Od nezištné kulturní výměny k prosazování národních zájmů Koncepční proměny zahraniční kulturní politiky SRN a česko(slovensko)-německé kulturní vztah
From Disinterested Cultural Exchange to the Pursuit of National Interests: Czech(oslovak)-German Cultural Relations and Changing Conceptions of...

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses and assesses changes in the basic principles and priorities of the cultural diplomacy of the Federal epublic of Germany from the post-war period to the present. It does so by comparing three central documents related o general conceptions, from 1977, 2000, and 2011, and considering them into the broader context of German political nd social developments. The article seeks to explain what these changes say about the overall development of German oreign policy and German society, its perceptions of itself, and coming to terms with its complicated past. The nterpretation of the individual conceptions is accompanied by a brief outline and an assessment of their consequences or the development of Czech(oslovak)-German cultural relations. The article draws on approaches taken in political cience, while considering the topic from the position of an historian. It can reasonably be said to be part of the trend ometimes called ‘modern’ or ‘new’ political history. In her analysis, the author seeks to demonstrate that the principles hich were promoted in West German cultural diplomacy during the 1960s and 1970s (namely, an expanded onception f culture, culture as ‘something for everyone’, and emphasis on equal mutual exchange), were to a considerable extent till part of the conception of 2000. In recent years, however, Germany has somewhat retreated from them or interprets hem differently, which is distinctly reflected in the conception of German cultural diplomacy from 2011. Mainly the mphasis on German national interests has increased, whereby the German approach has begun to resemble those of the French and the British. The article thus supports the thesis about the ‘normalization’ of German foreign policy in the wenty-first century. The historical development of international relations and also the growing influence of economic nterests on the area of cultural diplomacy are reflected in, among other things, the change in regional priorities from a traightforward orientation to the West, then to attention to central and eastern Europe in transformation, and eventually o an increased interest in economically developing non-European countries. Title: From Disinterested Cultural Exchange to the Pursuit of National Interests: Czech(oslovak)-German Cultural Relations and Changing Conceptions of the Cultural Diplomacy of the Federal Republic of Germany

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