020 12:45

Dalbir Singh, Co-Chairman of the General Council of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, National Secretary of Indian National Congress and President, Foundation for Policy and Governance (India), hosted the Marathon of Friendship “People's Diplomacy Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, organized by the Russian Association for International Cooperation (RAMS).

Dalbir Singh gave a presentation on public diplomacy. In particular, he said:

- Public Diplomacy is vital tool for Development of International Humanitarian Cooperation by relying on soft power and deeply influencing through attraction and persuasion. It aims at promotion of international dialogue and strategic ability by engaging foreign target audiences, fostering cooperation in economic, political and cultural spheres besides cultivating civil society, community based organizations, NGOs and other social and religious groups with a view to motivate them to perceive our country and its values in a positive way and transform unfavourable opinion if there is any. Public Diplomacy conquers hearts and minds of people through exchanges in Education, Public Health, Science & Technology, Culture, Sports, Tourism, Media, Trade and Industry besides interaction of Academia, Scholars and Youth.  It aims at integration of non-state partners and it must produce tailored solutions relying on honest information and not propaganda. We must also restrain ourselves in unleashing any counter propaganda in exercise of our initiatives.

Public Diplomacy is defined by three dimensions namely Relationship Building, Nation Branding and Strategic Communication. It has become extremely important today because of enhanced cross cultural communication, rising impact of NGOs and increase in the number of Non-State Players influencing International Affairs and limitation of formal structures of diplomacy in resolving discord because it is shrouded in secrecy and it is far removed from ground reality. It is therefore a very important resource of Foreign Policy.

The world is in turmoil today leading us to huge spectrum of conflicts, unrest and violence across the globe such as in Syria, Sudan, Congo, Somalia, Libya, Nigeria, Yemen, Egypt, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Burundi and Mali besides unresolved hostility between India and Pakistan, Israel-Palestine, US-Iran, South China Sea, Belligerence of North Korea, gruesome terror strikes across the world. Influx of migrants has further aggravated problems. Nature of conflicts has changed. Traditional wars have given way to regional armed conflicts, proxy wars, and insurgency and cross border terrorism. People flee their homes fearing persecution, violence and thereat to their lives. Human rights are being violated with impunity. Civilians are no longer victims but instruments of these processes. Even in Peaceful societies, there is growing intolerance, politics of hate and fear and polarization in the name of religion and ethnicity.  The threat to global peace has been aggravated by the Covid Pandemic.

Besides above, the world also faces many other grave challenges like Poverty, Unemployment, Food Security, Growing Pandemics & Inadequate Health Infrastructure, Climate Change and Scarcity of Water. Therefore, there is no alternative other than learning to address with alarm issues relating to global security and peaceful co-existence.

The establishment of durable peace, just & equitable and democratic multi polar order requires comprehensive and connected approach based on spirit of solidarity, mutual trust and cooperation, commitment to international law and centrality of the UN.

We must have unified strategy to build coalitions and alliances for Peace to ensure that we promote Dialogue of Civilizations based on respect for preservation of diversity and plurality of cultures, indispensability of peaceful co-existence and promotion of spiritual and moral values, ethics and durable peace and harmony between people by diluting geopolitical rivalries with emphasis on strengthening reconciliation processes, evolving innovative mechanisms for consensus building and conflict resolution.

Russia-India relationship is deeply rooted in history. They have demonstrated unprecedented bond and enormous commitment to each other in the last seven decades notwithstanding their occasional differences. As huge responsible Nations, they can play vital role in inspiring others to build bridges of friendship and cooperation. Russia has built huge network of Public Diplomacy structures through Gorchakov Foundation, Compatriots Abroad, Russian Council of International Affairs, Union of Youth Federations, Creative Diplomacy and Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations.

Eurasian Public Assembly has achieved phenomenal success in the last three years in addressing some of these critical issues by deeper engagement with and integration of Civil Society and Other Social Groups for expanding humanitarian cooperation within the Great Eurasian Space. 

Through Public Diplomacy, we can ensure balanced growth including issues of Human Rights and Equity in Development and Strengthening of Peace Building Initiatives, Harmonization of Civilizations, Cultures and Ethnicity. It will enable us stand by one another in adversity including national disasters and pandemics. International Humanitarian and Development Assistance are also very vital and integral to this process. 

In Ancient Indian Scripture ‘Maha Upanishad’ written 3000 years ago, it is quoted that ‘The world is one Family’ (VASUDEVA KUTUMBAKAM).

So let us not destroy this family and seriously manifest Public Diplomacy to establish dialogue, enhance trust, promote harmony and reconciliation and expand humanitarian cooperation that mankind can learn to co-exist and live in sustainable peace with shared values for prosperity of our future. If we do not act with sense of urgency, posterity will never forgive us for our complicity.

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Remind, the Marathon of Friendship started on December 3, 2020. It began with a video forum on the role of people's diplomacy in the modern world that involved countries from Australia to the United States.

The Marathon of Friendship is timed to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the RAMS and runs from December 2020 to June 2021. The Marathon program involves the organization of international conferences, roundtable meetings, TV Bridges, events in the public and political sphere aimed at preserving and strengthening peace, restoring trust between peoples, as well as dedicated to scientific, cultural, sports and other achievements.

The Marathon’s goal is to contribute to the formation of an open platform for dialogue with foreign friends, partners and colleagues, exchange of experience and strengthening interaction among peoples in the new global environment due to the coronavirus pandemic.