Cultural Diplomacy

As we mark the third anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Afghan people have demonstrated an extraordinary cultural resilience that defies the long-held stereotype of their country as solely war-torn. 

“Public Diplomacy in the News” is a CPD Blog series by Andrew Dubbins, featuring noteworthy recent stories in public diplomacy.

Image of the Grand Palace of Bangkok by tawanlubfah via Canva

Thai cultural diplomacy has emphasized traditional culture, which tends to be one-way, and event-based performance, connected with food and tourism.

Photo of the flags of the Western Balkan countries by Arman Fazlic via Canva

Heightened public diplomacy efforts from China, Türkiye, and Russia are significantly influencing regional dynamics in the Western Balkans, Europe's "powder keg."

Mount Fuji from Mount Kita via Wikimedia Commons

Japan turned historical negatives into positive examples through corrective measures and bold initiatives guided by social accountability and justice.

Photo of Lalbag Fort, Dhaka, Bangladesh by Md Tanvir Mehadi Shovon via Canva

The nation branding campaign “Beautiful Bangladesh” conveys an image that is not in sync with the reality inside the country. 

Türkiye has made gastrodiplomacy one of the most significant elements of its soft power and has been engaging in efforts to promote its cuisine with activities such as Turkish Cuisine Week.

This two-part article sets out to demonstrate the potential for further development and implementation of corporate cultural diplomacy in Cyprus, given the island’s economic course in recent years and what appears to be the operation of a mechanism of adjustability and rapid self-recovery. Emphasis is placed on the connection between nation branding and corporate cultural diplomacy, public diplomacy, economic and digital diplomacy, forms that can cooperatively and systematically create important opportunities and possibilities for further growth and leverage, given Cyprus’s geopolitical position, while also taking into account the set of firms seated and active on the island. In addition, the article cites specific examples on which the executive and the legislative should focus in order to secure sustainability across a range of sectors required in an interdependent world and new globalization.

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