Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers

Have you ever tried pierogi? What about gołąbki? 

These dishes are staples of any traditional Polish kitchen—a cuisine famous for its bread, soup and meats, and it's gaining diplomatic clout. 

The video below features an introduction to Poland's gastrodiplomacy, from its history with food to its current diplomatic efforts in the international arena

"We use Polish food as a strategic commodity in our diplomacy. ... Communism collapsed in Poland partly because it couldn't feed its people. We had permanent food shortages," explains former Foreign Minister of Poland Radoslaw Sikorsi. "Today, we use agriculture for promoting Poland. In diplomacy you find out that most ministries and public institutions have rules on what kinds of gifts you can accept, but you can always accept food."

You can find the original video from the Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs' YouTube channel here.

Photo by pasja1000 via Pixabay | CC0