The International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy & the UN
"Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power in an Interdependent World: The Opportunities for Global Governance"
(New York City & Washington D.C.; February 21st - 24th, 2012)
Conference Report
Thank You!
The ICD would like to extend its gratitude to all of the speakers and the participants who attended the conference. Special thanks goes to the entire UN and Cultural Diplomacy team including; Sylvia Zerbetto, Lisa Jost, Pawel Trzcinski, led by Amy Soar, Hannah Smith and, Claire Leavitt for contributing to the phenomenal success of this exciting and vibrant international event that was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.The International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy and the United Nations was held as one of a three-part series of International Conferences held by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) on the issue of “International Institutions and Global Governance: The Role of Cultural Diplomacy’.
The aim of the International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy and the United Nations was to reflect on the role of the United Nations within the international system, on global governance as a whole in terms of key international issues and on how Cultural Diplomacy takes place. The program consisted of lectures and speeches by leading figures from international politics & diplomacy, academia and civil society.
In an age of international instability and discontent, the United Nations made a noted transition towards an increased use of soft power in international relations. Due to the specific aims of the UN to foster peace and cooperation agreements, they were the first institution to focus on relations between states and international understanding. As such, Cultural Diplomacy is becoming increasingly important within international relations and the ICD reflects the desire to expand on this work.
| Speakers | |
|---|---|
| Prof. Dr. Abdul Aziz Said Professor of International Relations, International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program, American University “Contextualizing Politics” |
Dr. Afredita Hakaj Assistant Director for the Centre for International Human Rights “Soft Power as a Tool for International Peace and International Cooperation” |
| H. E. Amb. Ahmad Kamal Senior Fellow United Nations Institute for Training and Research |
Lieutenant General Clarence E. McKnight (Ret.) Former General in the US Army “Revolution in Global Telecom and the Increased Need for Soft Power and Smart Power to Avoid Any More Long Wars” |
| H. E. Amb. Csaba Kőrösi Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations “Role of Culture, Traditions in Tackling Challenges of Transition and in Tim of Crisis” |
Dr. Eduardo Ochoa Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, USA Government “Smart Leadership: Higher Education in the Global Century” |
| H. E. Amb Elena Poptodorova Ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States |
Frank Ucciardo UN Correspondent for CBS “Soft Power, Diplomacy and Social Revolutions” |
| Hussein Haeri Attorney Latham & Watkins LLP “The Future of the UN” |
Prof. Dr. Jean Krasno Associate Research Scientist and Lecturer in Political Science “Kofi Annan and the Role of the Secretary-General and the Rule of Law” |
| Prof. Dr. José Alvarez Herbert and Rose Rubin Professor of International Law, New York University “The UN’s Soft Legal Power” |
Rear Admiral Joyce M. Johnson (Ret.) Former Director of Health and Safety for the U.S. Coast Guard “Cultural Diplomacy: The UN and the Role of Health” |
| H. E. Amb. Kazuo Kodama Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations “Challenges Confronting the UN: Democracy, Nationalism and Secularism” |
Sen. Larry Pressler Former US Senator from South Dakota “Will U.S. Foreign Policy Enter a New ‘Dark’ Age of Isolation from Cultural Diplomacy?” |
| Maria Jessop Senior Program Officer, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peace-Building, US Institute of Peace “Intercultural Dialogue: A Practical Tool or Floating Concept?” |
Mike Beard Director of Better World Campaign |
| H. E. Amb. Mitar Kujundzic Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States “Peace Establishment in Bosnia and Herzegovina: From the War to the Way Toward the EU and NATO” |
The Hon. Nazar Al Baharna Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain “Cultural Diplomacy: An Effective Tool for Applying Human Rights Approach in Development “ |
| H. E. Amb. Neil Parsan Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations “Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool for Unity in a Heterogonous Society “ |
Patrick Worsnip Chief Correspondent United Nations, Reuters “The United Nations and World Conflicts: A Reporter’s View” |
| Major General Paul Eaton (Ret.) Senior Adviser to the National Security Network, Retired United States Army General “Institutional Framework: Balancing the Components of National“ |
Philippe Kridelka Director, UNESCO New York Office and former Representative to the United Nations “Culture as a Tool for Peace and Sustainable Development” |
| H. E. Amb. Ranko Vilovic Ambassador of Croatia to the UN |
H. E. Amb. Robert Pearson President, IREX “Cultural Diplomacy at the Cutting Edge” |
| Prof. Dr. Ryan Irwin Professor International Security Studies, Yale University “On Decolonization: Genealogies of Cultural Diplomacy in an International World” |
H. E. Amb. Simona-Mirela Miculescu Ambassador of Romania to the UN “The Romanian Cultural Diplomacy in the Universal Arena: Opportunities and Challenges” |
