EU Integration and Cultural Diplomacy in Times of Crisis: The Case of Greece

Abstract

The economic crisis challenges the integration policies of the European Union (EU) and reduces its soft power. Developing from a discussion on cultural values, cultural diplomacy is proposed as a way for the EU and its member states to address the negative effects of the crisis on their soft power and integration process. Cultural values, identity issues, top-down and bottom-up stakeholders, policies, and prospects for cultural diplomacy are explored with a focus on Greece. A proposal based on the balancing of sociocultural with economic principles is presented as a conclusion that would address soft power deficits and further EU integration.

Keywords:

• cultural diplomacy
• cultural values
• economic crisis
• EU integration
• European Union
• Greece
• soft power

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author would like to express appreciation and thanks to the anonymous reviewer for offering valuable comments, suggestions, and encouragement that helped form the current article.

Notes

Examples of documents and programmes: “People's Europe” campaign (1980); Treaties of Maastricht (1992), Amsterdam (1997) and Lisbon (2007); Resolution on the European Agenda for Culture (2007); Culture 2000 and 2007 and European Capitals of Culture programmes. Relevant policies include: financing of heritage and arts projects; promotion of educational and cultural exchanges; recognition of diplomas; audiovisual policies; town-twinning; elimination of border controls; adoption of a common numismatic unit; other symbolic measures (e.g., EU anthem and flag, standardized passport and driving licence, European Week/Cultural Month/Year).

McLaren (2002, 552–53) and Pérez-Nievas and Mata-López (2011, 1–7) succinctly present relevant literature.

Defined as governments communicating with the people of other countries rather than with their governments (Ninkovich 1996, 3; Nye 2008, 95).

Est. 1951. The only Greek research center abroad, it is linked to the historic Greek-Orthodox Confraternity of Venice.

Greek state subsidies for academic institutes have almost halved from 810,000€ (2005) to 417,650€ (2010) (Giannarou 2009; 2011).

The “Zorbas” movie is based on the novel Life and Deeds of Alexis Zorbas of Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Syrtaki is the famous dance performed by the protagonist Anthony Quinn and, since then, it seems to represent Greece's persisting “joie de vivre,” even in the face of adversities.

Nobel Prize candidate for literature (1949). ECCD was founded upon his vision.