On 23 May 2017 the Council adopted conclusions on culture in the European Union's external relations. The conclusions follow the joint communication from the High Representative and the European Commission of 8 June 2016 entitled "Towards an EU Strategy for international cultural relations" of 8 June 2016". They provide guidance on the EU's strategic approach to international cultural relations. They recognise that international cultural relations can only develop by encouraging cultural diversity within the EU, and they call for consistency and coherence of effort.
In June 2016, the European Commission and The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini presented the 'Strategy for international cultural relations' with the aim of encouraging cultural cooperation between the EU and its partner countries to promote a global order based on peace, the rule of law, freedom of expression, mutual understanding and respect for fundamental values.
Over the last decade, the development of transnational terrorism, the political instability of certain regions, economic crises, inter-ethnic violence, the refugee crisis and inter-cultural misunderstandings have transformed societies into more obscure perceptions of both their futures and their pasts.
Culture is a recurring theme in European policies. In times of both euphoria and turmoil, the ‘artisans of Europe’ have often engaged in a quest for the cultural foundations of the continent's unity, the essence of its identity and the limits of diversity. In recent years, the EU has been promoting cultural diplomacy, framed in terms of dialogue between civilisations/cultures, and aims to exploit it role in the conduct of its foreign policy. Nowadays European cultural cooperation has been oriented towards European cultural diplomacy which is still under construction.
EU has many initiatives in the field of cultural diplomacy such as EUNIC, Creative Europe and recently Cultural Diplomacy Platform, nevertheless, the efficiency of these initiatives are questionable. Each member state has its own strategy and approach for cultural diplomacy which was used as a tool and mean for economic diplomacy and promoting their country brand and interest. Therefore EU weak point is a common cultural diplomacy approach there is no unity between member states.
The other problematic for EU External Relations is the understanding and meaning of cultural diplomacy. The cultural diplomacy is not only limited cultural events such as art exhibition, music and film festival, tourism but unfortunately the new EU initiative such as Creative Europe and Cultural Diplomacy Platform are essentially focused on these kind activities. It is not with art exhition and film festival that you can resolve the problem of radicalism, terrorism, prevent the conflicts, the cultural misunderstanding, social exclusion and discrimination. This is an elitist approach where the majority of EU population they don’t feel concerned. If EU doesn't improve its strategy and approach for cultural diplomacy, its recent initiative suh as Cultural Diplomacy Platform will remain just again another inefficient initiative where EU will disburse millions of euro for an inefficient result.
As being a partner and researcher for “European Leadership in Cultural, Science and Innovation Diplomacy” (EL-CSID) project initiated by European Commission under the banner of the Horizon 2020, I will study the “European Cultural Diplomacy from the outside looking in” in Turkey and Muslim World. We will try to compare the EU policies and practices in contrasting settings in Muslim-majority countries. We will try to figure-out the reason of the cultural misunderstanding and try to compare the axiology (systems of value) in EU and in the Muslim world for a better understanding of the EU’s perception.
I will conduct with my team two distinct surveys concerning culture, system of values and perception of EU in Turkey and Muslim World. The first survey will be conducted in Turkey especially in Anatolia (rural areas) which has a real impact in the current Turkish political system and decision-making. Since decades, many surveys about EU politics, perception were conducted in the elitist and urban areas which are representing the 20% of Turkish population. The obtained results were not reflecting the reality of the current situation as a result a distorted information and result were transmitted to the public.
Since decades Turkey’s accession process within the EU is a highly controversial issue which has been an intensive process, brimmed with ups and downs. Due to its geopolitical position and cultural identity, as a Muslim secular state, Turkey is cultural bridge between the West and Muslim countries, making it especially important in cultural diplomacy for EU foreign policy. Nevertheless, the cultural misunderstanding, the misinterpreted perceptions, the axiological nihilism between Turkey and the EU seems to be the sources of tension for Turkey’s accession. in 2008, 80% of the Turkish population was in favour of integration into the EU; this rate has since decreased to 17–19% in 2016 it will be interesting to understand the reason behind.
The second survey will be conducted with Muslim communities living in Europe. We observed that EU’s values create social exclusion, identity crisis within Muslim minorities in Europe who are considered to be culturally the otherness. The social exclusion of Muslim in Europe is indelibly linked to the identity crises rendered European Muslim vulnerable to Islamist radicalisation and indoctrination. Olivier Roy, has called European Muslim migrants who join terrorist groups the ‘Generation of Nihilists’. The main objective of this survey is trying to understand why this young European Muslim generation is attracted by radicalism why they are rejecting the European cultural values? How European Muslim communities considered European values and how to integrate them to the European ecosystem .
In my opinion, Europe should develop a new axiology that is adapted to 21st century challenges, taking all of the parameters of other cultures and the failures of the past into account. Its relation with Turkey can constitute base for creating a new approach. Cultural diversity remains a major force for European integration. Cultural diversity represents a wide-ranging resource for innovation, growth and local economic, social and cultural development, making possible an opening up to other cultures and an inflow of new knowledge, methodologies, skills and ideas which increase a society’s creativity and make it better able to face up to new situations, crises and challenges.
The success of European cultural diplomacy in Muslim majority countries will depend on the success of its public diplomacy efforts with European Muslim community and their integration into the European secular public sphere. As a result, EU can benefit from the integration of Muslim communities prevent the radicalisation of the young generation and can involve them for promoting European cultural values in their country of origin as the Ambassador of EU’s value system.
Associate Prof. Naciye Selin Senocak, UNESCO Chair Holder Cultural Diplomacy, Governance and Education and Director of Center of Diplomatic and Strategic Studies Turkiye, Researcher for “European Leadership in Cultural, Science and Innovation Diplomacy”.
