The CPD Blog is intended to stimulate dialog among scholars, researchers, practitioners and professionals from around the world in the public diplomacy sphere. The opinions represented here are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s recent documentary about trade in shark-fins focused on Costa Rica and the pariah state of Taiwan. While filming he was reportedly threatened at gunpoint and covered in petrol by those who took exception to his presence. While this undoubtedly made for compelling television viewing on the UK’s Channel 4 TV station on Sunday January 16 (soon to be aired in the USA), for analysts of public diplomacy and soft power, the incident demonstrates a number of underlying truths.
The negative fall-out from accosting and threatening a worldwide celebrity, in the current climate of celebrity obsession, will enlighten an audience which until now would have known little about either country other than Taiwan = electronics and a dispute with China; Costa Rica = environmental consciousness and no army. Add ‘havens for the controversial trade in shark-fins’ to that list for both.
Indeed, both countries have worked hard over the past few years to promote their national ‘brand’. Costa Rica has led the charge on tropical environmental diplomacy with its attempts to become the world’s first carbon neutral country, and it remains a popular destination for the environmentally conscious to assist with eco-initiatives and to learn conservation techniques to be implemented in their own country. Coincidentally, Dr. Rene Castro the Costa Rican Foreign Minister spoke to an audience at the London School of Economics on Monday January 17 regarding Environmental Diplomacy and failed to address the harm that this practice is doing to the ecosystem of the ocean near Costa Rican shores.
However, this report by Ramsay will only serve to harm the image of Costa Rica as an eco-paradise.
On the other hand, the issue for Taiwan is to convince an increasingly skeptical Central American public that their region should remain diplomatically engaged with Taiwan instead of the increasingly powerful People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is currently diplomatically recognized by only 23 countries worldwide, with the majority of these in Central America and the Caribbean.
Furthermore, Taiwan will be compared to China whether it likes it or not. Indeed, Taiwan’s soft power since the mid 90's has largely come from adhering to internationally agreed norms of behaviour – open and largely un-corrupt democracy, unrestricted media, and respect for human rights. Basically, doing the opposite of China.
However, issues like Ramsay’s investigation, Taiwan's first state executions in many years, and the contemporary bribery scandals (involving Taiwan state monies and the former Presidents of Guatemala and Costa Rica), will leave many Central Americans scratching their heads with a 'pot-kettle-black' scenario regarding China playing on constant loop.
JLWilliams on January 22, 2011 @ 6:00 pm I take issue with your use of the term "pariah state of Taiwan". Taiwan is neither a pariah state nor a country that "will be compared to China whether it likes it or not". It is an independent country 23 million citizens strong who are culturally unique and distinct from the Chinese mainland. That it has had to resort to soft power politics is due to China's strategic efforts over the years to effectively shut out Taiwan from joining the international community as an equal partner.
As for shark fins, many more Asian countries besides Taiwan are guilty of turning a blind eye to this despicable part of the food industry. Efforts to stop shark finning must address the deeply held cultural beliefs that it is okay and does not have destructive environmental consequences.
Colin Alexander on January 24, 2011 @ 2:17 am JL Williams - I think you answer your own question in the first part of your response. The definition of 'pariah' is 'outcast', it should therefore not be taken in the context of the merits of Taiwan's cultural heritage et al, just that this is the reality of International Relations due to Taiwan not enjoying the benefits of full diplomatic recognition. While the term 'pariah' is neutral in value, I offer you the term 'defacto' as an alternative with more positive connotations.
Secondly, yes, many more Asian countries do turn a blind eye on shark-finning. However, Ramsay spends half of his documentary in Taiwan (without mentioning other areas of Asia) and the other half in Costa Rica. Like it or not, Ramsay's selectivity is damaging to Taiwan.
Andrew Nealey on January 28, 2011 @ 12:44 am I take issue with your comment that for most people "Costa Rica = environmental consciousness and no army." I think for me, and indeed most people, Costa Rica = nice ladies with boob jobs and Paulo Wanchope.
WL on January 29, 2011 @ 2:13 am "Pariah" is a synonym for "outcast," yes, but its meaning is NOT neutral. Your wording is very ill-informed.
dana on August 5, 2011 @ 11:35 pm After the special aired, it was revealed that Gordon Ramsay went hunting for sharks for fun a year before the special. And, his restaurants had been serving endangered species. Why is it okay for him to serve endangered species but the Chinese can't eat endangered species?
Shouldn't Gordon Ramsay look in the mirror first before criticizing other countries, especially when his viewers aren't eating shark fins in the first place?
