Culture and Conflict | EUNIC Yearbook

What kinds of external cultural policies does Europe need to embrace that will allow art, education and intercultural dialogue to open doors and build trust between communities – and help prevent conflicts around the globe? Culture and conflict: challenges for Europe’s foreign policy is the new EUNIC Yearbook 2012/2013.

Published by: EUNIC, Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen and the Robert Bosch Foundation, in cooperation with the British Council, the French Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. – Stuttgart: ifa, 2013. – 236 S. – (Culture report; 5) (EUNIC yearbook; 2012/2013). It is available online in four different languages: English, French, German and Portuguese.

Although a painting can never stop a bullet, a painting can stop a bullet from being fired. Culture is a central component of conflicts between different groups and ethnicities. So what could be more appropriate than using culture as a tool for conflict resolution? After centuries of war, Europe has particular experience in how to create peaceful and cooperative ways of co-existing. What kinds of external cultural policies does Europe need to embrace that will allow art, education and intercultural dialogue to open doors and build trust between communities – and help prevent conflicts around the globe?