Constructivism is an international theory that contends that it is not the way states are that makes the difference, for example, the identities and interests of states are not intrinsic but rather, constructed through the interactions between social actors and ideas that the actors share.
Constructivism emphasizes that national identities and interests are not fixed but shaped through social interactions and cultural diplomacy.
The ideational factors, beliefs, norms, and identities, are of great importance in shaping the behavior of the international actors as this perspective points out. As cultural diplomacy, constructivism provides a way to understand how states utilize cultural connections to projects and construct their IDs and international perceptions, and finally, mutual understanding.
Cultural diplomacy entails the exchange of ideas, information, language, art, and other aspects of culture among peoples of nations for purposes of better understanding. It is a form of soft power meant to reveal the soul of a nation and exert influence by teaching foreign populations about a nation’s ideals and institutions.
Cultural diplomacy is useful to the intersubjective construction of national identities from a constructivist perspective. Cultural initiatives are used by states in dialogues with one another and with how they perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others. The process is a dynamic process for it reconstructs identities continuously through cultural interactions.
For instance, it can be seen in the effort to protect national culture and values abroad by, for example, the promotion of cultural institutions by France (Alliance Française) or Germany (Goethe-Institut) as such institutions largely work to shape international perceptions about country inhabitation.
Analysis of cultural diplomacy is presented through the introduction of César Villanueva Rivas’ concept of ‘cosmopolitan constructivism.’ This is a cosmopolitan and constructivist way of approach that stresses the celebration of cultural differences, societal exchanges as well as encounters with people to create mutual understanding.
Cultural diplomacy serves as a form of soft power, allowing nations to project their values, traditions, and influence internationally.
Villanueva Rivas advocates the use of cooperation and exchanges as principal strategies and argues that cultural diplomacy’s focus should be on fostering a common understanding of other societies. To sum up, this approach emerges to conform with the constructivist understanding that identities and interests are the results of social interactions.
There are many examples of the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy in constructing a national identity. For instance, the Islamic Republic of Iran exploited the actor diplomacy to form a portrait of itself in Central Asia. Iran wants to occupy a favorable stance in the region by emphasizing that it shares a cultural heritage with the countries of the region.
Unfortunately, Iran’s portrayal in Central Asian history textbooks suggests that these efforts are fought, as the secular governments of the region have consistently downplayed Iran’s historical influence. This demonstrates the intricacy of the relationship between cultural diplomacy and self-definition, which necessitates the play of variables both from the state and countryside in the endeavor of identity construction.
This illuminates the role of the non-state actors in cultural diplomacy as well, according to constructivism. Cultural exchanges help assemble national identities, which are constructed by such entities as non-governmental organizations, and cultural institutions, as well as by individuals.
Such actors participate in the cultural imaginaries of how nations are disseminated globally. Examples of the involvement of non-state actors in cultural diplomacy include the proliferation of cultural centers like the Confucius Institutes, which are set up by China and use education and cultural programs to influence international perception.
Non-state actors, such as cultural institutions and NGOs, play a crucial role in shaping global perceptions through educational and cultural exchanges.
In addition, learning in cultural diplomacy is never taken for granted; constructivism notes the significance of discourse in cultural diplomacy. The social construct of identities is developed from the narratives and stories that nations invent about themselves and those that are others.
Cultural diplomacy can affect these narratives by encouraging the promotion of images supporting the desired identity of states. This construction of identity in a discursive way is a continuous process and one that requires continued engagement and change in relation to the relevant international contexts.
Finally, what we have is that constructivism provides a useful framework for understanding cultural diplomacy. The constructivism approach concentrates on the constructed character of the identities and social communications in terms of cultural exchanges that can shape national identities and international perceptions.
A dynamic process of identity construction is undertaken by states through cultural diplomacy; the intercultural exchange of these instruments is used to try to influence a state’s image in the world as well as advance mutual understanding within the international realm.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
