Forum Overview

The UK Forum on Democracy & Peace will take place in London and will present successful cultural diplomacy practices that can be applied to remedy and ease growing global challenges. The forum will include keynote addresses, lectures, interactive panel discussions and debates in order to explore new methods of advanced cultural diplomacy for engagement.

Concept

Within the realms of the political systems, the economy and international relations, the last few years have brought with them increased constraints, both in size and weight, on all parts of society.

Solutions, however, are not at hand, and the inner discourse between the diverse parts of societies is also seriously damaged and fractured, which adds to the chaos. Dialogue, understanding and trust are not in sight and the desired internal and international cooperation is in a fragile and delicate situation.

These disputes that can be seen from distance, are seeping fast into all areas and dimensions of society, including those areas that were heavily socially protected up until only a few years ago. The public dialogue has become toxic, the actions are evermore violent, and the results are bringing sights that belong to alarming movies from decades ago.

Holding the opposing sides to the center by calling for dialogue and compromise was always the core goal of cultural diplomacy. In such an era, cultural diplomacy is therefore a priceless field to develop and to apply in order to force back the coming winds of war. In our article about the “Belle Epoque” (available here) we have compared a similar time in European history that at the end, enabled the First World War. It is now clear to all, that continuing in the current pathway might bring us, although in a different way, to similar outcomes.

In light of the significance of the above-mentioned issues, we have initiated the UK Forum on Cultural Diplomacy in order to review and analyze methods of cultural diplomacy that can be used and support the great efforts of society to move back onto a safe course. The forum will bring together speakers and delegates from a diverse range of fields to focus on effective implementation strategies of cultural diplomacy. The forum will also be placing particular emphasis on the role that cultural diplomacy can play among the Commonwealth members in achieving greater cooperation and collaboration, thus promoting prosperity and stability.

Speakers & Delegates

Speakers during the forum will include leading politicians, diplomats, governmental officials, senior academics, journalists, and artists. These speakers will include individuals from the ICD Advisory Board. To learn more about the ICD Advisory Board, please click here.

Locations

Based in the House of Lords in London the forum will be hosted at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the city.

Participants »

Participation in the Forum is open to governmental & diplomatic officials, academics, artists, journalists, civil society practitioners, private sector representatives, young professionals and students.

If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the conference, please click on the link below and fill out the online application form:

Registration

Participant Papers »

The Forum Committee encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the Forum. The Forum Committee would therefore like to welcome the participants of the Forum to submit a paper they would like to be considered for presentation at the Forum as well as being included in the proposal document that will be issued following the Forum and will be sent to all governments and leaders of the international community worldwide.