Peace Through Culture: Resolving Conflicts in the Modern Era 

Ikat at CCD-NL, from CCD-NL Archives: Together with ikat: A Dutch and Indonesian artisans' workshop

In an increasingly interconnected world, the challenges of conflict and division are ever-present in our lives. Various methods have been used to foster peace and collaboration, spanning from diplomacy to economic strategies. Amongst these methods, culture is a tool that has been overlooked. By harnessing a rich cultural exchange and understanding, we can bridge divides and pave a way to long-lasting peace. 

Conflict through the lens of culture

Ethnic and belief differences, and culture clashes have been fueled by the increased movements of people. This is due to one's fear of 'the other' which leads to them rejecting and excluding the differences. During the past two decades, culture has been manipulated to provoke conflicts. For example, the war in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s led to the remaking of the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Moster Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina which showcased how culture plays an important role in conflict.

Another way that culture can amplify and lead to conflict is by the attempt to destroy one's cultural beliefs. This is illustrated in 2001, when Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan were destroyed, leading to a wide spread of hatred and exclusion between different cultures. Soon after the event, UNESCO embraced the Declaration on the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage.

Culture diplomacy

The importance of cultural diplomacy in preventing conflicts and promoting security in today's complex times needs to be highly acknowledged. The cultural aspect of security has been crucial since the post-Cold War era, gaining particular importance since the late 1980s. For instance, culture is a start point for international cooperation to protect and unite people under a shared cultural heritage. The UNESCO Silk Roads Programme was built to involve countries in building links with different communities.

Shared culture is essential for establishing lasting peace regionally and globally. It provides a base of strong mutual understanding and fosters an environment where communication can take place.

"Cultural Diplomacy may best be described as a course of actions, which are based on and utilise the exchange of ideas, values, traditions and other aspects of culture or identity, whether to strengthen relationships, enhance socio-cultural cooperation, promote national interests and beyond; Cultural diplomacy can be practised by either the public sector, private sector or civil society." 

By Institute for Cultural diplomacy

How did CCD-NL contribute to advancing cultural diplomacy?

The UN stated that one of the five priorities for impactful policies in cultural diplomacy is through the work of artisans to restore the diminishing global imagery on certain cultures. This aligns with one of CCD-NL’s missions: “To emphasise the significance of culture as a powerful tool for diplomacy, peace, security, and conflict resolution. We actively promote cultural understanding, dialogue, and cooperation, recognizing the transformative potential of cultural exchange and its role in building bridges, fostering harmony, and resolving conflicts in our interconnected world.”

CCD-NL mainly focuses on creating ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia through the culture of Ikat, especially facilitating shared knowledge between Dutch designers and artisans. For example, the “Threads of Tradition” project aims to foster cultural ties through Ikat Arts, with the use of workshops and online platforms, as well as comic books to educate younger children.   

Sources:

CCD-NL Archives. Accessed on 19th  of August.

CCD-Nl. What we do. Projects. Available at:https://www.ccdnl.org/what-we-do/projects#h.qwi23gdzmsr7

Institute for Cultural diplomacy. What is cultural diplomacy? What is soft power? Available at:https://culturaldiplomacy.org/index.php?en_culturaldiplomacy

UNESCO. Cutting edges: Overcoming barriers to peace through culture. Accessed on 20th of April, 2024. Available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/cutting-edge-overcoming-barriers-peace-through-culture

United Nations. The relevance of culture for security: Five priorities for impactful policies and rethinking cultural diplomacy strategies. Accessed on 12th of February, 2024. Available at: https://publicadministration.desa.un.org/blog/relevance-culture-security-five-priorities-impactful-policies-and-rethinking-cultural#:~:text=Culture%20acts%20as%20a%20transmission%20belt%20propagating%20resilience,policies%20and%20actions%2C%20five%20priorities%20appear%20most%20urgent.