Common Sense in Foreign Policy

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

IntroductionLithuania established diplomatic relations with India in 1992 after regaining independence from former Soviet Union in 1991.1 The Lithuanian political leadership, while attempting to promote relations with India, endorsed that Indians and Lithuanians have similarities in culture, language, customs and ancestry. The Indian leadership in early twentieth century viewed Lithuania as a distinct cultural entity2 with linguistic and cultural traditions similar to that of India. It has also been observed in India that Baltic states, including Lithuania, had a strong fascination towards India, which is oldest among world civilizations, under influence of Europeans, especially Germans from classical antiquity. It is interesting to know that they had a very nostalgic and emotional feeling towards Indian people, religion, spirituality, language and culture. India remains a distant mystical and exotic cultural notion in minds of people of Lithuania. In age of globalization today, understanding about modern India is deficient among Lithuanians. In contemporary India-Lithuania relations, and past interactions are being used by both countries as an important foreign policy instrument for promoting mutual understanding among people and bilateral cooperation. Therefore, this paper tries to search for possible interactions between Indians and Lithuanians in past, which is almost an unfamiliar subject in India, with a contemporary perspective.Framework of AnalysisIn contemporary Lithuania and India, cultural interaction between both countries is reflected in cultural diplomacy practices of their foreign policy realms. plays an important role in creating mutual understanding between two nations in promoting international relations. in context of cultural diplomacy looks at a broader spectrum and is not limited to performing arts alone but it embraces all aspects in a broader context. As Anand states, culture is defined not in narrow sense of art, painting, poetry, etc. but in much broader sense reflecting values, habits and accumulated mores of a society. It includes a people's past history, religion, philosophy, law, interests, language and all other capabilities acquired by [individual] as a member of society.3 The UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity defines in a broad sense. It defines as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.4Cultural diplomacy is instrument used by countries to enhance intercultural dialog, cooperation and mutual understanding, and to promote cultural diversity and harmonize international relations. Paramjit S Sahai argues that the heart of cultural diplomacy is to promote understanding among people, who come from different backgrounds and hold different values, through medium of culture.5 The role of cultural diplomacy is to build bridge between nations and peoples. Milton Cummings defines cultural diplomacy as the exchange of ideas, information, art and other aspects of among nations and their peoples in order to foster mutual understanding.6 According to Karan Singh, former President of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Culture has become a way of life which includes history, art, sculpture, dance, music, traditional and contemporary achievements, science and technology and aspirations of our nation. has no boundaries and using it as a way to interact with masses has been most effective way to win hearts in era of globalization. gives us a chance to interact and understand great cultural heritage of world.7 Culture, thus, is a medium of interaction, and communication through which diplomats represent 'nation' and 'national identity' of a country in international arena. …