Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
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| Type | Non-profit, NGO |
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| Founded | 1999 |
| Location | Berlin, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Ecuador |
| Method | Intercultural relations |
| Website | http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org |
The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Berlin. Founded in 1999 by Mark Donfried, its activities focus on promoting and developing the field of cultural diplomacy by conducting research, initiatives and programs as well as holding International conferences and event series.[1]
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[edit] History
The ICD was founded in 1999 by Director Mark Donfried. Originating in New York, the organisation's main base for activities is now Berlin, Germany.[2][3]
[edit] International Conferences
The organisation organises several annual international conferences. [4]
Annual conferences include: "The Berlin International Economics Congress (BIEC)", “The Human Rights Congress”, “The Freedom of Speech Forum”, “The Language of Art and Music”, "The Rise of Africa" and "Hard vs. Soft Power". Previous events held by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy include the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy (Berlin, May 11th-15th 2011 [5]), which hosted The Hon. Lucinda Creighton - Minister of European Affairs of Ireland; The Hon. Michael Chertoff - Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security; The Hon. Rexhep Meidani - Former President of Albania; The Hon. Senator Tim Hutchinson - Former United States Senator from Arkansas; The Hon. Judge Theodor Meron - Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; The Hon. Yasar Yakis - Former Foreign Minister of Turkey.
"The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy" has been held annually since 2006. The 2010 Symposium was entitled "Culture, International Relations, and Globalisations" and included the event "Understanding Afghanistan and Asia", which was supported by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and focused on how to promote democracy and stability in Afghanistan and Central Asia.[6] The conference included speeches by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Ali Ahmad Jalali, Bertie Ahern, and Kjell Magne Bondevik, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.[7] The subject of the conference in 2009 was the role of soft power in international relations and the program included speeches by the Romanian Minister for European Affairs Vasile Puşcaş,[8] former Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja[9] former President of Latvia Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, [10] former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio,[11] former German Ambassador to the UN Gunter Pleuger,[12] and former President of the Republic of Mauritius Cassam Uteem.[13]
In March 2011 the ICD hosted the Berlin International Economics Congress 2011 (Berlin, March 9th - 12th 2011 [14] ), which hosted The Hon. Nahas Angula - Prime minister of Namibia; The Hon. Jean-Paul Adam - Foreign Minister of the Republic of Seychelles; The Hon. Alberto Jose Guevara Obregon - Minister of Finance of Nicaragua; The Hon. Al Imam Al Sadig Al Mahdi - Former Prime minister of Sudan; The Hon. Akua Sena Dansua - Minister for Tourism of Ghana; and The Hon. Edmund Bartlett - Minister of Tourism of Jamaica.
The First "A World Without Walls" conference was held in Berlin in 2009 on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.[15] During the event the President of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council and former Presidential Candidate for the French Socialist Party, Ségolène Royal, reflected on the historical significance of the fall of the Wall and outlined her vision for a "United States of Europe".[16] The event also featured a speech by the former First Minister of Scotland, and former Prime Minister's Special Representative for Peacebuilding, Jack McConnell.[17]
Other annual conferences are "The Berlin International Economics Congress", "The Rise of Africa" and "Hard vs. Soft Power".[18]
[edit] "Forums for Young Leaders"
The ICD Young Leaders Forums are international networks of like-minded individuals with an interest in developing and supporting intercultural relations. The first Young Leaders Forum was developed almost a decade ago and since then the ICD developed and launched a variety of different bilateral and multilateral Forums that focus on a diverse range of relationships across the world.
The organisation organizes a series of week-long seminars and study tours, aimed at "students and young professionals from across Europe, as well as individuals from other areas with an active interest in the region."[19] Currently, these forums focus on the bi-lateral relationships between Germany and Turkey, Germany and the UK, Europe and the United States, Europe and Russia, Scandinavia and Germany, and Europe and Latin America. In addition, there are multi-lateral forums focusing on Europe, Africa, and East Asia, and a forum focused on Germany entitled "Cultural Bridges in Germany".[20] The Honoroble Yasar Yakis (Former Minister of Turkey) is currently the President of the ICD Young Leaders Forum.
"The UK meets Germany" has included speakers like Eurosceptic MP Bill Cash, former British and German Ambassadors, the British MP Bob Walter, the Anglo German globalisation commentator Nick Tolhurst and Deutsche Welle's Peter Craven.[21]
"Germany Meets Turkey: A Forum for Young Leaders" is a program of the Ernst Reuter Initiative of the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt),[22] and is run by the ICD in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Istanbul Policy Centre at Sabanci University.[23] Focused on strengthening the German-Turkish bi-lateral relationship, it brings together 24 participants each year, 12 from each country, for weeklong study tours. The study tours alternate between Germany and Turkey and involve discussions and seminars, as well as visits to private sector companies and academic institutions.[24]
"Canada Meets Germany: A Forum for Young Leaders" was established in 2003 and includes alternating study tours between Canada and Germany.[25] The most recent study tour was held in September/October 2008 and included a session at the University of Montreal.[26]
[edit] Cultural Diplomacy News
The organisation runs the media service "Cultural Diplomacy News",[27] which contains interviews and news articles on developments in the field of cultural diplomacy.
The concept of this project is to provide the public with a vast range of information, researched news and studies, novelties and interviews. The structure of this project is such that the categories are divided into general geographical regions of the world i.e. Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and etc. The intention is to provide the readers with an overall view on issues regarding these regions. This includes their interdependent relations, issues of conflict and possibilities to either solve or try to partially explain them primarily through the use of 'Soft Power' and a perspective of cultural diplomacy.
