Diplomatic Gastronomy: The Convivial Nature of the Power of Prestige, Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power

The International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy & the UN "Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power in an Interdependent World: The Opportunities for Global Governance" NYC & Washington DC, February 21st - 24th, 2012.

10 Pages Posted: 8 May 2015 Last revised: 3 Feb 2016

See all articles by Christian Reynolds

Christian Reynolds

University of South Australia - School of Mathematics and Statistics; Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London; University of Sheffield - Department of Geography

Date Written: February 21, 2012

Abstract

Paarlberg (2010), Schanbacher (2010) and Reynolds (2010) have begun re-introducing a food based agenda to political science that had been left dormant since Morgenthau (1985), by proposing that food is not only crucial to the survival of individual consumers but also to the survival and proliferation of the modern nation state. With Brown (2011) suggesting that food policy, food security, food sovereignty and food culture are all becoming determining factors in a nation state’s bank of food power. This paper will add to this aforementioned body of work by updating and expanding upon an idea raised by Morgenthau in Politics Among Nations (1985 86-97): The ‘power of prestige’. The power of prestige, can be understood to be a proto-conceptualisation of how elites use cultural diplomacy and soft power to achieve their goals. This paper will firstly examine this classic theory highlighting the similarities of the power of prestige to modern understandings of soft power and cultural diplomacy through the lens of food and conviviality. It will then investigate how food can be utilised by actors and elites as a form of cultural diplomacy.

Keywords: Food diplomacy, Diplomatic gastronomy, Soft power, cultural diplomacy, gastro diplomacy, gastro-diplomacy, culinary diplomacy

Suggested Citation

Reynolds, Christian and Reynolds, Christian, Diplomatic Gastronomy: The Convivial Nature of the Power of Prestige, Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power (February 21, 2012). The International Conference on Cultural Diplomacy & the UN "Cultural Diplomacy & Soft Power in an Interdependent World: The Opportunities for Global Governance" NYC & Washington DC, February 21st - 24th, 2012., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2603310

Christian Reynolds (Contact Author)

University of South Australia - School of Mathematics and Statistics ( email )

Australia

Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London ( email )

Northampton Square
London, EC1V OHB
United Kingdom

University of Sheffield - Department of Geography ( email )

Winter Street
Sheffield, S10 2TN
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christian_Reynolds2

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