Cultural Diplomacy and Libraries: the Experience of Russia and Uzbekistan

Abstract

The authors reveal the role of cultural diplomacy as a tool for the exchange of cultural practices between different states in order to ensure mutual understanding and strengthen international stability. The purpose of the article is to show the example of participation of libraries and Universities in the implementation of the ideas of cultural diplomacy, to fill the gap in highlighting the experience of interaction in this area of Russia and Uzbekistan. The article analyses the experience of promoting the Russian concept of the formation of information culture of individual in Uzbekistan. The article interprets the information culture of individual as the most important factor of successful educational, professional and everyday activities, as well as social security of individual in the conditions of digital transformation of society. The authors characterize cooperation of the Research Institute of Information Technologies of the Social Sphere of the Kemerovo State Institute of Culture with the UNESCO Representative Office in Uzbekistan, the National Library of Uzbekistan named after A. Navoi and other library and educational organizations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2015—2022. The paper emphasizes the fruitfulness of the implementation of the model of cultural diplomacy based on respect for other cultures, mutual cultural exchange in order to increase cultural wealth and a better understanding of the peculiarities of other states, nations and peoples. The authors formulate the principles that ensure the fruitfulness of such model of cultural diplomacy: interest, passion of the party that perceives others cultural experience, rather than imposing on it the achievements and values of another culture; systematic and consistent building up of contacts, instead of the one-time nature of individual events; adaptation of cultural experience and cultural practices to the traditions of their own culture, rather than mechanical copying of the achievements of another culture; reliance on a wide range of actors, valued participants who play a significant role in the implementation of cultural diplomacy; mutual cultural enrichment, mutual cultural exchange, and not the dictate of traditions and values of one culture.