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Author : O. Lebedeva
Deputy Dean, Department of International Relations, Moscow State Institute (University) of Interna-
tional Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Science (Sociol-
ogy)
IT IS GENERALLY KNOWN that any state's international repu-
tation depends on a variety of factors, including, among other
things, its political weight, economic strength, and also its cultural
potential. Promoting its cultural heritage in other countries, encour-
aging language learning, and expanding cultural exchanges are
among any state's highest priorities, being an integral part of its for-
eign policy strategy.
This obviously also applies to Russia's current cultural diplomacy.
Yevgeny Shmagin, Deputy Director of the Department on Cultural
Affairs and Ties with UNESCO of the Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, underscores in his article "Culture and Diplomacy" pub-
lished in International Affairs the importance of cultural diplomacy
in implementing the state's foreign-policy strategy, maintaining, in particular, that "the union of
diplomacy and culture has at all times served Russia's national interests, over and over again
demonstrating its vitality at different stages in our history.
The Russian state has been undertaking a number of comprehensive measures designed to ad-
vance Russian culture abroad.
Russian media's international broadcasts is yet another key instrument of our cultural diplomacy,
allowing people around the world not only to view Russian-language programs, but also to get
access to firsthand information about Russia's policy. Russian TV channels, radio broadcasting,
and printed press not only provide our compatriots with a reliable information about Russia,
but also serve as a kind of a communication line linking them to their home country and allowing
them not to feel disconnected from all what is going on in Russia.
Special importance is attached to studying Russian abroad, which is among our major foreign
policy goals.
Сultural centers of the Russian Federation operating abroad exercise a full range of foreign
policy functions relating to cultural diplomacy and actively promote Russia's positive image world-
wide.
When analyzing the role of cultural diplomacy in Russia's foreign policy strategy, we should
focus, apart from bilateral agreements in the sphere of culture, on the countries' multilateral in-
teraction. Being a multinational and multi-confessional state, the Russian Federation aims at fur-
thering dialogue and partnership relations among different cultures, religions, and civilizations,
and has been taking successive steps to implement the goals set by such international and regional
organizations as the United Nations, UNESCO, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.
http://interaffairs.ru
Cultural Diplomacy as a Tool of Russia's Current Foreign Policy