What is Cultural Diplomacy?
“Cultural diplomacy is a domain of diplomacy concerned with establishing, developing and sustaining relations with foreign states by way of culture, art and education. It is also a proactive process of external projection in which a nation?s institutions, value system and unique cultural personality are promoted at a bilateral and multilateral level. Cultural diplomacy is a two-way avenue [because] while trying to nurture a favourable perception of our country’s national ideals and policies with foreign audiences, we should never fail to recognise the cultural identity of the target nation. This includes psychology, mentality, way of life, customs, traditions and history. The success of cultural diplomacy is dependent on intercultural dialogue and mutual respect.” [Diplo] The definition given by Wikipedia is much less clear, at least to me: “Cultural diplomacy specifies a form of diplomacy that carries a set of prescriptions which are material to its effectual practice; these prescript
