Protests in Tehran, 30 December 2017 (Wikimedia Commons)
(29 January 2018) The recent protests in Iran and their implications for U.S. public diplomacy will be explored by a panel at the next First Monday Forum, on 5 February 2018. This and future First Monday discussions are now held at a new location: in the Lindner Family Commons room of the Elliott School at George Washington University, 1957 E Street, Room 602, in Washington, D.C.
The Iranian protests against government corruption began in the city of Mashhad on 28 December 2017, and quickly spread to more than a dozen cities throughout the country, including Tehran. Various on-the-scene reports told of thousands of arrests and at least 21 deaths of protestors, as well as some security forces. Voice of America and RFE/RL reported a sharp spike in audience volume during that period.
Panel members discussing these events and the role of public diplomacy are VOA director Amanda Bennett, VOA director of Digital Strategy Matthew Baise, and State Department/NEA senior advisor Greg Sullivan.
Monday forums are a joint project of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, Public Diplomacy Council, and PDAA – an association of public diplomacy professionals. The event takes place on Monday, 5 February at a new location: Lindner Family Commons room of the Elliott School at George Washington University, 1957 E Street, Room 602, in Washington, D.C., beginning at 12 noon. Sandwiches and refreshments will be served.
The event is free, but advance registrations by e-mail are required: FirstMondayForum.RSVP@gmail.com.
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