Navigating Uncertainty: The Future of EU International Cultural Relations

Abstract

The future of EU international cultural relations will depend on several factors. The rise of populist and nationalist forces takes place both within and outside Europe. The global nature of the challenges humanity faces in terms of trust, tolerance and education affects in different ways all countries and transversally impacts our capacity to achieve sustainable development. Hard power seems to be gaining prominence over soft power and persuasion. Uses of soft power (and propaganda) persist in the framework of identity politics. In whatever direction these factors evolve, this chapter argues that investing in stronger EU cooperation in international cultural relations, rather than cultural diplomacy, remains the best solution for EU leadership. An EU strategic approach to international cultural relations rooted in development policy and intercultural dialogue bears the promise to facilitate cooperation among EU institutions, member states and their cultural institutes, as well as broader cultural networks based on innovative models. However, a series of criticalities could potentially affect this emerging policy, which calls for some recommendations on the process and content of the approach under development.