Footprint or fingerprint: international cultural policy as identity policy

Abstract

This article focuses on government policy aimed at the presentation of the nation abroad through cultural activities and its relation to national identity, external cultural policy. The methodological framework is offered by the discourse analysis of Wodak and the notion of identity of Laclau and Mouffe, treating policy as a discourse. A closer look is taken at the concept of cultural diplomacy and the closely related term nation branding. This article will show how the shift in paradigm also changes the role of ‘the other’ in the construction of national identity and how this influences the role of the arts in international cultural policy.

Keywords:

• international cultural policy
• policy-as-discourse
• national identity

Notes

1. Geert Wilders is a Dutch populist politician and leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom. He is known abroad for his anti-Islam rhetoric.

2. Fitna is a 16 min long film by Dutch politician Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom in the Dutch parliament. The name comes from the Arabic word fitna which is used to describe ‘disagreement and division among people’ or a ‘test of faith in times of trial.’ The movie offers a critical view of Islam and the Koran. Interspersed with extremely violent verses of the Koran, it shows graphic views of terrorist violence and other disturbing images.

3. The main difference between van Gogh and Wilders was that the first was an artist and the second a Member of Parliament, but that does not necessarily explain the difference in attitude. The dramatic events around van Gogh of course made the government more cautious, but also the fact that it was a Member of Parliament caused a direct link between the government and the movie.

4. The SICA has an extensive database of all foreign activities of Dutch cultural institutions.

5. As analyzed by Paschalidis 2009, countries use two different terms to describe their external cultural policy. Some countries use the term ICP, whilst others use the term ICR. Although at first sight just a linguistic difference, the use of the terms tell something about the intentions behind the policy. When described as ICR, the emphasis is on the result of the actions: the keeping of good diplomatic relations. This has consequences for the type of actions that is performed. The term policy leaves more space for setting goals that can be achieved in the relation. It is for that reason that in this article the term ICP is used; ICR is considered of the ways to carry out ICP.

6. This separation of roles – the government is not giving a judgment of the artistic quality of the project – dates back to Thorbecke, a statesman who in 1863 stated in parliament that the government ‘is not a judge over art and science.’ He is very often quoted in debates on cultural policy.

7. To make things even more complex, also the Departments of Education and Science and the Department of Development Aid are involved. The Culture and Development program follows its own path and is not very much connected with the program described here that is aimed at the Dutch presence abroad. It is much more concerned with the role of culture in the development relation. Also education and science is not much discussed here; this part is mainly filled in with exchange programs.