Introduction to the Program

In the contemporary economic system, globalization has re-structured the rules of bilateral and multilateral trade and investment in such a way that economic growth requires more than just financial exchange; it requires diplomacy, cooperation, and cultural understanding in order to be successful.

As the global financial crisis has demonstrated, the global economy influences all areas of our lives. It is intimately connected to issues such as global activity against climate change, extreme poverty, immigration and integration, healthcare, development, education, and culture & the arts. As such, discussion on the future of the global economy must incorporate perspectives from a diverse range of fields and groups, including politics, civil society, and multiple academic disciplines, such as sociology, philosophy and anthropology.

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy has therefore established the program “Cultural Diplomacy & the Global Economy” to promote stronger economic relations between nation states, and to examine the complex relationship between culture, economics, and politics at the global level.

Program Aims

“Cultural Diplomacy & the Global Economy” will pursue the following goals:

To raise awareness of the advantages of cultural diplomacy and soft power in improving national brands
To increase international trade & investment between nation states and between regions
To encourage development aid and trade that benefits less economically developed areas
To encourage and promote sustainable tourism
To promote Corporate Cultural Diplomacy

Academic Themes

Acknowledging the program aims outlined above, the program will focus in particular on the following academic themes:

The role of cultural diplomacy in economic policies of nation states
The implications of economic interdependence
The influence of the digital revolution on the future of the global economy
The emergence of non-state actors (such as “Occupy Wall Street”) as key players in the international environment
The international dimension of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and SRI
Global economics and Environmental Responsibility