Cultural Diplomacy News
CULTURAL DIPLOMACY NEWS
Massacre in Syria: can soft power or cultural diplomacy play any role here?
This weekend another 100 were brutally massacred in Syria including the stabbing and axing of nearly 50 children. The U.N. Security Council condemns it, of course, but can soft power or cultural diplomacy play any role here? Or is it only a matter for hard power and military intervention? I would be grateful for your … Continue reading
The 2012 International Symposia on Cultural Diplomacy (Berlin, Geneva, Washington D.C., June 1st – June 28th, 2012)
Welcome The International Symposia on Cultural Diplomacy 2012 is the world’s leading and largest event in the field of cultural diplomacy. The Symposia 2012 will include five large-scale events incorporating the fields of cultural diplomacy, international politics and economics, and international human rights. The events will take place in three different countries throughout the entire … Continue reading
Euro Default?
In the week that the European Union celebrates its 55th Anniversary, the stability of Euro currency is at risk more than ever. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble announced today that the euro area could handle Greece dropping out. “The risks of contagion for other countries of the euro zone have been reduced and the euro zone as a whole … Continue reading
Official Visit of the Slovenian Prime Minister to Germany – Janez Janša (Chairman of the ICD Initiative for Human Rights & Global Peace) meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ICD Director Mark C. Donfried
During his official two-day visit to Germany, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out after talks in Berlin on Wednesday that Slovenia and Germany had the same views on tackling the eurozone crisis. Before his meeting with Chancellor Merkel, Mr. Janša visited the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, where he was interviewed by ICD Director Mark C. Donfried … Continue reading
European Initiative for Media Pluralism
Background and Overview According to most independent accounts, the situation of media freedom and pluralism in the European Union is worsening. European institutions have, so far, refrained from taking a strong stance against individual Member States for such deterioration. This “hands-off” approach seems to have contributed to a negative domino effect, with worsening of legislation … Continue reading
Cultural Diplomacy Below the Line
1.4 billion people are living every day in extreme poverty. That is more than the whole population of China, 4 times the population of the USA, 10 times the population of Russia and over 20 times the population of the UK. In contrast, it takes less than 3 years for 1.4 billion kit-kat chocolate bars … Continue reading
“One Day on Earth” Screening at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD)
On April 22nd, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy screened “One Day on Earth,” a collaborative film project sharing images from every corner of the world on the same day. The screening happened in every country in the world, on the same day: Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 (Earth Day). The aim is to not only show … Continue reading
Freedom of Speech Limited in Democracy?
By Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, Vice Chairman of the ICD Advisory Board and Former Luxembourgian Minister of Culture & Religious Affairs The turmoil created by a poem written by Nobel prizewinner Günter Grass has had some astonishing reactions. He was called an anti-Semite and forbidden to cross the border to Israel after he expressed an open concern … Continue reading
Oil, Gas, and Conflict: The Levantine Basin, a New Conflict?
A few weeks ago, a recent discovery in the nearby coast of Israel came out on the news revealing the existence of an enormous reserve of oil and gas in the region. However, this was not surprising for the neighboring states since Israel has already been extracting natural resources from under the Mediterranean for a … Continue reading
ICD Speakers´ Corner
Wednesday 29th of February saw the International Freedom of Expression Forum move activities outside of the ICD House and take to the streets of central Berlin in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Given its history as a symbol of hope, unity and progression, the Brandenburg Gate was an extremely poignant and inspiring location for our … Continue reading
