ICD 2017 Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy

In today’s globalized world, cultural diplomacy has become an increasingly important tool to support inter-cultural relations, global peace and stability. On 19–22 December, the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) will host its 2017 Annual Conference in Berlin, with the theme “Promoting Global Collaboration, Unity and Peace through Cultural Diplomacy”. Representing International IDEA, Secretary-General Yves Leterme and Programme Officer, Adina Trunk, will present at the conference. 

Current political and security climates around the world highlight the growing need for inter-cultural dialogue, trust and cooperation. To support this, ICD's 2017 Annual Conference will present the best practices in conflict resolution and peace building that cultural diplomacy has to offer. 

International IDEA Secretary-General Yves Leterme will deliver a keynote address, alongside other ICD Honorable Members, including former President of Albania, Bujar Nishani; and former President of Finland, Tarja Halonen. Leterme will discuss current global challanges to democracy. 

Also representing International IDEA, Adina Trunk, Programme Officer, will present the main findings of International IDEA’s flagship publication, The Global State of Democracy: Exploring Democracy's Resilience. Based on a new set of indices that collect data on key attributes of democracy across 155 countries from 1975 to 2015, the publication finds that global democracy is at a crossroads and continuous actions must be taken to safeguard and protect it. 

The conference will bring together more than 500 speaker and delegates—politicians, religious leaders, senior academics, celebrated artists and representatives from areas of conflict. The annual event is the world’s leading event in the field and is organized by ICD and its partner institutions each year. This year, it will be held in Berlin at the ICD House of Arts and Culture, the German Parliament and several hotels.

See the ICD website for more information about the event.