Friday 18 March 2011

Public and Cultural Diplomacy Dilemma

Public qnd Cultural Diplomacy are very much the same. However, since they are two different words, that would mean that they are somehow diffrent. But how?
As I understand it, Cultural Diplomacy is part of Public Diplomacy. Indeed, Public Diplomacy is of course pursued by governments in various means, and one of them, is by using their culture to promote their national state.

Indeed, in London, a very cosmopolitan and international city with many foreign embassies and large international communities, hosts many events that would then be considered as 'culturally diplomatic': art exhibitions, food fairs, concerts and special parties with the national music.

For example, the Venezuelan Classic Concert of the 'Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venewuela' promoted by the Venezuelan Embassy in London, or the Christùas Food Fair at the Eùbassy in December 2010 promoting the Venezuelan cuisine for that time of the year; the only thing that makes them fall into the category of 'cultural diplomacy' is the involvement, in any sort of way, of the Venezuelan government.
However, the Salsa Night organised by the Venezuelan community group 'VENenIN', on the 5th of March 2011 in a club in the center of London, zhere people attending could enjoy Venzuelan music and food, would not be considered as 'Cultural Diplomacy' just because the Venezuelan Embassy, and by extension the Venezuelan Government, did not have any involvement. But the Venezuelan culture was very much promoted! Isn't it confusing?

2 comments:

  1. I agree with your ending sentence, it really is confusing! Because what if behind holding cultural events or gathering there lies the intention of introducing people to that culture and promoting it? Because, like it or not, one is promoting the country in a positive light. In this particular case,Venezuela. I think it is not only when the government is involved, as there is also citizen diplomacy. And sometimes it is easier to trust someone who is not connected to the government.

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  2. I definitely agree with this. Even more after what Caroline re-confirmed last week: the person that is trusted the more when promoting something (and this is very true with governmental policies, states, nations, cultures etc...) is the people you know through word of mouth...

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