ANGLO-TURKISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

While traditional diplomacy is primarily based on official relations between states, public diplomacy presents a new approach that is society-oriented and based in soft power. Public diplomacy encompasses multidimensional communication activities which aim to enhance a state’s international image, influence foreign public opinion, and promote its cultural soft power. Since the Cold War era, public diplomacy has become a complementary instrument of foreign policy. One of the most effective tools of public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, seeks to build mutual trust in international relations through culture, arts, education, and shared historical heritage. The significance of cultural diplomacy became particularly apparent at the Cold War period, during which the role of non-state actors also became increasingly prominent. This paper evaluates the Anglo-Turkish Cultural Association as a tool of cultural diplomacy within the broader framework of public diplomacy. According to archival documents, this association which is an outcome of the close relations in Turkish-British relations during the 1930s, was officially established in Ankara in 1951 under the initiative of the British Council following World War II. The purpose of the association was “to strengthen and develop cultural ties between the two countries in every field, and to establish intellectual, scientific, economic, and social relations.” The paper aims to analyze the purpose and activities of the association from the perspective of cultural diplomacy by focusing on its impact on Turkish-British relations. While Turkish-British relations have been evaluated in many aspects, no comprehensive academic study has yet been conducted specifically on the Anglo-Turkish Association. Therefore, the article aims to discuss the association’s role in terms of public diplomacy based on sources from British National Archives, Turkish Diplomatic Archives and as well as newspapers, original brochures, booklets, invitations and programs of the Anglo-Turkish Association.