Cultural diplomacy

If you are interested in cultural diplomacy, here's the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy newsletter and how you can get involved.

http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/pages/new...ter2007-12.html

So just what is cultural diplomacy? This is from their website:

Overview
The institute of cultural diplomacy focuses on the practical and theoretical promotion of cultural diplomacy. A difficult concept to define, the definition and application of cultural diplomacy has changed substantially in the twentieth century and continues to change. According to Dr. Joseph S. Nye, Jr. cultural diplomacy denotes “a prime example of ‘soft power,’ or the ability to persuade through culture, value, and ideas, as opposed to ‘hard power,’ which conquers or coerces through military might.� icd has adopted Milton C. Cummings Jr.’s more objective definition that the science of cultural diplomacy pertains to “the exchange of ideas, information, value systems, traditions, beliefs and other aspects of culture�—such as art, sports, science, literature and music—with the intention of “fostering mutual understanding.�
With our international headquarters in New York City and our European headquarters in Berlin, Germany, icd is at the forefront of a global network of public sector, private sector, and independent partners whose collective mission is to enhance the process of human interaction by improving the very fabric of social relations.

icd actively supports the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information across cultural boundaries based on the premise of cultural diplomacy as a dialogue and exchange, which allows for mutual respect, minimizes antagonisms and maximizes benefits.

In our increasingly interconnected and international environment, cultural interaction is virtually inescapable. As a result, icd aims to directly and indirectly educate individuals, organizations, and governments on how to diplomatically manage their various inter- and intra-relationships and conflicts of interests through the principles and methods of cultural diplomacy.

Since often, the global community utilizes outdated traditional models of diplomacy and bridge-building, icd is working on developing and promoting alternative models of initiating and strengthening cultural inter- and intra-relationships on the individual, communal, national, and international level.

This sounds like a front for Scientologists.

What was it in particular that sounds like scientology, if you don't mind me inquiring?

Why don't you check them out and get back here.

All these business' that support the ICD are also fronts for scientology . Here's a link to their partner agencies http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_partners

In what way? The governement funding they seem to be getting would suggest not.

Having read their website a little it seems innocent enough. Encourage better communication globally by understanding the culture of the person you are negotiating with. There are a few problems in this though as we barely understand the cultures we live in let alone try and understand somebody elses.

Sorry, LR , I came pack to my PC and found a timeout error so I pressed Retry. I think we covered the same point.

Using cultural understanding in diplomacy. Great idea, I'll open my own consultancy business and make a mint. Oh shit..somebody has already done it. http://www.cd-consulting.org/

The Americans after 9/11 are trying many new initiatives to promote cultural diplomacy around the world.

Check this out: http://www.culturalpolicy.org/issuepages/c...aldiplomacy.cfm

This is how Wikipedia simply describes cultural diplomacy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_diplomacy

Bang. And there is the problem. As soon as it becomes a governemt initiative you're into political culture and not the culture of the land in general. Party politics will come in and it will be worthless.

Interesting and I do agree to a certain extent. However, the American government has a vested interest in trying to promote cultural diplomacy, particularly with the current climate of how Americans are negatively viewed in many places in the world because of what has happened doing the Bush administration.

Then how do you suggest it should be done and who will pay for this?

Better voting from my US cousins.

The trick with the US problem is to break the linkage in peoples minds between the government of a country and it's people. I know so many fantastic americans , I travel there often and I get to talk to people there. It also helps I work for an American company. I know Bush is not the US but I still get angry at what he and his muppet friends like Rumsfeld have done to the world.

Is it only American politics though. Look at the movie industry, for example. A large number of films seem to be promoting violence and a very US centric view of the world which does not help the world image.

@Pas It's not only the film industry, it's the music industry as well, that promotes violence.

But I think it has to be on a larger scale than America reaching out to other nations by doing cultural diplomacy. This should be an intense part of the curriculum in all American schools as there seems to be a lack of knowledge and disinterest among some Americans about other cultures, geography, and some even have a very myopic world view and think America is "the world". But this goes back to the government as the government funds the schools. I know schools are teaching about other cultures, but I think the scope maybe somewhat limited.

Did I miss somewhere in your post exactly who's going to get the cultural diplomacy done and who will pay for it, if it's not the government? I know some private agencies are stepping up, but some of these agencies are getting funding from the government to do this.

Btw, I think I will try to do their internship program. I meet all the criteria they are looking for in their candidates. See here: http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_internships

I got to go now as my brussel sprouts need cooking.

I was going to post some deep and meaningful reply but this seems to cover most of it.

Chewing the Fat

The US is (fortunately) the PAST

Says this video is no longer available.

Basic Ingredients
Ground Beef (80%), 70%, Ground sirloin, your choice...
onions
couple of eggs
worchester sauce
seasoned bread crumbs (not croutons)
little garlic
little salt & pepper

Individual Touches
Add a little veal
I use a little Olive Oil
Some folks add chicken or beef broth
etc. etc.

Here's the thing, Chef. Meatloaf is kinda like spaghetti sauce... you don't follow a recipe; you create. Try something different, add a little change each time till you find the one that makes your tastebuds happy. And like spaghetti sauce, it has to be better the second day. AND, it especially has to be good cold on a sandwich the next day.
Take care,
space

Now, go create sumpin... Wink