This essay examines the public diplomacy response of the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) to the euro crisis by a case study of the civil society project ‘Dialogue on Europe’. The author argues that with the implementation of this project, the FFO has taken an important step towards a contemporary, ‘integrative’ diplomacy. Its eventual added-value however remains to be seen, depending on the final political relevance of process results.
In the following, the author will firstly explain the key concepts of this essay – public diplomacy, ‘integrative’ diplomacy and civil society as a diplomatic actor. The author will then describe the main idea and concept of ‘Dialogue on Europe’. Subsequently and will relate the project to the key concepts of this essay and finally critically evaluate the FFO’s approach to include civil society as a part of its public diplomacy.
One of the negative consequences of the euro crisis starting in 2008 and the austerity policy that followed was the decrease of trust in the EU and among certain EU countries. Especially Germany’s image had suffered, mainly in Southern European countries. There, it is at best considered as principal architect of European fiscal discipline, often however as the villain responsible for impoverishment and demolishing of the welfare system in many European societies. Therefore, claims came up that German diplomacy must improve and that Germany had to develop a new style of interaction. This call for a better and differently shaped way of, in fact, public diplomacy comes at a time when diplomacy in general is facing a period of transition, marked by the rise of new actors, as from civil society.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: Euro crisis, loss of confidence and diplomacy in transition
- Public diplomacy, integrative diplomacy and the role of civil society as a diplomatic actor
- 'Dialogue on Europe' – A public diplomacy tool involving transnational civil society
- ‘Dialogue on Europe' – Hallmark of an integrative public diplomacy?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the public diplomacy response of the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) to the euro crisis by a case study of the civil society project 'Dialogue on Europe'. The author argues that the project represents a step towards a contemporary, 'integrative' diplomacy. The essay critically evaluates the FFO's approach to including civil society in public diplomacy.
- Public diplomacy and its key features
- Integrative diplomacy and the role of non-state actors
- Civil society as a diplomatic actor and its key contributions
- The 'Dialogue on Europe' project as a public diplomacy tool
- The impact of the project on the FFO's diplomacy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Euro crisis, loss of confidence and diplomacy in transition: This chapter sets the context for the essay, outlining the negative consequences of the euro crisis and the subsequent loss of trust in the EU, particularly towards Germany. The author argues that this situation necessitates a re-evaluation of public diplomacy and its role in fostering trust and understanding.
- Public diplomacy, integrative diplomacy and the role of civil society as a diplomatic actor: This chapter defines key concepts such as public diplomacy, integrative diplomacy, and the role of civil society in diplomacy. It discusses the importance of 'listening' and fostering dialogue between state and non-state actors.
- 'Dialogue on Europe' – A public diplomacy tool involving transnational civil society: This chapter focuses on the 'Dialogue on Europe' project, highlighting its main idea and concept as a public diplomacy tool. It examines the project's aims and methods in engaging transnational civil society.
- ‘Dialogue on Europe' – Hallmark of an integrative public diplomacy?: This chapter analyzes the 'Dialogue on Europe' project in the context of integrative diplomacy. It evaluates whether the project successfully integrates civil society into the FFO's public diplomacy efforts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay centers around the concepts of public diplomacy, integrative diplomacy, and civil society as a diplomatic actor. It examines the 'Dialogue on Europe' project as a case study of the German Federal Foreign Office's public diplomacy efforts and its potential for promoting trust and understanding between Germany and its European partners in the wake of the euro crisis. Key themes include the role of civil society in international relations, the challenges of contemporary diplomacy, and the need for a more inclusive and participatory approach to foreign policy.
- Quote paper
- Benedikt Weingärtner (Author), 2016, The German Foreign Ministry’s Civil Society Project "Dialogue on Europe". A Decent Response to the Challenges of Public Diplomacy in the 21st Century?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/373604
