Karyna Hrom
PhD student at the Department of Modern History of Ukraine, Faculty of History,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,
Kyiv, Ukraine
E-mail: karina.grom@knu.ua
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2830-0344
DOI: 10.17721/2522-4611.2025.52.10
CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF UKRAINE'S CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
Cultural diplomacy is an important part of Ukraine's foreign policy and directly contributes to the implementation of a number of important tasks set before the state. Due to its soft power nature, cultural diplomacy has high potential and effectiveness in building effective international relations. The aim of the study was to analyze the theoretical foundations of Ukraine's cultural diplomacy. To achieve this goal, an analysis was conducted of the interpretations of the definition of “cultural diplomacy” in global and Ukrainian scientific discourse, and the place of this type of diplomacy in the system of international relations was determined. The study used scientific methods such as analysis and synthesis, logical generalization, comparative, historical-genetic, and historical-systemic methods.
The results of the study show that currently, the term “cultural diplomacy” does not have a single consistent definition in scientific and diplomatic circles. The interpretation of the definition varies depending on the country where it is used. The situation is similar with the definition of the place of cultural diplomacy in the system of international relations; there is no consensus among diplomats, but in general, three most common positions regarding the belonging of this type of foreign relations can be distinguished. At the same time, the nature of the use of cultural diplomacy has been clarified, namely its relationship to the concept of “soft power.”
The paper also focuses on the activities of state institutions that lead and/or participate in the implementation of cultural diplomacy tasks. In addition, it highlights the main tasks and instruments of cultural diplomacy. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that cultural diplomacy, despite the differences between scholars and diplomats in such theoretical principles as the interpretation of the term or the question of the independence of this type of diplomacy, is an effective instrument of soft power, capable of contributing to the formation of a positive image of the state on the world stage, as well as contributing to the successful implementation of foreign policy goals.
Key words: Ukraine, cultural diplomacy, culture, soft power, diplomacy.
Received 18.08.2025.
Revised 9.09.2025.
Accepted 15.09.2025.
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