International Cultural Relations

general courses

Classroom

The aim of the course is to examine the place and role of culture in international relations, as well as to introduce participants to issues surrounding international cultural relations in a theoretical, institutional and problem-oriented setting.

Participants will explore institutional forms of international cultural relations in the European and global context. Students will investigate UNESCO and Council of Europe activities in the domain of culture. The protection of cultural heritage and international movement of cultural goods will be will explore in detail.

Participants will analyse cultural diplomacy issues, that is, the role of culture in countries' foreign affairs, which is another aspect of international cultural relations.

Students will learn about Poland's contribution to international cultural relations in general, and about its commitment to international organisations' activities and participation in EU cultural programmes. The restitution of Polish cultural goods after WWII in the context of transfers of cultural goods in Central and Eastern Europe will also be one of the issues covered. Moreover, participants will become familiar with some aspects of Poland cultural and public diplomacy.

1. The place and role of culture in international relations – an introduction.

2. Institutionalisation of international cultural relations – general issues.

3. Institutionalisation of international cultural relations on the global scale. UNESCO and its activities in field of culture.

4. Protection of cultural goods during military conflicts.

5. The restitution of cultural goods looted and transferred during and due to WWII.

6Types of claims for the recovery of cultural goods. Selected issues in international disputes over cultural property.

6. Foreign cultural policy, cultural diplomacy, nation branding– theory and case studies (optional course depending on the timetable).

Student's workload:

lecture - 30 h

reading in foreign language - 60 h

preparation for the lecture - 30 h

preparation for the exam - 60 h

altogether -180 h

J.M.Mitchell, International Cultural Relations, Routledge, 2017.

Y.Ahmad, The Scope and Definitions of Heritage. From Tangible to Intagible, International Journal of Heritage Studies, 2006, vol. 12, issue 3, 292-300.

E. Keough, Heritage in Peril; A Critique of UNESCO’s World Heritage Program, “Washington University Global Studies Law Review”, 2011, vol.10, n. 3, s. 593-615.

R.O'Keefe, The Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict, Cambridge, 2011.

P. van Ham, Social Power in International Politcs, Routlegde, London 2010, s. 46-68.

M. Cummings, Cultural Diplomacy and the United States Government: A Survey, Washington 2003.

C.Schneider, Cultural Diplomacy, Hard to Define, but You'd know It if You saw it, The Brown Journal of World Affairs, 2006, vol. XIII, issue 1, p. 191-203.

I.Ang, R. Isar, Ph. Mar, Cultural Diplomacy: beyond national interest? International Journal of Cultural Policy, 2015, vol. 21, No. 4, 365-381.

European Public Diplomacy: Soft Power at Work, eds. M. David Cross, J. Mellisen, Palgrave Mamillan, New York 2013.

The New Public Diplomacy, ed. J. Mellisen New York 2005.

Influence and attraction. Culture and the race for soft power in the 21 century, British Council, 2011.

Y. Fan, Branding the nation: towards a better understanding, “Place Branding and Public Diplomacy”, No. 6/2010.

G. Szondi, The role and challenges of country branding in transition countries: The Central and East European experience, “Place Branding and Public Diplomacy”, 2007,vol.3,n.1, s.8-20.D.Jurkiewicz-Eckert, The Polska Brand as a Challenge for Polish Cultural Diplomacy. Old Determinants, New Strategies, “Yearbook of Polish European Studies”, 2014, vol. 17, s. 259-292.

After the course student should be able to:

- understand the place and the role of culture in the international relations in global, regional and bilateral context.

- identify and describe the main activities of the international institutions acting in the field of culture.

- identify and understand the main documents concerning the international cultural relations in various fields of culture

- know and analyse main aspects of UE cultural policy

- understand the role of culture in foreign policy of European and non-European countries.

Teaching methods:

-combination of theoretical issues and case studies;

- case study analysis with the use of terminology and concepts gradually introduced during the course;

- individual activation through constant referring to current events related to the issues of the classes and their analysis, and through referring to their individual experience and knowledge gained from independent reading,

- use of the Kampus platform and the uploaded materials including scientific papers, links to Internet sources and various audio-video materials, films, etc.

- use of a PPT original presentation for each module

- involvement of the student in independent work through the completion of the assignments for each module (each assignment is evaluated separately)

Assessment criteria:

The assessment consists of three parts: class attendance, submission of all individual assignments on the due date and in-class activity. Each assignment is given a number of points. The sum of these points is the basis for the final grade. Attendance in class is required (two unexcused absences are allowed).