| H. E. Amb. Thomas Stelzer United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs “Cultural Diplomacy in the UN” |
William Davis Director, Washington Representation Office, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) “The UN’s Priorities for 2012: Working Together to Face Common Challenges” |
| Participant List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Name | Name |
| Elias Negussie | Prof. Ronald Edsforth | Emmanuel Maduforo |
| Ashot Avetisyan | Abbas (Alexandro) Ozlati | Charles Hurst |
| Mahmood Noorzai | Berhanu Tefera Gizaw | Erich Helmreich |
| Yasir Ali | Dr. Sahar Elfaki | Kelli Cooney |
| Abdul Qoodos | Dr. Samiha Abaker | Haroun Habib |
| Naghman Waseeq Chaudhary | Dr. Ebrahim Aladsani | Ben V Wyche |
| Ahmad Bashir Enayatullah | Prof. Toshifumi Nagamatsu | Mahnaz Moinian |
| Desislava Huin | Megan Davis | Stefanie Grupp-Clasby |
| Sophia Chinonye Ezeji | Dr. Jasmin B. Cowin | Ashley Lubenkov |
| Samuel Ojogbo | Dilshod Karabaev | Agostine Ndungu |
| Prof. Chijioke C. Ohuruogu | Ellie Richard | Marilyn Lareau |
| Oluwabukola Olawoye | Roser Clavell Soldevila | Zarrin Caldwell |
| Eseosa Kolleta Okoro | Andrea Freiberger | Lilia Michelle Buenrostro |
| Elo Atarie | David Smith | Elena Lipilina |
| Samvina Zibiri | Laurel McCormack | Sabir Mammadov |
| Queenette Chisom Weke | Jennifer Lada | Samuel Duodu |
| Jacqueline Abieyuwa Osagie | Phillip York | Elena Bozhickova |
| Jennifer Aiwerioghene | Lauren Pucci | Milena Oganesyan |
| Sayed Masood Ravi | Flavia Eugenia Abrudan | Xenia Felice Sonja |
| Philip Disanto | Amanullah Khan | Maria Hernandez De Benito |
| Aleksandra Humo | DIAS, Tania Dias | Matteo B. Scianna |
| Pamela Jeffery | Dr. Frances Chukwukere | Judit Trunkos |
| Leyla Falhan | Kendra White | Mate Olti |
| Stephen Wynne | Dr. Nicol Truesdell | Katrin Mader |
| Gloria Edusei | Talena Mara | Emily Stephens |
| Ryan J. Suto | Cynthia Dekay | Miriam Chaponniere |
| Najibullah | Neyda Martinez | Kevin Soubly |
| Lauren Obee | Rowena Martinez Ulayan | Kalisma Alayon |
| Marius Mazziotti | Margarita Coppi Agostinelli | Dr. Nicolas Serge |
| Tanuja Pariyar | Seo Won Choi | Gloria Kankam |
| Rosa Arcadina Florian Novas | Mama Tady Conde | Jimena Lara |
| Dr. Leara Rhodes | Elhadj Mamadou Bah | Katherina Cassidy |
| Christian Reynolds | Youssouf Togba | Mark Laichena |
| Salima Sango | Ivana Kliajic | Laura Toledo |
| Badri Glonti | Yuwen Dai | Ulziibayar Vangansuren |
| Xue Li | Cristina Hurduilala | Lisa Simon |
| Lizzy Kelly | Sandra Yao | Marlon Litz-Rosenzweig |
| Marina Fashchilina | Ugur Poyraz | Dr. Sharon Ingram |
| Sally Chung | ||
Day 1
- The first two days of the conference took place in the offices of the United Nations headquarters in New York.
- The day also welcomed a number of participant papers, these papers are areas of research, theses or publications authored by participants of the conference. PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, Christian Reynolds, presented his thesis on “Diplomatic Gastronomy”.
- Prof. Dr. Ronald Edsforth of Dartmouth University provided a lecture and discussion on the unfolding of the current economic crisis.
- The first day was concluded at the welcome dinner at a traditional German Bierhaus in midtown Manhattan.
Day 2
- One notable event of the second day of the conference was a keynote address from Philippe Kridelka, Director of the New York office of UNESCO. He addressed the importance of preserving minority cultures and the significance of World Heritage Sites.
- The second day also featured a visit to the Tibet House US, an organisation which seeks to protect and promote the culture and way of life of the Tibetan people, despite the current precariousness of their geopolitical circumstances. The premises was opened after hours for participants and speakers, and a private tour of the House was provided by the Executive Director, Ganden Thurman.
Day 3
- The team, crew and participants moved south to Washington D.C. for the final two days of conferencing and activities, courteously hosted by the Bulgarian Embassy.
- The second half of the conference began on the afternoon of the 23rd February with a lecture from William Davis, Director at the Washington office of the UNDP, who spoke on the subject of US funding to the United Nations.
- The Hon. Nazar Al Baharna, former Minister of the State for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and active Advisory Board member, discussed how cultural diplomacy can be integrated into global governance in the promotion of Human Rights.
- The day was concluded with a night tour of the D.C. monuments. The tour incorporated the Washington monument, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Statue and the recent Martin Luther King memorial.
Day 4
- Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, Assistant Secretary for Post-Secondary Education for the US government, provided a lecture on the role of education in diplomacy and development on the final day of the conference.
- Another key speech came from Rear Admiral Joyce M. Johnson (Ret.), Former Director for Health & Safety for the U.S. Coastguard. In her experience working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) she underlined how crucial an understanding of a culture is before health and aid can be applied.
- Prof. Dr. Abdul Aziz Said, the renowned International Relations academic and practitioner, was the official closing speaker of the conference. He used his lecture to share and explain his opinions on the Arab Spring, from the dual perspective of his Syrian ethnicity and Western education.
