Cultural diplomacy a powerful tool: Goel

: Culture plays an important role in promoting tactful conversations or negotiations, and therefore it is surprising that cultural techniques have not been included as an effective instrument of diplomacy, the former ambassador, Suresh K. Goel, said here on Thursday.

He was speaking on ‘Civilisational Dialogue in the Conduct of International Diplomacy’ at the Department of Politics, University of Kerala. “With cultural liberalism as part of the Indian ethos which not only permits a tolerant and inclusive dialogue between dissimilar ideas but also encourages ideological flexibility to absorb varying precepts, including religions and philosophies, our nation has been a pioneer in the art of cultural diplomacy,” he said.

Cultural diplomacy must be interpreted and deployed as a civilisational dialogue that creates an alternative space in which conversations amongst nations and societies are conducted in a non-confrontational and non-intrusive manner. “Cultural diplomacy further helps in creating an effective public opinion and thus supports public diplomacy as an important component in the conduct of foreign policy,” Dr. Goel pointed out.

The strength of cultural diplomacy is that the civilisational dialogue is based on faith in commonality of human sentiments to dissipate political and economic divergences.

The projection of soft power as an instrument of diplomacy is often confused as part of cultural diplomacy.Integration of societies

Cultural diplomacy focuses on not just the role of soft power but integration of societies and dialogues between them to support the political dialogue rather than conflict-driven policy structures.

It must be added in the final analysis that cultural diplomacy is a non-coercive and pragmatic process to promote dialogue and understandings, enhancing the process of compromise and mapping mutually acceptable solutions. However, just as power of military interventions remain the final resort after diplomacy fails, cultural diplomacy on its own is not enough and can only work in tandem with other instruments of diplomacy to open a space for peaceful solutions, he added.