Multilateral Cultural Cooperation in Post-conflict Situations. Towards a Holistic “European” Approach

« Sciences Po European meeting ».

By Gabriele MAZZA, former Director of Education and Languages at the Council of Europe and International consultant on education, youth and culture.

Cultural cooperation is often seen as « the cherry on the cake », that is, as a process that is accessory to, and far less of a priority then “political cooperation”, in both diplomatic and academic fora. However, a more thorough study of cultural cooperation as part of international, and more specifically European, multilateral cooperation and integration since World War Two, of the diversity of its forms and their impact on the reality of citizens clearly shows that it is, itself, both inherently political and indispensible.
As shown throughout the process of integration in the family of “greater Europe” of Central and Eastern European States and by the major efforts toward “intercultural dialogue” put forward by the international community in the aftermath of 9/11, the role of education and culture is crucial to the success of all such attempts, which aim at a better understanding of ourselves and our neighbours, proper management of ethnic and cultural diversity and the peaceful development of democratic societies.
Such efforts, however, have occasionally stumbled over such contradictions as that between the respect of universal values of human rights and the rule of law and the respect for and due tolerance towards different cultural and political behaviours.
How the “international community” has been meeting this challenge and attempting to overcome such hurdles will be the subject of this presentation, which will draw on concrete examples and first-hand experience. The ability of governments and non-governmental agencies to federate their efforts, particularly in the areas of education and culture, as well as the nature of the concrete initiatives to be undertaken to obtain a lasting impact on individuals and groups will also be considered during this Seminar, in a value-based, action-oriented perspective.