Cultural Diplomacy in Europe: A Forum for Young Leaders (CDE)

The Next CDE Weeklong Seminar will take place in Berlin, 22nd - 26th November 2010

Cultural Diplomacy in Europe: A Forum for Young Leaders (CDE) is a network of young, influential people from across the world, who have an interest in exploring and strengthening relations between European States. The program is based on the recognition that the increasing economic and political integration of the European Union must be accompanied by sustained activity to ensure that public opinion and relations between individual member states, and between member-states and non members states, remain positive and constructive at the grass roots level.

Individuals can join the CDE Forum by taking part in one of the CDE Weeklong Seminars, which are held in Berlin every 4 months. The goal of the Weeklong Seminars is to train and prepare the participants so that they are able to organize their own programs in the future. Each CDE Weeklong Seminar will be focused on a specific theme related to Europe and the goals of the Forum. These Weeklong Seminars include lectures, seminars, and workshops lead by experts from the fields of politics, academia, and civil society, as well as cultural and social activities. In addition to raising awareness amongst the participants of the field of cultural diplomacy and salient issues concerning Europe, the week also provides an opportunity to network and experience Berlin.

Once they have joined the CDE Forum, members are supported by the ICD in organizing leadership initiatives, conducting academic research, and are invited to join the ICD Online Forum - enabling them to share information and communicate with likeminded individuals across the world.


The next CDE Weeklong Seminar will take place in Berlin from 22nd - 26th November 2010 and will focus on the following theme:

"The Future of Europe: National Brands and Regional Integration"

The recent expansion of the EU and its prospective future enlargement, together with the process of European integration, raise a number of important issues concerning the future of individual nation states within the European Union. "The Future of Europe" will consider the extent to which the strengthening of national brands will influence the generation of regional identity, and the prospect of Europe speaking "with one voice".

The forthcoming Weeklong Seminar will explore the following issues:
  • The expansion of the European Union: New members, future members, and the EU neighborhood policy.
  • The influence of national brands on the process of EU integration.
  • The role and responsibility of the EU in tackling climate change and developing green technologies.
  • Europe's future position as a global economic and political actor.
  • The rise of the far right in EU member states: A national or regional problem?
  • The role of the European Neighborhood Policy in the regional integration process and in strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of European neighboring countries.
  • European Capitals of Culture as an opportunity to promote the European image abroad and to strengthen bounds within the  European community.
  • The role of European cultural programs aiming at fostering common values and promoting diversity in the global village.
  • The role of minorities in trans border relations: new regional identities and integration of minority cultures.
  • The implications of Turkey's accession to  the European Union:  political, economic and cultural challenges for the European member states and  strategic opportunities for the EU's chances of becoming an effective global actor in the 21st century.
  • The role of civil society and European citizenship initiatives in strengthening trans border cooperation in cultural and environmental issues.
  • The history and development of the concept of nation branding, with a focus on case studies from the European Union.
  • The economic, political, and cultural benefits of strengthening a country's reputation abroad.
The forthcoming CDE Weeklong Seminar will pursue the following aims:
  • To create a network of young, like-minded individuals and to join these individuals to the existing CDE network.
  • To contribute to the growing debate and discussion on European economic, political, and cultural integration and the European Union.
  • To provide the participants with a selection of expert perspectives on issues relating to the European Union and Cultural Diplomacy within Europe.
  • To explore the history, development, and contemporary application of cultural diplomacy through selected case studies.
  • To provide the participants with ideas and support for the development of future programs to strengthen relations within Europe, known as "leadership initiatives".