Cultural Diplomacy Outlook Report 2011

Chapter 1: Cultural Diplomacy in the Public Sector: Country Ranking Report

Chapter 1

Cultural Diplomacy in the Public Sector:
Country Ranking

Recognising the central role which cultural diplomacy has to play in international relations, this chapter of the Cultural Diplomacy Outlook 2011 focuses on the degree to which cultural diplomacy is supported and utilised by state governments around the world. The public sector is in a singularly prominent position and from this platform cultural diplomacy initiatives can be far-reaching and effective. Furthermore, the ICD strongly advocates the use of soft power in facilitating closer bonds between countries through cultural exchange and mutual understanding. However, whilst there is a growing awareness that cultural diplomacy has an important role to play in international relations, it is a subject area which remains largely under-researched. This chapter of the Outlook comprises a pilot study of 40 governments drawn from around the globe, investigating their engagement with and commitment to culturally diplomatic projects. It examines the ways various states approach cultural diplomacy, providing a comprehensive group of regional perspectives and a statistical ranking of governments based on their cultural diplomacy initiatives.

Table of Contents

  1.       Introduction
  2.       Research Objectives
  3.       Concepts
    1. Cultural Diplomacy
    2. Hard Power and Soft Power
    3. Positive and Negative Cultural Diplomacy
  4.       Methodology
    1. Selection of Countries
    2. Composition of Ranking
    3. Parameters and Components
  5.       The Global Cultural Diplomacy Ranking
  6.       The European Union Cultural Diplomacy Ranking
    1. Eurostat
  7.       Research Limitations
  8.       Conclusions
  9.       Research References
  10.       Appendices
    1. Table 1- UN Conventions (Global)
    2. Table 2- International Tourist Arrivals in 2010 (Global)
    3. Table 3 - Government Actions (Global)
    4. Table 4 - Freedom and Media Policy (Global)
    5. Table 5 - Cultural Initiatives (Global)
    6. Table 6 - UN Conventions (Europe)
    7. Table 7 - International Tourists Arrivals in 2010 (Europe)
    8. Table 8 - Official Development Assistance 2010 (Europe)
    9. Table 9 - International Perception and Media Policy (Europe)
    10. Table 10 - EUROSTATS (Europe)

Introduction

Cultural diplomacy is increasingly utilised to enhance national security in subtle, wide-ranging, and sustainable ways; this research project ascertains the degree to which cultural diplomacy is being used as a tool of international relations by the various governments included in the study. The principal objective of cultural diplomacy is to positively influence public and high level opinion in a foreign state. The desired outcome of the index is to detect and evaluate the emergence or continuation of preferential and advantageous policies by states in the field of cultural diplomacy. This is accomplished through the process of communication and interaction with foreign audiences. Governments which actively encourage cultural diplomacy initiatives provide a platform for cultural exchange as a valuable part of international relations.

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy’s Index measures the effort and effectiveness of cultural diplomacy initiatives undertaken by countries around the world. It reflects the extent to which cultural diplomacy is used by states as a tool in international relations.

Research Objectives

The cultural diplomacy index charts the increasing prevalence of soft power and public diplomacy as a means of international dialogue. The index evaluates various government activities to determine whether their respective cultural diplomacy programmes are substantial, constructive and effective. In order to create a ranking system on cultural diplomacy for selected countries, specific research questions were developed:
  • What governmental actions are being taken to advance cultural diplomacy?
  • What are the regional and international cultural diplomacy initiatives undertaken by the country?
  • What is the international perception of the country’s culture and the nation’s media policy?
These questions guided our data research to compose the parameters of the ranking.