Cultural aspects of foreign policy of the state in the post-bipolar epoch: German experience

In the postwar period competent cultural policy is an instrument of the return of respect for Germany from the world community. With the transition to the postbipolar epoch the accents in the cultural policy of the united Germany were arranged differently. Its mission was seen in ensuring the peaceful coexistence of different cultures and mitigation of the ''clash of civilizations''. It was oriented on improving the quality and reliability of the German cultural communication with its partners around the world. Germany positioned itself as the bearer of the spirit of an open society that recognizes the shared responsibility for peace, sustainable development, human rights and freedoms. The last line became particularly important with the advent to power in Germany of the coalition the SPD - the Union 90/''Green''. In the cultural policy of Germany it provides for the consensus between the leading political forces in the country. This facilitated the adoption of foreign policy decisions, and eventually led to the mobilization of the necessary financial resources. Steps taken in the field of cultural cooperation were considered as part of conflict management by the German authorities. It performed diagnostic function, became an instrument for early detection of deviant phenomena in the socio-economic, religious and ethnic relations. This allows to use the cultural and information policy to facilitate their return to normal. The foreign policy of Germany in the field of culture indirectly performs the function of marketing. The German language became an effective means of promoting the interests of the German capital in the world. United Germany intensified international efforts in the field of education and science, especially at universities. German support mechanism for foreign policy in the field of culture runs smoothly, its key elements are private funds and specialized institutions of civil society. They contributed to the development of humanitarian cooperation with other countries, supplying the world with the positive information about Germany. German foreign policy priorities in the field of culture were reflected in its cooperation with Russia. German-Russian dialogue on culture acquired a new quality, performing for the German side the function of intellectual call that urgently requires improvement of the forms of spiritual expression. In general, the consensus of the authorities, business and civil society, has been made in the cultural field, allowing to realize the interests of Germany in the international arena.

Keywords

Authors

References