The history of the formation of "soft power" resources in the foreign cultural policy of the Italian Republic

Abstract

The subject of the research in this article is the history of the formation of the resources of the "soft power" of the Italian Republic. The object of research in this article is the activities and experience of the Italian Republic in the XX century within the framework of foreign cultural policy to promote a positive image of the country on the basis of its own national culture and its components. The article aims to provide an overview of the development of the concept of "soft power", the history of its formation, as well as the study of Italy's experience in using its cultural heritage as tools for forming a positive image of its national culture abroad. The study of this issue in several directions, depending on the goals of the state, allowed us to consider in dynamics what was the basis for the current state and functioning of foreign cultural policy, in Italian practice based mainly on elements of national culture. One of the key aspects of the formation of Italy's soft power resources is its rich cultural heritage. Italy is known for its great works of art, architecture, music, cuisine and fashion. These cultural elements have become an important tool for attracting attention and respect to the country abroad. When using general scientific methods of information analysis and synthesis, observation, systematization, classification, interpretation and forecasting, the main milestones of the development of "soft power" in the Italian Republic are examined in detail, which makes it possible to trace on which resources the popularization of national culture is based and which areas have been allocated by the state over time to increase the attractiveness and prestige of the country, as well as establishing trusting relationships with potential partners. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that today the connection between national culture and soft power is an important aspect of the state's foreign policy, which arouses some interest in the topic. The interest in studying this aspect is also explained by the fact that today the skillful application of the policy of "soft power" comes to the fore in cultural diplomacy, which shows the country's ability to achieve its goals through the attractiveness of its lifestyle, values and culture, and not through military force, implying the emergence of certain threats. In connection with the conclusions obtained, it is possible to identify how the development of modern trends in the transmission of the image of national culture developed, which are now actively promoted by the Italian Republic through the policy of "soft power", contributing to the establishment of friendly relations, increasing prestige and increasing influence in the international arena.