*** MARTINA TOPIC, SINISA RODIN (Eds.): Cultural Diplomacy and Cultural Imperialism. European perspective(s). Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 2012, 243 pp, €41-95. ISBN 978-3-631-62162-2.
How does cultural diplomacy manifest in countries in Europe? Is it guilty at times of joining forces with cultural imperialism? And where does the European Union fit in this connect? These questions, and many more besides, are answered in this inter-disciplinary book, centred on a research programme financed by the seventh framework-programme organised by the European Commission under Barroso. The book starts with sociologist Martina Topic of Zagreb University and art historian Cassandra Sciortino clarifying exactly what cultural diplomacy is (and isn't) in academic literature, describing it as a manifestation of soft power. They then explore the complex relationship between Europe, the European Union, its member states and culture. Following the declaration about European identity endorsed in Copenhagen in 1973, they show that European decision-makers say that a common civilisation can belong to citizens, but culture must remain confined within national boundaries. Very few changes have been observed in this connection, although European cultural policy has clearly grown in power since that time and some say it has fallen subject to suspicions of having cultural imperialist aims. Concentrating on cultural action developed by the European Union, Topic and Sciortino discuss the Europe Day (9 May) that aims to foster a feeling of European citizenship, which is why it is not celebrated in the United Kingdom…
Hence the two editors show that the significant efforts deployed by the European Commission to develop a European identity based on a common civilisation and culture essentially remain a project for the élite. Exploring various practices in the domain of cultural diplomacy, most of the essays bear witness to this, but the authors also try to see whether cultural diplomacy means applying culturally imperialist policies. The first section of the book focuses on this very question, firstly through a historian's view of how Hungarian cultural diplomacy exploited its stand at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 in order to escape from the yoke of the Hapsburg monarchy. Using an ethnographic approach, Margarita Kefalaki uses the example of Corsica to demonstrate how cultural imperialism of a big power (France) caused problems on the island both in terms of language and in terms of local dances. The second part of the book examines externally-oriented cultural diplomacy, confirming a special model in the European Union, where 'each Member State presents itself while there is no recognition or the sense of Europe in presentations except in cases of the EU ac cession candidate countries that emphasize their European heritage and civilisation.' This clearly applies to the United Kingdom which, explains Atsuko Ichijo of Kingston University, who coordinated the research project, has 'a policy projecting Britishness abroad through public and cultural diplomacy' using the British Council, the English language and the education system. Laurens Runderkamp shows that the Netherlands and Germany are no better at promoting European culture. Two other authors examine the reasons for the lack of European identification in Romania and the very bad stereotypical image of Romania and Romanians abroad. The final chapter in this section of the book looks at Turkey's cultural diplomacy, with Ayhan Kaya and Ayse Tecmen revealing that contrary to appearances, Turkey tends to promote neo-0ttoman hegemony rather than the aim of joining the European Union.
The third part of the book examines stereotypes that can adulterate cultural diplomacy, examining the case of the Czechs and Slovaks on the one hand, and damage caused by Silvio Berlusconi's behaviour on the other. According to Diego Albano of Verona University, Berlusconi's behaviour didn't just affect Italy, but also Europe as a whole. The final part of the book looks at 'Inside-Outside oriented Cultural Diplomacy,' in the light of promoting tourism in Croatia. In this connection, the most severe comments are about the cultural diplomacy by the Greek Orthodox Archbishop, which Alexandros Sakellariou says is perfectly capable of talking of Islam to Europeans and then of criticising immoral Westerners when talking to Greeks. Which is another way of showing that the European idea is above all a plaything in the hands of national interests…
Pierre Bouvier
*** SILVIA BRUTI, ELENA DI GIOVANNI (Eds.): Audiovisual Translation across Europe. An Ever-changing Landscape. Peter Lang (see above). "New Trends in Translation Studies", No. 7. 2012, 283 pp, €60-20. ISBN 978-3-0343-0953-0.
This book casts light on the expansion of audiovisual translation studies and practices within European institutions, universities and business domains. The first section compares and contrasts audiovisual translation and culture in nine essays, mostly examining the idea that translation is particularly conditioned by the (in)correct perception and codification of cultural values, both in dubbing and subtitling. The second section discusses new perspectives on media accessibility, with four essays confirming that media accessibility is now seen both as an asset and a universal right.
(PBo)
*** RALPH M. WROBEL (Ed.): Ethnische Minderheiten und Erinnerungskulturen in Mittel- und Osteuropa. Ergebnisse des 7. Sächsischen Mittel- und Osteuropatages in Zwickau (27.10.2010). Peter Lang (see above). Sachsen - Mitteleuropa - Osteuropa series, No. 3. 2012, 224 pp, €39-95. ISBN 978-3-631-63734-0.
This book contains essays on minorities in Germany and the culture of memory in central and Eastern Europe, addressing three main issues. Firstly, the authors examine national minorities and linguistic policy after the Soviet era, looking at detailed aspects of said policy, taking the example of the Buryatia Republic of Russia. Other specialists then look at the education system and the development of linguistic contact between Germans and Poles in the province of Upper Silesia, describing the development of the education system in the area back in the Prussian epoch. Other authors look at the culture of memory properly speaking.
(SH)
*** Dokumente / Documents. Zeitschrift für den deutsch-französischen Dialog / Revue du dialogue franco-allemand. Verlag Dokumente (86 Dottendorfer Strasse, D-53129 Bonn. Tel: (49-228) 92129365 - Fax: 690385 - email: aboservice@dokumente-documents.info - Internet: http://www.dokumente-documents.info ). 2013, No. 2, 112 pp, €7. Annual subscription: €18-90.
On the fiftieth anniversary of the Elysee Treaty, and at a time when Gérard Foussier says Franco-German relations are not in good shape, this review has a special issue on books about the two countries and translations that the review's chief-editor says do more to bring the countries together than 'daily speeches in the world of politics or business'…
(MT)
*** CHRISTIAN JOERGES, PEER ZUMBANSEN (Eds.): Politische Rechtstheorie Revisited. Rudolf Wiethölter zum 100 Semester. Zentrum für Europäische Rechtspolitik (Zerp, Universität Bremen, Universitätsallee GW1, D-28359 Bremen. Tel: (49-421) 21866200 - Fax: 21866230 - email: zerp@zerp.uni-bremen.de - Internet: http://www.zerp.eu ). Zerp Diskussionspapier series, No. 1. 2013, 225 pp.
This book published by Bremen University's Centre of European Law and Politics, has a number of authors discuss theories of political law. The central personage is Rudolf Wiethölter, a German lawyer and emeritus professor at the Goethe Universität in Frankfurt-am-Main. The authors examine these issues in the light of Sophocles' tragedy Ajax applied to the legal domain, progress in political science in 1968, comments on the hundredth Rudolf Wiethölter semester at Goethe Universität, and jurisprudence as a support for legislation and political administration in Europe.
(SH)