NOVEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the November 2007 edition of the monthly newsletter of the institute for cultural diplomacy. Now in our fifth year of research and promoting, enhancing, and sustaining bilateral and multilateral networks using the methodology of cultural diplomacy, icd continues to seek expand and grow. We look forward to your active participation in our programs and research.

2007 Canada Meets Germany Study Tour was Great Success

The 2007 Study Tour for the Canada Meets Germany program took place from October 6th to October 13th in the cities of Frankfurt am Main, Essen, and Berlin. We are happy to say it was an excellent group of young leaders and fascinating week. Twenty-four young professionals from the fields of business, politics, science, media, and culture took part in this interdisciplinary program which included volunteering at Weser5, visits to the Dialogmuseum in Frankfurt and the Zeche Zollverein in Essen, visits to the media WAZ and Deutsche Welle TV, a tour of the Opel plant and a discussion with young parliamentarians about intergenerational justice.

To learn more about the study tour and to download the entire program details : Please visit: www.canadameetsgermany.org

New ICD Weekly Events for the Global Community in Berlin

We are pleased to introduce a new series of ICD events being launched under the heading "English Language Events in Berlin."  Through these events we aim to bring together the international community in Berlin—and already several of the initial events have attracted more than 100 guests.  These have been persons of all ages, with varying backgrounds, from everywhere in the world.  The already regular event is a “Language Party” which takes place each Wednesday on the ship Eastern Comfort.  The gathering includes homemade food, a concert and the special atmosphere of a boat, but probably what makes it special is that there is a host to greet and introduce people and help them to find language Tandem partners (all languages) if they are interested. This helps create a “private party” atmosphere, where people are able to meet and join in conversations and speak freely.  For this reason the Wednesday ‘Boat Party’ is probably unique in Berlin. The host, Charles Clawson, founded English events in Berlin to follow his vision of promoting international cultural events aimed at increasing cultural understanding and dialogue. Also, coming once or twice per month on the weekends are special dinner events, concerts, comedy shows and brunches, all formed with the idea of creating a meeting point for Berlin’s international community. We encourage people from all cultures and backgrounds to engage in these multicultural and fun events. ICD is confident that these locally-based events will serve strengthen our global portfolio of programs which include our high-profile network, young leader network, and academic network.

For more information please see:

http://www.english-events-in-berlin.de

New icd Book Publication Announcement for "Culture as a weapon. Strategies of nongovernmental cultural diplomacy"

The institute for cultural diplomacy - Paris Bureau is proud to announce the release of a recent a recent book publication on cultural diplomacy. Directed by the culture manager Jean-Michel Tobelem, director of Option culture, the book (264 pages) entitled L’Arme de la culture. Les stratégies de la diplomatie culturelle non gouvernementale (Culture as a weapon. Strategies of nongovernmental cultural diplomacy.), this book gathers ten papers in French whose common aim is considering cultural diplomacy as a new weapon. After the works of Joseph Nye on “soft power”, the ten studies goes on tracking the emergence of new actors whose importance increases. These institutions can work with the traditional state diplomacy or independently. Are they only limited experiences or the fundamental steps towards a new way of doing diplomacy? Who are exactly the new actors in a globalized world?

In the preface, Dr. Pascal Ory (Paris I - Sorbonne) tries to give the exact extent to which states give up some of their traditional powers. The first part is dedicated to international exchanges and globalization (papers by Alain Dubosclard, Aude Albigès, Brigitte Rémer). The second studies the link between ideology and politics: the links between MoMA and C.I.A., the political landscape after 09/11, the Salzburg’s festival or the cultural role of Prag and Budapest. Last but not least, the third part underlines the new role of cultural industries. In this last part, the paper of Dr. Fabrice Serodes, deputy director of the institute for cultural diplomacy, Paris Bureau, defines “the role of informal diplomatic role of cultural institutions”. The roles of the Guggenheim or of festivals is also described. Each paper is followed by a short bibliography.

For more information please see the following link:

J.M. Tobelem dir., L’Arme de la culture. Les stratégies de la diplomatie culturelle non gouvernementale, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2007, 264p., 22,5€ [I.S.B.N 978-2-296-03543-0]

http://www.editions-harmattan.fr

New icd Article Publication Announcement for "Diplomatic Culture or Cultural Diplomacy: the role for culture in international negotiation"

The institute for cultural diplomacy – Berlin Bureau is pleased to share with you the recent article written by ICD Program Director, Aman Garcha on “Diplomatic Culture or Cultural Diplomacy : the role for culture in international negotiation.”

