Can Cultural Heritage promote International Cooperation?

When the Russia-Ukraine War shook the globe in 2022, the world plunged into a state of political and economic not seen since WW II. Yet, the echoes of history seemed to be hauntingly present, foretelling the sequence of things to come. Ukraine, a former Soviet State had expressed interest in joining NATO - an intergovernmental defence alliance of member states across Europe and North America formed in the aftermath of World War II. This prompted Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, to whom membership in NATO was a direct threat to Russia's authority. The roots of this conflict, however, go back even longer to when both countries shared a common heritage. The origins of the Russian State lay in Kievan Rus' a state established by the Vikings in the 9th century in Kyiv, the capital of modern Ukraine. This country has now become a battleground for powers vying for control over the world order.

Our world as we know it has been shaped by powerful cultural forces visible and invisible to us. These forces have shaped our countries' societies, policies, economies, and even personal identities. If the personal is political, it might as well be considered geopolitical as well. Such is the power of culture and heritage in international affairs, that it has guided the way countries and citizens view the world and interact with the rest of the world. Culture has a profound impact on international relations. 

Anti-France Posters in Nigerian Coup

Historic Heritage plays a powerful role in shaping the relationship between countries. As in the instance mentioned earlier, it was Ukraine’s status as a former Soviet Republic and its shared history with the Russian State that led to the current sequence of events. Many former colonies continue to have political and cultural ties with their colonizers. Britain’s former territories are part of the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of 56 member states, which includes India which was known as the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire. The British monarch, currently King Charles III is still considered the head of state for some of these countries. This includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and twelve others across the world. In these countries, the King continues to perform certain constitutional and ceremonial functions including appointment of the Governor-General and Lieutenant Governor. A powerful way in which Britain continues to exercise its Soft Power in the world.  This is not limited to Britain alone, however. Some former colonial powers even issue the currency for their former colonies. Recently, the country of Niger in Africa underwent a military coup and disavowed all its military accords with France. While the consequences of this turn of events are yet to be determined, it highlights an important fact. France continues to hold immense power over its former colonies. Since 1961 France has issued the CFA Franc which is the common currency for most countries in West and Central Africa. It also has the right to station military troops in the country, train local military officers in France and even demand that French companies be given preference for investing in Africa. Many argue, that this represents the next level of colonial domination. But nevertheless, it also represents the profound role of history in international affairs.

Countries part of the British Commonwealth

Cultural Heritage also plays a cohesive role in bringing nations together. Turkey and Azerbaijan for instance have a strong bond reinforced by common cultural and ethnic ties. Former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev describes the relationship between the two countries as “One Nation, two States”. Turkey has regularly provided defense and economic support to Azerbaijan. Similarly, Iran and Tajikistan too have close diplomatic ties to each other united by a shared Persian Cultural and Ethnic Heritage. Diasporic Populations also play a major cultural role in bringing countries closer to each other. The Indian Diaspora is amongst the largest in the world numbering almost 18 million globally. Colonization, mastery over the English Language and the search for better opportunities elsewhere have led to millions of Indians settling in Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, UK, and the United States. Indian immigration began in the 19th century when the British Empire needed laborers to work in its overseas colonies. This led to the large-scale migration of impoverished immigrants from the Indian hinterland to territories in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Today, NRI or Non-Residential Indians as they are called have ascended to important positions in professional, business, and even political life. The ascent of Indian Origin  Rishi Sunak to the position of Prime Minister in the UK is a standing testament to the influence of cultural heritage in influencing international relations. The UK-India Week held annually by the Indian Global Forum tries to bring the two countries closer together in the areas of trade, politics, and business. PM Sunak’s visit to India during the UK-India week and his repetitive emphasis on his Hindu and Indian Heritage have played a strong role in cementing political and cultural ties between India and the UK. Neither is this phenomenon limited to India alone. An estimated 10 million Filipinos or 10% of the Philippines population work as domestic helpers, nurses, and teachers across the world. Overseas Filipinos have helped build a strong transnational network that has brought the country closer to host countries and helped build economic and political ties between them. The relationship with the USA is particularly a case in point. The USA, home to the world’s largest Filipino Diaspora, was also the Philippines’ colonial master from 1898 to 1946. The transmission of the English Language and the American System of Education has led to the large-scale immigration of Filipino workers to the United States and other parts of the world. This has strengthened diplomatic and cultural ties between the nations. Till today, foreign remittances from immigrants remain a strong source of revenue in the country and a force for building global ties with other countries.

Azeri and Turkish PM shaking hands

Geo-politics is also influenced by cultural and political worldviews developed by certain countries over millennia. China’s political philosophy for instance is strongly influenced by the historic concept of itself as a “Middle Kingdom”  or Zhongguo 中國. According to this concept, China sees itself as an ancient civilization integral to the political, economic, and cultural development of the world. This logic would imply that the development of China and the development of the rest of the world are inseparable from each other. This has influenced Chinese Diplomacy in different parts of the world including Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. While some of the manifestations of this type of diplomacy can be seen to be turbulent or even coercive, by countries and governments who feel intimidated or threatened by Chinese influence, it is nevertheless important for understanding China’s attitude towards the rest of the world. China’s political philosophy is also influenced by the country’s “century of humiliation” from 1839 to 1915 when the country was subjugated by Western Powers and Japan. A strong affiliation to cultural and national identity and advancing Chinese influence in the world continues to remain the linchpin of Chinese Diplomacy.

Tourism is one of the largest industries on the planet worth an estimated 11.1 trillion dollars. Some of the world’s most visited countries are also those that are covered regularly in media, television, commercials, and popular culture. This plays a major role in building diplomatic relationships and advancing soft power. France, for instance, is the most visited country on the planet attracting nearly 82 million tourists in 2022. France’s literary, artistic, and cultural heritage have established the country as a tourism hub and cultural super-power on the world stage. This has enabled the country to build diplomatic relationships with countries across the world. Spain is also one of the world’s most visited destinations attracting almost 49 million tourists in 2022. Frequent visits by foreign tourists to countries help build diplomatic ties between the destination and source countries. For instance the largest number of tourists by nationality to Spain hail from the UK. More than 15.5 million tourists visited Spain in 2022. The financial contribution that tourism brings to the country serves as the basis for cultural understanding, diplomacy, and international relationships.

The world that we know today is a complex blend of social and cultural influences that have developed not just over centuries but millennia. These influences shape our nations, our identities, and the way we relate to each other. Cultural Heritage at its core, is more than what is left behind as buildings, antiquities, languages, or parliamentary customs. It is a way of being that is embodied from the lowest to the highest rungs of local and global society. Economics and commerce may have shaped the course of social and cultural action, but it is a culture that defines us on a personal level and defines our identity. These identities extend to a larger level and influence the destinies of and between nations. Perhaps, that is the most important reason why knowing heritage is integral to knowing diplomacy