Taking Democracy to a New Scale

Posted by Tomicah Tillemann / October 15, 2012

Man casts vote in Donegal, Ireland, June 4, 2009. [AP Photo]

Today, I've come together with more than 500 activists, academics, and policymakers to participate in the World Movement for Democracy's Seventh Assembly in Lima, Peru. The Assembly is a key gathering for civil society leaders from dozens of countries, and participants at the meeting are working to develop new strategies for advancing democracy, dignity, and opportunity worldwide.

This year's Assembly is taking place from October 14 to 17, and it's built around the theme of “Democracy for All: Ensuring Political, Social and Economic Inclusion.” Peru, like many Latin American countries, has made significant political and economic progress over the last decade. But… more »

Posted under: Western Hemisphere

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Public Diplomacy Leverages Innovation To Promote Economic Growth

Posted by Tara D. Sonenshine / August 23, 2012

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine prepares for her swearing-in ceremony with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on April 24, 2012. [State Department photo by Ben Chang/ Public Domain]

As we advance deeper into the 21st century, emerging countries are seeking to leverage their economic strengths as foundations for political and diplomatic leadership across the world. At the same time, from challenges facing the eurozone to those in the post-Arab Spring regions of the Middle East and North Africa, global markets and economic forces are driving an ever-larger share of our foreign policy realities.

The best way for America to remain central to the world's diplomatic leadership is to put a premium on advancing our economic statecraft, so that our foreign policy reflects the growing power of economic forces, and contributes to growth abroad and here at home.

As Secretary Clinton has said, our global challenges see no divisions between global economics and international diplomacy. Neither should our solutions. That's why the Department of State… more »

Posted under: Behind the Scenes

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TechCamp Empowers Civil Society Leaders in Central America

Posted by Katie Dowd / July 31, 2012

Women participate in the

Last week, Guatemala City, Guatemala, played host to the first "Do It Yourself" (DIY) TechCamp. TechCamps are a signature program under Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's Civil Society 2.0 initiative; they aim to build the digital literacy of civil society through two-day, interactive training events. To date, the State Department has coordinated 11 TechCamps around the world, convening more than 1,000 participants. So, how did Tech Camp Guatemala differ from past ones?

Civil society leaders and technologists in Guatemala used "TechCamp in a Box" to organize the event themselves. In the spirit of encouraging innovation and empowering civil society organizations to create change in their own community, we have made all of the planning materials for our TechCamp… more »

Posted under: Western Hemisphere

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Youth Ambassadors: Agents of Change in the Western Hemisphere

Posted by Roberta Jacobson / June 16, 2012

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson holds a discussion with Youth Ambassadors from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., June 8, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to introduce Secretary Clinton as she, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, and I welcomed a group of 21 Youth Ambassadors to the State Department from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The conversation I had with these amazing high school leaders from non-elite backgrounds reminded me of why I'm optimistic about our hemisphere -- and why I love my job!

These young people will spend three weeks in Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Texas, and Marquette, Michigan, staying with host families, attending workshops on leadership and service, and taking part in community service projects and cultural activities with American teenagers. It was clear from the start of our conversation why they were… more »

Posted under: Western Hemisphere

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Working Toward a More Secure Central America

Posted by William R. Brownfield / March 13, 2012

Panamanian National Police stand in formation during their change in command ceremony in Panama City, Panama on September 2, 2004. [AP File Photo]

Cockroaches always scurry to the dark when discovered. Experts offer this analogy for why we see shifts in drug trafficking when one country or region successfully resists penetration by illegal trafficking networks. After some successes against these networks in Colombia and Mexico, Central America is seeing an increase in crime and violence which sadly inflicts unwanted pain and suffering on the people of the region. Narcotics traffickers seek to subvert or neutralize a country's judicial and security institutions to make the environment more conducive to their criminal activities. The U.S. government's Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) is working to shore up institutions and restore citizen security through programs aimed at improving the police, lawyers,… more »

Posted under: Western Hemisphere

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Advancing U.S. Economic Statecraft in 2012

Posted by Jose W. Fernandez / January 09, 2012

Shipping containers line the Port of Long Beach, awaiting export in Long Beach, California, in January 2011. [AP File Photo]

This time last year, I made three, broad resolutions for 2011: to continue promoting U.S. job creation; to seek and build overseas economic alliances; and to protect U.S. businesses and their interests. Beyond these three, I also resolved to exploit every opportunity to foster prosperity at home and abroad. It is clear to me that my bureau's hard work and resilient efforts paid off during 2011. In the wake of the Arab Awakening, we took quick steps to foster economic recovery in the region, including through promotion of entrepreneurship and U.S.-Middle East business relationships. This fall, we seized long-standing opportunities for expanding economic growth by finalizing trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea,… more »

Posted under: Policy

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