Berlin Consensus on Public Diplomacy for Global Public Goods
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 25, 2015
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China and the EU are two very different entities in world politics. While both are large economic powers and economic cooperation is still challenged by disagreement and differences in world views. Furthermore, the fact that China is going through a transformative phase regarding its position in our world order is complicating things. China's political intentions are said to be "hard to read".
While differing views are quite ordinary in world politics, it is very important to have a good understanding of each other's perspective and perceptions in order to achieve an "informed divergence" (Anne-Marie Slaughter) of opinions as a basis for striking compromises. An uninformed divergence can easily lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Therefore, creating a bridge for mutual understanding should be a vital interest on both sides. While higher politics are usually preoccupied with issues of security, finance and trade – while cultural issues are more or less left aside and treated as issues of low politics – cultural perceptions nonetheless constantly permeate actors' realities, so that even politics that don't seem cultural in nature can hence become interspersed with intercultural misunderstandings.
Three research institutes from Europe and China – the German ifa (Institute of Foreign Relations), the Clingendael (Netherlands Institute of Foreign Relations) and the Chinese Charhar Institute – have set up a meaningful cooperation to jointly exchange views and research on a variety of important issues, taking a culturally sensitive perspective of political views and misunderstandings, communication flows and self-images on both sides. All three of the research institutes have a solid record of research foci on public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy as well as cultural foreign relations. They jointly set up yearly conferences on varying topics around culture and public diplomacy in and between the EU and China to attain a better understanding of each other's world views and perceptions – and how these relate to actual international politics.
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