Recent News: Counterpoint Panel Discussion Wednesday 25 March 2009
Accommodating diversity in liberal societies: perspectives from the UK and Québec
 Counterpoint and the Québec Government Office in London were very excited to co-host a Panel Discussion with the above title at the Commonwealth Club, Northumberland Avenue in London on Wednesday 25 March at 6pm. The event had a particular cultural diversity and cities theme.
The main speaker was Professor Gérard Bouchard, a renowned sociologist from the University of Québec whose report, Building the Future: A time for reconciliation, co-written with the leading philosopher, Charles Taylor, is unique for its combination of profound discussion and practical example. You can access a pdf of this report on the Québec Government office website here:
Bouchard & Taylor "Accommodements"
Panel members were Director of Counterpoint, Dr Catherine Fieschi, Professor Ted Cantle, the Executive Chair of the Institute of Community Cohesion and the discussion was chaired by Radio Four and the World Service journalist, Shazia Khan.
Counterpoint's Director
 Dr Catherine Fieschi joined Counterpoint as our new Director on 3 November 2008. A former Director of Demos, Catherine is a political scientist who has published widely. She has lived in Senegal, Italy, France, the US, Canada and is now based in London. For more information, read the British Council press release:
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New publicationVolunteering: Global Citizenship in Action
By Aurélie Bröckerhoff and Nick Wadham-Smith
with a foreword by Jon Snow 
A publication inspired by the Global Xchange programme run by the British Council, VSO and local partners around the world. Through interviews with the volunteers and volunteering organisations involved, to whom the book is dedicated, the authors gained insights into the motivation and international dimension of volunteering today. They explore how international volunteer exchanges can develop active global citizens who value volunteering, diversity, community development and social action.
The book was launched in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London in the Autumn 2008. Further launches are took place in Manchester and Glasgow in late January 2009.
The Edinburgh launch is described in more detail in an article which appeared in the Sunday Herlad on Sunday 19 January:
Sunday Herald article To buy your own copy of the book, please visit our space on Amazon Marketplace here: Counterpoint Volunteering Amazon The AuthorsAurélie Bröckerhoff, Researcher Intercultural Dialogue, British Council:
(now Researcher at the Institute for Community Cohesion)
 "I hope we have managed to put the argument that the future lies with an innovative and unprecedented alliance between three sectors: Charities, Governmental and Private Enterprise. This scenario will also involve new actors who are responding to global challenges in order to work locally, to leverage real benefits to strengthen communities. As this happens, the exclusive concept of paid work is being de-throned in favour of a wider set of rewards and goals which enrich the lives of individuals and communities."
Nick Wadham-Smith, Deputy Director Counterpoint:
 "One of the many things we wanted to say in this book was how the benefits of international volunteering can be felt by developed as well as developing societies. We visited UK communities where volunteers from all over the UK were working with counterparts from another country in joint teams. Their intercultural dynamic gave them real edge when it came to working with community partners and groups. They are powerful agents of change and we hope the book will alert a much wider audience to the importance of what they are doing."
Other news:Check out the latest entries and comments on the University of Southern California's Center for Public Diplomacy’s website, where the British Council's Director of Strategy and External Relations, John Worne, has been blogging: USC Public Diplomacy blog
Launch of Options for Influence
Launch of Options for Influence; Global campaigns of persuasion in the new worlds of public diplomacy at the RSA, London.
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On Tuesday 4 March 2008, the British Council launched Counterpoint’s latest publication Options for Influence. The event was held at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).
Host John Worne, Director of Strategy and External Relations, gave an introduction in which he outlined the importance of cultural relations in the challenges of today’s international environment. After a brief presentation on Options for Influence by Ali Fisher, Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA, introduced the other panellists: Dame Sandra Burslem, an educationalist and civil service commissioner, and consultant psychiatrist Nicholas Beecroft, who is working with the Royal Navy and the Army and has a special interest in foreign affairs. Both provided an analysis of the practical implications of the ideas outlined in the book.
The audience were a mix of practitioners in the field of public diplomacy. International and national representatives from embassies, high commissions, cultural institutes and related organisations debated the applicability of a long-term strategy based on trust, mutuality and reciprocity from their respective perspectives.
If you would like more information about the event and how to get a copy of Options for Influence, please Contact us
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Leadership for Change in Africa
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22-09-2007 Emerging and established African leaders, community organisers and students came together to share ideas and experiences of leadership at the Royal Commonwealth club.
Panelists William Gumede and Dr Wangui wa Goro presented their ideas on leadership issues from the top down to bottom up, and Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Onyekachi Wambu and Meera Shah explored ideas from inside out and outside in. Each panel was followed by lively workshops which highlighted the unique contributions of young people to leadership.
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Counterpoint is the cultural relations think-tank of the British Council. Since our foundation in 2002, we have started to shape and develop thinking on the future of public diplomacy and cultural relations.
We bring together cultural relations and public diplomacy practitioners, thinkers, writers, journalists and policy makers from around the world to challenge orthodoxy and confront the barriers to genuine and equal dialogue within and between cultures. We offer consultancy and organise seminars, conferences and workshops, as well as publishing a significant number of books and articles.
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