The instruments of diplomacy and the process of negotiation are perhaps more important than ever, especially, in an era where global warfare is considered by many states to be less accepted as a means of settling conflict. It goes without saying that culture often has an impact on negotiation, as do countless other variables. The question then becomes what the distinctive effect of culture on negotiation may be, both in creating unexpected opportunities for dispute settlement and imposing obstacles to agreement.

It has been said that professional ties and the presence of a ‘diplomatic culture’ can ease negotiation, however, they cannot eliminate cross cultural dissonances grounded in profoundly contrasting views of the world, modes of communication and styles of negotiation. Ultimately ‘diplomatic culture’ is not a sufficient replacement for cultural diplomacy.

By understanding the affects of culture on the process of negotiation, we may be able to better understand the negotiation process itself and determine whether cultural diplomacy has a role to play in modern diplomatic practice.

To read the entire article, please click here.

New icd Article Publication Announcement for "The Bosman Revolution: The Case of Soccer in Sweden"

The institute for cultural diplomacy – Berlin Bureau is pleased to share with you the recent article written by ICD Program Coordinator, Michael Fenton on «The Bosman Revolution: The Case of Soccer in Sweden» This essay seeks to contribute to our understanding of ‘European integration’ by focusing on the case of Bosman within the general realm of Swedish soccer. This brief foray may shed some light on an under-researched field of study for political economists interested in ‘European integration’ mechanisms. In addition, by studying European integration in a sphere that constitutes an important and conscious part of people’s lives, this analysis may also help incorporate the ‘Europeanized’ life worlds of European citizens into policy-making debates.

To read the entire article, please click here .

Upcoming Events

Roofgarden Concert and World Language Party
Friday, November 2, 2007 at 20:00

You’re invited to an intimate concert by the frontman of the popular group Roofgarden, to be held this Friday (Nov.2) at the at the new Ars Vini restaurant (in Prenzlauer Berg at Templinerstraße 7). Singer-songwriter Fred Zadravec will be performing a mix of originals and covers from pop, blues and folk at the center of this dinner and World Language Party.

The original Ars Vini restaurant is booked out, so they opened a second one—with the same fabulous fondues and wines (the second restaurant is already booked out for most weekends). Entry for the show is 5€. Dinner starts at 8pm with a chance to meet new and familiar friends, and the performance begins around 9. Seating is limited. You can reserve a place for the show by calling Ars Vini at (030/54714182). Let them know if you would like dinner or simply drinks to help them in arranging the seating. If we haven’t met, be sure to ask for me (Charles) in the restaurant.

--an intimate concert and international crowd in the special Ars Vini atmosphere--

Directions: The restaurant is located at the corner of Zionskirchstraße & Templinerstraße, a three-minute walk from Senefelder (U-2) U-Bahnhof or five minutes from the M-1 Tram stop at Zionskirchstraße.
for questions contact Charles at 42097058 or 0163-5272213

http://www.arsvini.de


"English Events in Berlin" Boat Party
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 19:00

Let’s increase cultural understanding and dialogue over a glass of wine, a cup of tea and international conversations & music. By providing an English atmosphere the EEB provides the common ground, which enables people from all over the world to socialize. We encourage people from all cultures and backgrounds to engage in this multicultural and fun event.

This is the weekly party on the ship Eastern Comfort where you can meet and talk with people in a variety of languages. We can help to arrange language Tandem partners. The party starts 7pm. Entry is one Euro. Musicians and vocalists are invited to join the band in a jam session/ concert to start around 10pm.

Directions:
The ship is a 5-10 minute walk from Warschauerstr. U-Bahn/S-Bahn/Tram down Warschauerstr. toward the Oberbaumbrücke. Just before the bridge turn right onto Mühlenstr., and the Eastern Comfort entrance is about 100 meters down the street (Mühlenstr. 73) near the beginning of the Eastside Gallery. On the ship, the lounge is on the 2nd floor. See you there.

To check on room information or other ship events see:
http://www.eastern-comfort.com