A World Without Walls:
An International Congress on "Soft Power", Cultural Diplomacy and Interdependence

(November 6th - 10th 2009, Berlin)

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy is pleased to present...

Balancing Global Public Goods and National Priorities:
Establishing Foreign Policy in an Interdependent World

(Televised Panel Discussion)

Berlin, Sunday 8th November (12:45)
The Berlin Theatre on Kurfuerstendamm

As the importance of nation states pursuing global public goods becomes ever more apparent, and with the process of globalisation eroding the traditional protection of national sovereignty, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) will hold a televised panel discussion of Former Foreign Ministers on the challenges of establishing foreign policy in the modern international environment.

“Balancing Global Public Goods and National Priorities: Establishing Foreign Policy in an Interdependent World” takes place as part of the ICD event “A World Without Walls: An International Congress on Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy and Interdependence” (Berlin, 6th – 9th November) and will bring together a prominent group of Former Foreign Ministers.

The discussion will be chaired by Dr. Erkki Tuomioja (Former Finnish Foreign Minister) and will include as panellists:
  • Ivaylo Kalfin (Member of the European Parliament, Former Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs),  
  • H.E. Yasar Yakis (Former Foreign Minister of Turkey),
  • Ioannis Kasoulides (Former Foreign Minister of Cyprus),
  • David Andrews (Former Foreign Minister of Ireland)
The panellists will take from personal experience about the process of establishing foreign policy and the difficulties of balancing national and global interests, whilst also reflecting on the increasing interdependence between nation states.

Following the discussion there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions to the panellists and discuss issues they feel of particular importance. The audience will be participants of the ICD program “A World Without Walls: An International Congress on Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy, and Interdependence”, who will be joined by a select group of ICD Young Leaders.