Culture, Identity and international relations.

This article tries to explain the interrelationship between Culture, Identity and International
Relations. It throws light on the impact of Cultural identities such as Race and others in
transforming the overall landscapes of International Relations.
Anjali Baghel
International Relations are majorly studied and deciphered with reference to the several Political,
economic, social and commercial structures. Even the Treaties that are signed by states bilaterally
or multilaterally and the overall look that comes out has a pinch of Cultural identities. The matter
lies in to predict them and use them viably the context. The impacts of these identities can be felt
worldwide as they have dominated and shaped the ethics of the world wide civilization that we see
around us.
There rests a significant difference between Culture and Civilisation but many scholars use them
alternatively. However, Civilisation subsumes Cultural Identities though all Cultural Identities
must not lead to formation of civilisation. The realm of culture has acquired unprecedented
importance in interpreting the nature of international relations in popular writings. Francis
Fukuyama and Samuel P Huntington have set up a new trail in international relation studies by
analysing the impact of Cultural aspects. Fukuyama's Central argument was that there was no
viable alternative to liberal democracy and capitalism after the cold war, thus there was an
attractive path where everybody wanted to hang on and enjoy. Samuel Huntington said that the
dominating source of conflict was going to be cultural. He was particularly aware about the
inevitable clash between the Islamic and western civilizations. Edward Said's critique of
Huntington is of great importance here he asserted that Huntington sources are journalistic and has
interpreted history with reckless distortion based on lazy generalisations. In fact civilization who
have greater diversity are more static are neither monolithic nor homogeneous. Islamic civilization
is no exception to this rule.

Culture since the ages has played a role of weaving the hearts together when in animosity and these
identities are now segregating and differentiating more and more. Some scholars say that using
cultural identity will bring international relations to a Safe Harbour rather than roaming in the Sea.
The soft power diplomacy extensively used by America in this 21st century is another card in the
theme of geopolitics for which India is gaining a ground in its own way. By hosting the famous
G20 summit and teaching the whole world its values , cultural and ethics or the foreign students
making the Malai Tikka roll so famous as the sensation comes around. All these faces come back
to a single path to gain power in each and every sense for which the country awaits. Some have
acquired their position, some are gaining ground, some are being targeted as their audience.

Regardless of it returning to a safe harbour or uncertainty of a storm seat. This is for sure that the
return of culture and identity projects is part of some of the great debates that the 21st century is
watching with the climax yet to come.

Reference/Bibliography
1. Said Edward- The clash of definitions, Oxford University press, Oxford.
2. Cox Robert - Gramsci Hegemony and international relations.
3. JSTOR.org Rajen harshe