IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences

Abstract

The main objective of this study is
to highlight the upgraded role of culture in the policy of each country participating
in the modern international system. The contribution of culture in policy
making strategies is particularly promoted by the development of cultural
diplomacy, which plays an important role in current international relations.
Cultural diplomacy is an instrument of crucial importance for the transmission
of culture and national values. The main role of cultural diplomacy is to
promote the trans-national dialogue between different cultures and nations,
particularly between the West and the Muslim world. The motivation for this
study has been the fact that over the last decades several events (for
instance, modern wars that have been influenced by ethnic, cultural and
religious beliefs) highlighted the emergence of the critical role of culture in
modern international politics.

In this study, emphasis is placed on
the goals and aspirations of developing cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy
can be conveniently used as a flexible and universally accepted means of
approaching countries with which diplomatic relations are tense or, sometimes,
even non-existent. After World War II, the structure of international relations
underwent significant changes and a growing tendency towards cultural
disagreements was observed. In this context, it seems that culture has evolved
to a powerful factor in the field of international relations, a factor of
continuously increasing influence and importance. Modern developments in the
field of international relations show that the 21st century will be a golden
age for the further development of cultural diplomacy.