The Crucial Role of the Museums in Allying Alternative Forms of Diplomacy

Diplomacy, which is as old as humankind, is the art and practice of conducting negotiations. Traces of diplomacy may be found in the Amarna Tablets, the earliest known ancient records. In ancient Greece, diplomatic affairs concerned, at first, the relations among the Greek city-states resolving tensions and setting the standards for commercial exchange. Cultural diplomacy, though existent for centuries, officially has only recently been established. An informal type of diplomacy exercised through time by travelers, merchants and other such cultural ambassadors encouraged contact, interaction and the establishment of good relationships between different cultures by means of art, music, sport etc. At present, the discussion concerning cultural diplomacy takes place mainly on a state-level while academic research studies the ways in which it may act as a vehicle of politics and international affairs. A sequence of actions that capitalizes on ideas, principles, traditions and other layers of civilization or local identity is involved in view of strengthening relations and socio-cultural collaborations and of promoting national interests. In our constantly advancing societies, cultural diplomacy and its exploitation of heritage, sport, gastronomy, etc. in major events, increases the prospects of development. Moreover, concerning the power of Olympic diplomacy the context of culture, sport and tourism is investigated, with the events organized by an Olympic Museum seen as driving forces for economy and society.