Mediterranean civilizational model of humanitarian diplomacy

Abstract

Humanitarian diplomacy is one of the key tools for positioning individual states and supranational structures in the modern world. In the article, the author provides the theoretical foundations of humanitarian diplomacy, the goals and features of this tool. Next, an analysis is made of the countries of the Mediterranean region, which includes states with various historical, cultural and civilizational characteristics. Despite the fundamental differences in the traditions and strategies of building relations with the outside world and neighboring states, the author gives examples of the points of contact of the Mediterranean countries in the framework of the implementation of their foreign policy tasks. In particular, we are talking about the goals of sustainable development of the United Nations and the provision of humanitarian assistance in the framework of the activities of the International Organization of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The author provides examples of general principles and structures formed within the framework of the ICRC's activities and the achievement of individual SDGs. It is concluded that it is impossible to single out a universal model of humanitarian diplomacy for the Mediterranean region. We can only talk about a kind of construct of the Mediterranean civilization model — where the sea itself is of particular value, is an element of the geopolitical strategy and determines the formation of identity. Without exception, all countries in the region have common priorities, for example, the need to solve problems with the availability of drinking water and depletion of the fertile soil layer, which can become one of the key risks for the region. Also, all of them are aimed at developing the potential of youth — each country has a "roadmap" for the development of youth and their involvement in a variety of creative, scientific, cultural and administrative-political projects. However, the ways to accomplish these tasks can be diametrically opposed.