Page 5 - Issue 62

Ramadan Vol.1 Issue 62 December 2023 ELITE

Kareem Q6: Amidst the current international and regional Q8: You have recently been interested in the relationship

landscape, Egypt, like all nations, faces a world that is
between culture and diplomacy, and Egypt has long been a
dynamic. What are the obstacles and opportunities does beacon of cultural diplomacy. What is your assessment of
Egypt have? that cultural role currently, and what are the promising
powers in this regard and their most important tools?
The world is undergoing intense volatility and turmoil, so
much so that experts refer to it as VUCA, a term that I have a strong passion in two areas: cultural diplomacy in
stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous. international relations, and sustainability and sustainable
Today’s world is characterized by fluidity, uncertainty, development. Climate change is the most serious issue
and obscurity, which means that traditional methods in facing humanity, and most issues and problems are a result
international relations are no longer effective in of it, whether in the field of food, health, migration,
addressing challenges. There is a need for new and conflicts and wars, or the threat to the existence of states.
effective diplomatic skills, as well as prudence and wisdom Culture is the driver of international relations, and the
in decision-making. We thank God that this is available in driver of the concept of identity and selfhood that causes
the case of Egypt, which faces enormous challenges on all conflicts and wars (think of Hitler and World War II, and
fronts. Like many countries, Egypt faces significant the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina and ethnic
challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cleansing). The cultural dimension is indispensable in
war in Ukraine, and the Gaza crisis. The real support for raising awareness and promoting a culture of peace, which
Egypt in facing these challenges is the will of the people, are essential requirements for achieving sustainable
their social cohesion, sense of belonging, and love for the development.
country—values known about Egyptians since ancient
times. In this regard, I call on my student sons and Returning to cultural power, it is the power of persuasion
daughters to be a wall of defense against anyone seeking and achieving attractiveness to minds, and it is the
to break national cohesion, especially through social resources that can be used to influence others voluntarily
media, which can turn into a tool of destruction instead of and without coercion. When American political scientist
being a means of building, development, and Joseph Nye spoke about soft power, he mentioned that the
enlightenment. basic sources of exercising power are: firstly) the culture of
the state, whether the culture of the elite or the culture of
Q7: In addition to your extensive diplomatic experience, the people that contributes to convincing the masses.
you have had a significant academic career that included Secondly) the fundamental values that the state applies
teaching and scientific research, as well as holding senior domestically and internationally. Thirdly) the foreign
positions in academic institutions like October 6 policy of the state as seen by others, which must be
University. After these important experiences in both the legitimate and ethical. Soft power has indicators, including
public and private higher education sectors, how can they the state’s ability to provide aid to other countries, the
be evaluated in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of ability to innovate and the abundance of patents, the
each sector, and what is your vision for the state of higher number of tourist attractions, and the number of
education in Egypt? diplomatic, consular, and cultural missions abroad,
including cultural centers. In connection with this, Egypt
It is important to enhance the international presence of has fundamental sources of its soft power such as teachers,
universities and openness to the world through student radio and television, cinema and drama, arts and literature,
and faculty exchange visits, conducting joint research, and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and the Church. However, these
the joint organization of international scientific sources need to be reactivated and revived to be able to
conferences. It is also important to work according to play the desired role in a changing world.
international comparisons and standards, especially in the
field of quality. Equally important is the inclusion of
courses on education, critical thinking, media literacy, and
environmental literacy in academic programs. These
aspects contribute to the formation of an individual’s
knowledge framework and are at the same time pillars of
cultural diplomacy; considering that there are three
sources of power: military, economic and financial, and
cultural and intellectual, also known as <Soft Power.= In
this context, it is worth mentioning that the higher
education system in Egypt is indeed undergoing
development, reflected in the construction of new
5 universities with a new philosophy linked to sustainable
development efforts in light of Egypt’s Vision 2030, as
well as the development of university structures and
academic programs.