CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Cultural Diplomacy. What is cultural diplomacy? In the political realm, diplomacy is usually used to refer to governments exchanging representatives to negotiate with one another. Cultural diplomacy is when cultures exchange representatives as advocates for their culture. Whereas an Ambassador is an official title bestowed by governments, anyone who travels to another country is, in a broad sense, an ambassador for their culture. Cultural diplomacy has acquired a more specific meaning, referring to the international exchange of individuals, sponsored either by governments, the private sector, or both, with the goal of increasing the understanding between nations. The Fulbright program is perhaps the most famous example. When cultural diplomacy involves the arts, it can be called arts diplomacy. When the specific medium of the exchange is music, musical diplomacy is the relevant term. The New York Philharmonic's February 2008 trip to North Korea is the most famous recent example of this. The Center for Arts and Culture has an excellent issues page about cultural diplomacy. Some of the important documents about cultural diplomacy include:

Brown, John. Arts Diplomacy: The Neglected Aspect of Cultural Diplomacy. America's Dialogue with the World. William P. Kiehl, ed. Washington: Public Diplomacy Council, 2006.

Cultural Diplomacy: The Linchpin of Public Diplomacy. Report of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy to the U.S. Department of State. September 2005.

Cultural Diplomacy: Recommendations and Research. Center for Arts and Culture. July 2004

Ferguson, John. The Art of (Hip-Hop) Diplomacy. Christian Science Monitor

Finn, Helena. The Case for Cultural Diplomacy: Engaging Foreign Audiences. Foreign Affairs

Hughes, John. Cultural Diplomacy is Key to Winning Hearts and Minds. Christian Science Monitor

Paul Smaczny's magnificent documentary, Knowledge is the Beginning chronicles the heroic efforts of Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said to found a youth orchestra comprised of Israeli and Arab musicians. Here is William Harvey's review of the film.

I also recommend Daniel Mason's novel The Piano Tuner because of the strong case it makes for cultural diplomacy.
Here is William Harvey's review.

Click here (and then click on "William Harvey") to watch a keynote address at The Juilliard School by Cultures in Harmony's Executive Director. In the speech, he discusses Cultures in Harmony (then known as Music for the People) and passionately argues for the arts' social relevance.

 

Read original essays by CiH Director William Harvey