Public Diplomacy

The Bendetson Public Diplomacy Initiative is an effort to bring key global policymakers and officials to Tufts to share their experiences and perspectives with students.

Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Initiative

The Bendetson Public Diplomacy Initiative is an effort to bring key global policymakers and officials to Tufts to share their experiences and perspectives with students and to create conducive environments in the search for common ground.

The program brings policymakers and officials together to discuss their shared experiences, such as in its program on ”Iraq: Moving Forward” in 2007 that explored next steps in Iraq with high level participants from Iraq, South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Guatemala. Working with the political and military leaders of the ANC, former Apartheid government figures, and with leaders of the IRA and Provo military and political groups, the Public Diplomacy Initiative convened meetings over several years with all elements of the Iraqi political spectrum, excluding Al-Qaeda. It worked for three years to encourage and create the “Helsinki Principles,” which formed the foundation for non-sectarian elections in Iraq. The meetings were hosted by the Conflict Management Initiative, an NGO founded by Nobel Laureate, Mayer Award recipient, and former President of Finland the Honorable Martti Ahtisaari. Its concluding gathering, at which the Principles were announced, was held in Baghdad. There are ongoing deliberations regarding economic and educational initiatives in Iraq.

Program At-a-Glance

Areas of Study

Global Security

Track II Diplomacy

Program Size

=10/yr

Year Founded

2006

Locations

Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Initiative

Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah receives the Bendetson Award for Public Diplomacy
Feodor Voytolovsky accepts The Robert and Joann Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award
EPIIC student Uzair Sattar presents Mac Maharaj with the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award
Farah Pandth receiving the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplimacy Award by EPIIC Colloquium Member Minh Dinh
David Sanger receiving the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplimacy Award by EPIIC Colloquium Member Mariya Ilyas
Amb. Daniel Feldman receives the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award, presented by EPIIC Colloquium member David Heim, 2/25/17
Presentation of the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award by Mariya Ilyas, EPIIC Colloquium, to Nik Gowing
Margery Bendetson
Robert Bendetson, Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and Tufts University President Anthony Monaco
Presentation of the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award to Amb Fareed Yasseen
Aboobaker Ismail, the Former Commander of Special Operations, Member of the Military High Command, and Chief of Ordnance for Umkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress receives the Bendetson Award.
Presentation of the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award by Shawn Patterson, EPIIC Colloquium, to Mayor Thomas Geisel
Sherman Teichman, IGL Fouding Director, talking to Governor Nawzad Hadi
President Masoud Barzani with the IGL’s NIMEP (New Initiative for Middle East Peace) team that visited Kurdistan.
Speaker Kemal Kerkuki with the IGL’s NIMEP (New Initiative for Middle East Peace) team that visited Kurdistan.
Amb. João Vale de Almeida giving a keynote address at the 2016 EPIIC symposium.
Presentation of the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award by Thorunn Sigurdardottir, EPIIC Colloquium, to Hasan Nuhanović
George Mathew, founder and Artistic Director of MUSIC FOR LIFE INTERNATIONAL and UBUNTU-SHRUTI Orchestra with Sherman Teichman, IGL Fouding Director
Presentation of the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award by Hannah Gersten, EPIIC Colloquium, to Fouad Ben Ahmed
Ali Allawi, Iraq’s first post-war civilian Minister of Defence
It is with great honor that Abi Williams, Director of the IGL, and Tony Monaco, President of Tufts University, present the Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award, posthumously, to Ambassador Jonathan Moore. Jennifer Moore, professor of law and Pamela B. Minzer Chair in Professionalism at the University of Mexico School of Law and daughter of Jonathan Moore, accepted the award on his behalf.