Germany's Cultural diplomacy

As I was searching for recent events and news in Berlin, Germany, I came across an article that relates well with our discussion on nationalism. Misha brought up this interesting topic and explained that much of the German nationalism has started to disappear. However, this article shows that some form of nationalism is good and the German government is still supporting it. The article discussed the recent expansion of Germany’s cultural diplomacy. They are using this form of diplomacy abroad. The article in particular talked about different institutes around the world that has showcase German academic achievements in science and engineering and also the arts. Additionally, the German government also funds a lot of schools in other nations to teach the German language courses. The budget for cultural diplomacy has increased by 30%, which means there is probably a lot of support for this from the German people. This is very intriguing to me because I perceive cultural diplomacy as a form of nationalism. In the word of Germany’s Foreign Minister, “cultural diplomacy offered new ways to gain influence in a world of cultural and religious conflicts”. Germany is providing a means for the rest of the world to learn about its culture, language, and achievements. This is an indication that Germany is still proud of its country and history and wants to spread these sentiments to other nations.

Here is the link to the article: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/265593,germany-expands-cultural-diplomacy-with-new-showcases.html