'Cultural Diplomacy: Beyond The National Interest? A Symposium' will be convened by Ien Ang and Yudhishthir Raj Isar of the Institute for Culture and Society and will run for two days, 17-18 October 2013 .

“Cultural diplomacy” looms large in public discourse and practice today. The term itself was invented to refer to the exercise by governments of “soft power” strategies that seek to persuade and influence in other countries through the presentation of a nation’s culture, values, ideas, language, cultural products, etc. Current usage is much broader, however, as the term has become a blanket replacement for previously used notions such as foreign cultural relations, international cultural exchange or international cultural cooperation.

This symposium brings together a varied group of academics and cultural professionals to discuss these issues in the context of the Asia Pacific region.

The symposium format will encourage lively discussion and exchange, avoiding the usual mode of monologic papers. Registration is free, but places are limited.

RSVP: Christy Nguy (c.nguy@uws.edu.au) by October 10.

To see the symposium progamme, click here.