[edit] Event Series
From September - November 2008 the organisation, together with the Initiative Amerika Haus,[28] and the German Federal Agency for Civic Education[29] held a series of events for the Berlin public on the approaching US elections entitled "Wie wählt Amerika?" (How will America vote?).[30][31][32]
From January 20 to February 28, 2009, the organisation organised Black History Month in Berlin[33] at the Amerika Haus Berlin, together with the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
The organisation held "German-Turkish Week 2009" in the Amerika Haus Berlin from 8–13 June 2009. The series included a welcome message by Cem Özdemir, current Leader of the Green Party in Germany.[34][35]
[edit] The ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy
The ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy is the academic department within the ICD that works to analyse and raise awareness of the practice of cultural diplomacy by governments and non-state actors, and to explore new strategies for the strengthening of intercultural relations in general. Areas of particular academic focus for the Academy include the balance of hard and soft power, intercultural exchange, the process of globalisation, the interdependence of nation states, and the use of cultural initiatives to generate mutual understanding.
The ICD Academy organises three separate forms of activity: Weeklong Academy Sessions, international conferences, and the BA, MA and PhD programs in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy in partnership with Babes-Bolyai University .
Academy events have an inclusive participation policy and are open to individuals of all academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. Over the past years, the Academy have welcomed students and scholars, teachers and professors, practitioners and journalists, diplomats and politicians from across the world on its programs. During the same period in excess of 500 current and former Heads of State and Ministers have contributed to the Academy event as speakers and partners.
The ICD Academy organises three separate forms of activity: Weeklong Academy Sessions, international conferences, and the MA in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy (the latter in partnership with Babes-Bolyai University
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "About ICD". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_abouticd. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ A report by National Public Radio featuring Mark Donfried [1]
- ^ German Newspaper "Die Welt" article on Mark Donfried and the ICD (April, 2003)[2]
- ^ "Conferences & Events". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_conferences. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ http://www.icd-internationalsymposium.org
- ^ "Afghanistan and Central Asia conference promotes greater understanding" (Internet news report). www.nato.int. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_63992.htm?selectedLocale=en. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ King, Nathan. "2010 Berlin International Cultural Diplomacy Conference". iReport, not vetted by CNN: CNN.com. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-458436.
- ^ Vasile Puscas: EU must define stance for post-crisis period
- ^ Tuomioja, Erkki (30.7. 2009). "The Role of Soft Power in EU Common Foreign Policy. International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy Berlin 30.7. 2009" (Private homepage). www.tuomioja.org. http://www.tuomioja.org/index.php?mainAction=showPage&id=1610. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The role of the UN in promoting peaceful intercultural dialogue (Video). International Symposium on CD - July 2009: Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
- ^ Jorge Sampaio. Intercultural Dialogue and the Younger Generation: The Challenges Ahead (Video). International Symposium on CD - July 2009: Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
- ^ Gráinne Toomey. "An Interview with Dr. Gunter Pleuger (Former German Ambassador to the UN)". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/culturaldiplomacynews/index.php?Interview-with-Dr-Gunter-Pleuger-Former-German-Ambassador-to-the-UN. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ Cassam Uteem. Democratic Participation and Cultural Inclusion in Multi-Ethnic Societies (Video). International Symposium on CD - July 2009: Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.
- ^ http://www.biec.de
- ^ "A world without walls". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?a-world-without-walls. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ "La Tribune" interviews Ms. Royal and comments on her trip to Berlin for the ICD event [3]
- ^ Jack McConnell speaks at A World Without Walls
- ^ "Conferences & Events". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_conferences. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ "About cultural diplomacy in Europe (CDE)". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/cde/index.php?en_about. Retrieved June 13 2011.
- ^ "ICD - Young Leaders Forums". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/youngleadersforums/index.php?en_forums. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ ["http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/ukmeetsgermany/index.php?en "The UK meets Germany"]. Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. "http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/ukmeetsgermany/index.php?en. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ A list of the programs of the Ernst Reuter Initiative
- ^ Germany Meets Turkey and the Robert Bosch Stiftung
- ^ A description of Germany Meets Turkey on the homepage of the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)[4]
- ^ "The UK meets Germany". Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/canadameetsgermany/index.php?en. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ "Canada Meets Germany : A Forum for Young Leaders Symposium" (Announcement of the seminar). The Canadian centre for German and European Studies, Université de Montreal. http://www.cceae.umontreal.ca/Canada-Meets-Germany-A-Forum-for. Retrieved June 4 2011.
- ^ http://cdnews1.wordpress.com/
- ^ Initiativ Amerika Haus website
- ^ German Federal Agency for Civic Education website
- ^ A video report by the German newspaper Tagesspiegel on "How will America vote?[5]
- ^ An article on "How will America vote?" that appeared in the German newspaper "Märkische Allgemeine" (15.10.2008)[6]
- ^ An article in the German newspaper "Berliner Zeitung" on the election night celebration at the Amerika Haus [7]
- ^ Documentation of Black History Month in Berlin from the German Federal Agency for Civic Education [8]
- ^ Official website of Cem Özdemir[9]
- ^ "German-Turkish Week 2009" (Website). Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/germanturkishweek/index.php?en. Retrieved June 4 2011.
