From Europe to the Arab Peninsula? – Cultural Diplomacy Practices in the United Arab Emirates

• Authors: Gołębiowski Daniel
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper analyzes the practice of “cultural diplomacy” and “soft power” in the United Arab Emirates in light of previously developed practices in European countries such as France and Germany. These two concepts referred to international relations and invented in the Western world, describe strategies that have been taken up by non-Western governments, either to complement their hard power capacity with its soft equivalent or to fill a gap where hard power is missing. Diverse (especially state) actors in international relations appear convinced that public and cultural diplomacy as an example of soft power, is the most advanced, non-invasive way of conveying a positive image, values, or lifestyle, being at the same time a non-violent means of pursuing national interests. How is the concept of cultural diplomacy applied and facilitated in non-Western countries? Which model of public diplomacy best describes actions undertakenby the Emirati authorities and what are the reason for developing a soft power strategy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? This article answers these question s through a comparative analysis of the United Arab Emirates with the examples of France and Germany. It points out the potentialchallenges and opportunities which arise from a non-Western government using a tool of cultural diplomacy by analyzing diverse initiatives undertaken by UAE, including the “Emirati Film Review in Poland”.

Keywords

EN

Soft Power; Cultural Diplomacy; Public Diplomacy; Foreign Policy; United Arab Emirates; France; Germany

• Publisher: Centre for Europe, University of Warsaw
• Journal: Studia Europejskie-Studies in European Affairs
• Year: 2020
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 151-173

Contributors

author

Gołębiowski Daniel

• Jagiellonian University

References

• Aguilar M., Cultural Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: German-American Relations 1955–1968, Peter Lang, New York 1996.
• Arndt R., Cultural Diplomacy, Political Infl uence, and Integrated Strategy, in: Strategic Influence: Public Diplomacy, Counterpropaganda, and Political Warfare, ed. M.J. Waller, Institute of World Politics Press, Washington DC 2009.
• Chartrand H., International cultural affairs: a 14 country survey, “Journal of Arts Management, Law & Society”, no. 22/1992, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10632921.1992.9944400.
• Cull N., Public Diplomacy: Lessons for the Past, FIGUEROA Press, Los Angeles 2009.
• Elcano Global Presence Report 2018, https://www.globalpresence.realinstitutoelcano.org/en/data/Global_Presence_2018.pdf (access 2.10.2020).
• Emirates News Agency, http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302634954 (access 2.10.2020).
• Emirates News Agency, http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302665018 (access 2.10.2020).
• Emirati Film Review, http://kinoemirackie.pl/?lang=en#przeglad (access 2.10.2020).
• French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/poland/ (access 2.10.2020).
• George A., Case studies and theory development: The method of structured, focused comparison, in: Diplomacy: New approaches in history, theory and policy, ed. P.G. Lauren, Free Press, New York 1979.
• Gilboa E., Searching for a theory of public diplomacy, “The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science”, no. 3/2008.
• Goethe Instiut Annual Report 2019–2020, https://www.goethe.de/resources/files/pdf202/gi_jahrbuch_2020.pdf (access 29.10.2020).
• Hamilton J., Canada in Action: The Commonwealth, La Francophonie, Routledge Taylor, Detroit 1994.
• Herrschner I., The Role of Art in German Cultural Diplomacy: An Analysis of the Festival of German Films in Melbourne, Australia, “Media Transformations”, no. 11/2015, DOI: https://doi.org/10.7220/2029-8668.11.07.
• Hofstede Insights, https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/national-culture (access 2.10.2020).
• Image Nation Abu Dhabi, https://imagenationabudhabi.com/about-us/ (access 2.10.2020).
• Iordanova D., Rhyne Regan R., The Festival Circuit, St. Andrews Film Studies, Gate Press, St. Andrews 2009.
• Juppé A., Schweitzer L., La France et l’Europe dans le monde: livre blanc sur la politique étrangère et européenne de la France, 2008–2020, Collection des rapports officiels Paris, 2008.
• Kisielewska Z., Promocja kultury francuskiej za granicą – Instytut Frnacuski (Promotion of French Culture Abroad – French Institute), in: Europejskie Modele Polityki Kulturlanej (European Models of Cultural Policy), eds.B. Gierat-Bieroń, K. Kowalski, Małopolska Szkoła Administracji Publicznej Akademii Ekonomicznej, Kraków 2005.
• Kukułka J., Międzynarodowe Stosunki Polityczne (International political relations), PWN, Warszawa 1980.
• Lebovics H., Mona Lisa’s Escort: André Malroux and the Reinvention of French Culture, Cornell University Press, Ithaca 1999.
• LOI n° 2010-873 of 27th July 2010 relating to the State’s external action, Legislatif Dossier 2008.
• Mulcahy K., Public Culture, Cultural Identity, Cultural Policy, Palgrave, New York 2017, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-43543-9.
• Nahda, http://nahdafoundation.org.pl/about/ (access 2.10.2020).
• Nichols B., Discovering Form, Inferring Meaning, New Cinemas and the Film Festival Circuit, “Film Quarterly”, no. 47(3)/1994, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/fq.1994.47.3.04a00030.
• Nye J., Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, Public Affairs, New York 2004.
• Onet.pl, https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/emmanuel-macronw-polsce-ambasador-z-uwaga-obserwujemy-francje/rjhr9rg (access 2.10.2020).
• OPCD, https://opcd.ae/about-opcd/cultural-diplomacy/ (access 2.10.2020).
• The Economist, https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-andafrica/21720319-driven-energetic-crown-price-uae-building-basesfar-beyond-its (access 30.09.2020).
• Ulldemolins R., Zamorano M., Spain’s nation branding project Marca España and its cultural policy: the economic and political instrumentalization of a homogeneous and simplifi ed cultural image, “International Journal of Cultural Policies”, no. 1/2014.
• Védrine H., Rapport pour le président de la République sur la France et la mondialisation, Fayard, Paris 2007.
• Villanueva C., Representing Cultural Diplomacy: Soft Power, Cosmopolitan Constructivism and Nation Branding in Mexico and Sweden, Växjö University Press, Växjö 2007.
• Wiesand A., National Policies Infl uencing Cultural Cooperation and Mobility in Europe An overview of Research Results, European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research, Bonn 2007.
• Włoch R., Funkcje polityki zagranicznej państwa (State’s Foreign Policy Functions), in: Wstęp do polityki zagranicznej państwa (Introduction to the Theory of the State’s Foreign Policy), ed. R. Zięba, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2004.
• Zaharna R., Mapping out a Spectrum of Public Diplomacy Initiatives, in: Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy, eds. N. Snow, Ph. Taylor, Routledge, New York 2009.
• Zamorano M., Cultural diplomacy Defi nition historical evolution and current trends, Teaching materials for the Postgraduate Diploma on International Cultural Cooperation and Management, https://www.academia.edu/24217940/Cultural_diplomacy_Defi nition_historical_evolution_and_current_trends, Universitat de Barcelona 2015 (access 2.10.2020)
• Zamorano M., Reframing Cultural Diplomacy: The Instrumentalization of Culture under the Soft Power Theory”, “Culture Unbound”, no. 8/2016, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3384/cu.2000.1525.1608165.
• Zenderowski R., Uczestnicy i kreatorzy międzynarodowych stosunków kulturalnych (Participants and creators of international cultural relations), in: Międzynarodowe Stosunki Kulturalne (International Cultural Relations), eds. R. Zenderowski, K. Cebul, M. Krycki, PWN, Warszawa 2010

Identifiers

DOI

10.33067/SE.4.2020.8