Perception Is Power: Why Russia Is Missing Out at the G7

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Heads of State from the G7 spent their time together discussing issues such as climate action and combatting violent extremism. Credit: https://flic.kr/p/uiGeW7

Russia was arguably the least popular world power in 2014. According to new data from the Gallup World Poll, Russian leadership has a median international approval rating of 22 percent and a 36 percent disapproval rating, the highest of any country. This is cannot be a surprise following the annexation of Crimea, covert intervention in Eastern Ukraine, and assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. As a direct result of international disapproval, Russia’s membership in the G8 was suspended in March 2014, further isolating the country during a time of economic hardship. Negative perceptions of Russian leadership are immediately affecting...

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Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Americans

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Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Duckenfield launches the Foreign Policy Matters initiative along with Dr. Carla Freeman and me.

“Foreign Policy” – the term itself sounds like an intangible, rigid set of rules and regulations by which governments, ambassadors, and other high-level officials abide. Distant and far removed from everyday life, and sometimes, foreign policy can seem to be just that – especially with the closed door discussions that characterize much of the field. At best, the public only sees these high-level diplomatic meetings, summits, and conferences in the media; at worst, they see cocktail receptions and junkets. Regardless, they very rarely feel as if they participate directly. The fact is nothing could be further from the truth....

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A-MAZE-ing Women Entrepreneurs from the Middle East/North Africa

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Observing International Women’s Day at Meridian with Amb. Cathy Russell, Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues at the Department of State.

Ahlan wa sahlan, is one of what I referred to as my five Arabic expressions at the start of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women / U.S. Department of State Entrepreneurship Program for Women in the Middle East and North Africa. Welcome!

It was my honor to welcome 29 extraordinary women entrepreneurs for a two-week exchange program in which they received training, mentoring, advice, and more than a little bit of snow (February, after all). What they brought, however, was much broader, much richer, and definitely more lasting than the winter’s snow. Continue