AFRICOM, the American Military and Public Diplomacy in Africa
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AFRICOM, the American Military and Public Diplomacy in Africa
In 2007, the U.S. established a new military command for the continent of Africa. According to the Department of Defense, AFRICOM recognizes "the emerging strategic importance of Africa, and recognizing that peace and stability on the continent impacts not only Africans, but the interests of the U.S. and international community as well. Led by USC Annenberg journalism and public diplomacy professor Philip Seib, author of the forthcoming The Al Jazeera Effect: How the New Global Media Are Reshaping World Politics, this program offers the first thorough, independent examination of AFRICOM, which promises not only to reshape America's strategic approach to Africa, but also will redefine the role of the military in public diplomacy. Areas for discussion include soft power and American strategy in Africa, the relationship between the military and foreign policy agencies, and African responses to this initiative. Panelists include David Cooper, Director, Outreach United States Africa Command (AFRICOM); Nicole Lee, Esq., Executive Director, TransAfrica Forum; Louis Mazel, Director, Office of African Regional and Security Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Carola Weil, Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California; and Abiodun Williams, Associate Dean, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University.
4 p.m.
University of Southern California Washington Office
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Presented by the Annenberg Schools for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California