Although military intervention and economic coercion appear to dominate current international affairs, culture, in a broad sense, remains a fundamental aspect of international relations, as demonstrated by contemporary ‘culture wars’. Previous research has shown how various actors, ranging from great powers to non-sovereign governments, frequently in cooperation with non-state actors, have used cultural resources —from political philosophy to technical training— and products —including books, artworks and films— to pursue national interest, exert international influence, establish long-term cooperation and promote mutual understanding. Cultural strategies and practices have therefore played a significant role in shaping modern diplomacy over the past two centuries. This special issue seeks to emphasise these alternative forms of influence by bringing together historical case studies in which cultural assets have been deployed by different actors to achieve their foreign policy goals.
The editors are open to submissions from scholars at any stage of their
academic careers from across the globe as the work-in-progress event will be hybrid. We welcome papers examining cultural foreign policies conducted in any region at any historical period of the 19th and 20th centuries. Proposals might address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Forms of diplomacy:
· Cultural diplomacy and its variants: music diplomacy, book diplomacy, etc.
· Educational relations and exchanges.
· Heritage and memorial diplomacy.
· Public diplomacy and international broadcasting.
· Paradiplomacy.
· Sports diplomacy.
· Science diplomacy.
Ideologies and methodological approaches:
· Cultural nationalism / internationalism.
· Cultural imperialism / imperial internationalism.
· Anti-colonialism; postcolonial and decolonial studies.
· Gender and queer studies.
· Environmentalism.
Actors and agents:
· International and transnational organisations.
· Empires, nation states and non-sovereign governments.
· Regions & cities.
· NGOs.
· Religious movements.
· Educational establishments.
· Businesses and professional organisations.
· PR, tourism and marketing professionals (place branding).
Submission guidelines:
Paper proposals should include a title, a 250-word abstract, five keywords, and a short biographical note (or one-page CV) for each author. Please submit your proposal to historiansofculturaldiplomacy@gmail.com no later than 15 October, 2026. The organising committee will assess the proposals and respond to applicants by 1 November, 2026. Authors will be asked to submit a short-draft for pre-circulation before the work-in-progress event slated for early February 2027.
Final versions of the articles, not exceeding 8,000 words including references, should be submitted by 15 May, 2027.
Organising Committee:
Daniel Feather (Liverpool John Moores University).
Pia Koivunen (Turun yliopisto / University of Turku).
Luis G. Martinez-del-Campo (Universidad Complutense de Madrid).
Alice Byrne (Aix Marseille Université).
Supported by Historians of Cultural Diplomacy—Research Network.
- Ilmoituksen tyyppi:
- Artikkelipyyntö
- Vanhenee:
- Yhteyshenkilö nimi:
- Pia Koivunen
- Yhteyshenkilö sähköposti:
- Verkkosivut:
- Avaa verkkosivut