Setting the (Cultural) Agenda: Concepts, Communities and Representation in Euro-Mediterranean Relations

Abstract

Since 9/11, inter-cultural dialogue, in the Euro-Mediterranean area and beyond, has unintentionally reproduced the ‘clash of civilizations’ thesis. A rethink of the concepts of ‘cultures’, communities and their representatives points to the agenda-setting function of inter-cultural dialogue, which also legitimises specific interpretations of regional and international politics. In spite of some positive developments within the EMP's inter-cultural dialogue, this article recommends a departure from the rhetoric of ‘inter-cultural dialogue’ altogether. Instead, a clear distinction between cultural co-operation and the promotion of sustainable development and human rights is necessary, along with the establishment of a trans-cultural dialogue that defines similarities and differences across states and regions along thematic lines.

Notes

¹ There are too many examples to mention. To give at least one example, in the very popular talk show Otto e mezzo on the Italian Channel 7 (La 7) of 22 September 2004 on the issue of ‘Islam and democracy’, the talk show host, Giuliano Ferrara, affirmed that ‘Islamic countries are not democratic’, which provoked a debate on whether ‘Islam’ is compatible with ‘democracy’. The question of what an ‘Islamic’ country is, and whether the term ‘Islamic’ refers to the predominance of shariah law or simply to the fact that the majority of its citizens are Muslims, was not even addressed. In the case of the latter, one wonders where Turkey fits in, while the question also arises of whether, by analogy, secular France, for instance, should be considered a ‘Christian’ country.

² For further information on UNESCO's Intercultural Dialogue Programme, see http://www.unesco.org/dialogue2001 (accessed 27 May 2005).

³ Information on the activities on cultural co-operation and intercultural dialogue of the Council of Europe is available at http://www.coe.int (accessed 4 June 2005).

⁴ Information on the Intercultural Dialogue Platform is available at http://www.cul-dialogue.org (accessed 28 May 2005).

⁵ The programme of the conference is available at the website of the Moroccan Ministry of Communication at http://www.minculture.gov.ma/fr/en-nadwa.htm#2 (accessed 1 June 2005).

⁶ Information on the regular conferences of ISESCO is available at http://www.isesco.org.ma (accessed 30 April 2005).

⁷ Two conferences on inter-cultural dialogue, organized (or funded) by the EU's DG Education and Culture in March 2002 and May 2004, adopted a much broader concept of ‘culture’ and departed from the ‘classical’ categories and concepts. Information on these events is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/portal/action/dialogue/dial_en.htm (accessed 4 June 2005).

⁸ Regarding the role of religion in public life in European countries, the debates about in-vitro fertilization in Italy before the June 2005 referendum that witnessed the massive intervention of the Catholic church, the fervently contested issue of abortion in the US, and the heated discussions in a number of European countries about the compatibility between the ‘secular state’ and the displaying of religious symbols in public institutions are cases in point.