Document Type : Original Article from Result of Thesis
Highlights
Introduction
Diplomacy, as one of the most prominent mechanisms of governments' foreign policy, is critical for developing relations with other nations. Cultural diplomacy is one of the diplomatic strategies that apply cultural capabilities. Cultural diplomacy requires implementing policies that align with developing countries' cultural self-awareness and are based on cultural similarities. Alongside governments, relevant international organizations such as UNESCO can play a significant role in addressing this critical issue at the national, regional, and global levels. The cultural Iranian civilization sphere is a civilization that has been regarded as one of the most significant worldwide cultural spheres at the regional level and has always had a considerable effect on power relations.
Regarding this, the purpose of this study is to look at the role of UNESCO's cultural policy in the development of connections between countries within the cultural Iranian civilization sphere. The question is, how UNESCO uses its cultural policies to create political-identity ties among countries within the cultural Iranian civilization sphere? According to the study hypothesis, this organization has taken action to implement its cultural policies in the field of culture through implementing several international conventions and executive projects.
Methodology
The study uses a descriptive-analytical method and is based on library and statistical data.
Findings and Discussion
Cultural diplomacy is the practice of states using their diplomatic potential to attract other countries "to their national culture." Today, this diplomatic strategy is applied not only by countries but also by international organizations like UNESCO with similar objectives. As the inheritor of the convergence thinking of twentieth-century intellectuals, this organization has consistently applied its cultural policies within the framework of the mechanism above, authorized norms, and established monitoring mechanisms to ensure their implementation. These executive projects include World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Memory of the World Programme, Unitwin/UNESCO Chairs Programme, and Creative Cities Network. Such projects, in many forms, such as cultural Iran, have allowed for the growth of chances for multidimensional interactions. The cultural Iranian civilization sphere encompasses many nations in the Middle East, South Caucasus, South Asia, and Central Asia. Despite their modern political divisions, these nations are uniquely intimate in their cultural and civilizational relations.
The first project in this civilization sphere is "World Heritage," which was designed to safeguard, restore, and introduce the world's tangible cultural and natural heritage to future generations. Currently, 88 of the 1154 global heritages recorded in this project belong to nations in the cultural sphere of Iran. This project can be analyzed in three dimensions in terms of communication patterns: first, based on the request of countries to cooperate in declaring their readiness to register works; second, based on the cultural commonalities of these works and making relevant agreements; and third, based on the obligation to cooperate with some of UNESCO's partner cultural institutions.
Intangible Cultural Heritage is the second project. This effort entails the "individual" or "collective" registration of those customs, arts, crafts, and habits that society considers part of its culture and wishes to pass down from generation to generation. So far, 111 works out of 631 registered international heritages are from Iran's cultural sphere. Two functions can explain the relationships formed as a result of this project: the "government" function, which is based on the need for political assistance from the countries in this area for joint registration of heritages; and the "civil" function, which is based on the creation of interaction among the countries' non-governmental elites to exchange opinions on the types of works that can be registered in the project. However, since this project has a faulty mechanism for registering heritages, its procedure of accepting works must be modified.
The third project is the Memory of the World Program, which was created to save transferrable documentary heritage (such as books). To date, Iranian civilizational sphere nations have contributed 32 works to a total of 527 global pieces. There are two possible explanations for this lack of collaboration: The prevalence of numerous multidimensional issues in the "domestic" dimension, as well as the lack of appointment of efficient personnel, have diminished focus on the function of culture in foreign policy. This project has a weaker promotion framework than other major UNESCO projects in the "international" domain. As a result, the program’s operations above are confined to the limited collaboration of certain nations within the cultural Iranian civilization sphere with countries outside this civilization sphere.
The Unitwin/UNESCO Chairs Programme is the fourth project. This project aimed to increase scientific collaboration among higher education institutions and establish scientific-research chairs. Out of 902 university seats worldwide, 61 are held by higher education institutions affiliated with the Iranian civilization sphere. This program is notable for the absence of balance and equity in the operations of the nations in the civilization sphere mentioned above. Based on this, as two cultural leaders, Iran and Turkey can collaborate to establish regional university networks and urge other nations to do the same. Mazandaran University has so far taken part in this initiative.
Finally, the fifth project is the Creative Cities Network, which was formed to enhance collaboration among cities that have applied seven creative components in sustainable urban development. So far, 17 of the 259 global cities belong to nations in the cultural Iranian civilization sphere. The functioning of the aforementioned network may be illustrated using three dimensions. In the "urban managers" dimension, the opportunity to exchange experiences and executive facilities is offered; in the "urban elites" dimension, inter-city joint products are shared; and lastly, in the "citizen public" dimension, tourism development measures are implemented. It is also conceivable to establish urban sub-networks in the aforementioned sphere of civilization based on five inventive criteria.
Conclusion
The UNESCO policy of deploying cultural diplomacy and endorsing conventions and executive projects issued by them in order to impose uniform cultural policies in the cultural Iranian civilization sphere has been quite successful. Regardless of the rivalry for a similar cultural heritage possession, the convergent variables in this civilization field are so strong that they isolate divergent voices. According to this view, the primary issue in the cultural Iranian civilization sphere is a lack of accurate acknowledgment of nations' cultural similarities.
Meanwhile, many UNESCO projects might help to deepen this mutual acknowledgment of cultural connection. To that end, UNESCO's approach to using nations' cultural capabilities should not be based just on governments' "will." This is because establishing a diplomatic platform and delegating full authority to members for primary acceptance rather than secondary involvement would overshadow the organization's convergence aims. As a result, UNESCO must "encourage," "guide," and even "force" countries to utilize these platforms via the adoption of enforceable legislation.
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