Submitted by admin on 27 June, 2010 - 14:17
Date: 
2010-07-19 10:00 - 20:00
Description: 
First Session: 10am-1:30pm , Lunch Break at the Culture Palace , Second Session: 5pm-8pm
Location: 
Hassan II Centre

the Missing Link in International Relations

Cultural Diplomacy Panel Discussion – Assilah Festival

Summary:

The two panel discussions on cultural diplomacy, under the broad theme of "Culture: the Missing Link in International Relations," will bring a multi-perspectival approach to the impact of cultural diplomacy on international relations in contexts of armed conflicts, political stereotypes and misconceptions and the preservation of historical landmarks in politically unstable zones.

The first panel will examine culture as a critical component of inter-state diplomacy, thus laying the foundation for the second panel discussion which will consider case studies that illustrate how arts and culture provide a bridge for increased understanding between peoples, especially in volatile environments or during socio-political reconstruction phases.

Speakers will include the renowned cultural diplomacy expert, Richard Arndt, who authored The First Resort of Kings, the definitive book on the subject; former and incumbent ambassadors from around the world, as well as cultural leaders who have been active in the fields of cultural security and the preservation of international music festivals.

At the conclusion of these two sessions, it is hoped that the audience will have a better sense of the pivotal role that cultural exchange plays in diplomacy, both in the context of amicable relations (UAE-Moroccan ties, for instance), but also during strategic transitions (Cold War; post-invasion Iraq).

Programme:

Culture: the Missing Link in International Relations

9:00am-11:00am First Panel – Cultural Diplomacy as Viewed by Diplomats

Coffee Break

11:30am-1:30pm Second Panel – Cultural Diplomacy and the Politics of Identity: The Power of Culture and Civil Society