Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Promoting Cultural Diplomacy through Parliamentary Assemblies: A Case Study of the European Union and Its Feasibility in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Shahireh Nozari 1
Mohammad Reza Majidi 2
1 PhD candidate in Regional Studies, Faculty of Law and Politics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding author) Email: Shahireh_nozari@ut.ac.ir
2 Associate Professor, Department of Regional Studies, Faculty of Law and Politics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Email: mmajidi@ut.ac.ir
10.22083/jccs.2025.494688.4002
Abstract
Introduction: Amidst the expanding significance of cultural diplomacy in international relations, parliamentary assemblies have emerged as critical intermediaries bridging governments, civil societies, and citizens. This study examines the European Union, illustrating how the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and various inter-parliamentary conferences have effectively harnessed innovative cultural mechanisms—such as the Lux Prize, the European Year of Cultural Heritage, and strategic partnerships with UNESCO and the Goethe-Institut—to foster intercultural dialogue, bolster soft power, and enhance transnational cultural engagement. While these bodies have successfully leveraged established institutional frameworks to institutionalize cultural diplomacy, a SWOT analysis indicates that even these models encounter significant challenges, including financial constraints, limited public participation, and top-down approaches, thereby necessitating a critical re-evaluation of their transferability. Consequently, the primary objectives of this research are to scrutinize the role of EU parliamentary assemblies in promoting and implementing cultural diplomacy, to identify key initiatives that have advanced cultural understanding and cooperation among member states and external partners, to analyze the challenges and opportunities inherent in these parliamentary bodies’ diplomatic efforts, and to propose actionable strategies for adapting European experiences to the specific realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, thereby leveraging parliamentary assemblies to advance cultural diplomacy within the Iranian context.
Method: Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative case study approach grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Cummings (2003) and Visglaas & De Boer (2007), with a temporal scope extending from the early 21st century to the present. Data collection is conducted through systematic document analysis of academic literature, government reports, policy documents, diplomatic speeches, parliamentary records, and inter-parliamentary meeting minutes. Additionally, a SWOT analysis is employed as a strategic planning instrument to evaluate the internal and external factors influencing the efficacy of cultural diplomacy strategies in both the EU and Iran.
Findings: The study reveals fundamental institutional differences between Iran and the European Union that necessitate careful adaptation of European experiences. Structural differences are evident, as decision-making power in Iran regarding foreign and cultural policy is heavily concentrated within executive and security bodies, significantly limiting the legislative branch’s role. In contrast, the EU’s decentralized, multi-layered structure actively empowers the European Parliament and related bodies in formulating and executing external cultural policies. Furthermore, a significant gap exists between the organized, active role of European civil society and citizens in cultural policy-making versus the situation in Iran. Financial and institutional constraints also pose challenges; the heavy reliance on state budgets, limited financial resources, and a lack of institutional independence hinder the institutionalization of parliamentary-led cultural diplomacy in Iran. Additionally, the absence of a cohesive party system in the Iranian Parliament, compared to the active party structures in the EU, negatively impacts the coherence and sustainability of long-term cultural programs. A feasibility analysis suggests that Iran’s centralized decision-making apparatus, the absence of a responsive party system, and deficient strategic planning render effective parliamentary cultural diplomacy more arduous than in the European model. Consequently, the lack of a comprehensive institutional framework and the predominantly symbolic character of existing parliamentary friendship groups have resulted in the underutilization of the Iranian Parliament’s potential for international cultural engagement. Nevertheless, the European experience provides valuable insights. Shared cultural and diplomatic foundations facilitate targeted, localized adaptation. Iran holds significant potential to harness cultural diplomacy as a soft power instrument, underpinned by its ancient civilization, rich cultural diversity, and multifaceted ethnic, religious, and linguistic composition. These assets offer a robust foundation for fostering regional and international cultural interactions through strategic parliamentary initiatives.
Conclusion: Notwithstanding institutional disparities, shared cultural and diplomatic foundations facilitate the targeted, localized adaptation of European parliamentary models. In light of recent challenges to Iran’s international image, the Parliament is uniquely positioned to reconstruct the nation’s global identity and advance indigenous cultural narratives, thereby transitioning foreign policy from state-centric exclusivity toward a people-centered paradigm. To achieve this, four strategic recommendations are proposed: first, formulating a comprehensive “Parliamentary Cultural Diplomacy Strategy” through collaboration among the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Organization for Islamic Culture and Relations, and academic institutions; second, establishing specialized cultural working groups within parliamentary committees to facilitate cooperation with aligned nations through joint initiatives and cultural memorandums of understanding; third, capacity building and strategic resource allocation, including specialized training for MPs on cultural diplomacy, dedicated budgets for cultural exchange projects, modern communication technologies, and increased participation in regional parliamentary assemblies; and fourth, developing a localized model of Iranian parliamentary cultural diplomacy based on creative adaptation rather than direct replication, aligning international best practices with local cultural, political, and institutional contexts. In conclusion, by adopting European experiences through a critical, comparative lens rather than mere imitation, Iran can harness parliamentary cultural diplomacy as a novel instrument to augment soft power, reconstruct its international image, and foster more effective global engagement.
Keywords
Cultural diplomacy
parliamentary assemblies
European Union
soft power
intercultural dialogue

Subjects

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