Córdoba Intercultural

Cordoba Intercultural Menu

• What is Córdoba Intercultural City
• Salutes
• Key Data
• Objectives
• Continuity of the initiative
• Plan for 2008-2010
• Where we are
• Cordoba declaration "For the furtherance of Interculturality"

INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON DIVERSITY AND INTERCULTURALITY

• About the forum
• Objectives
• Programme
• Subscribe
• Sponsors and collaborators

Features

During the last quarter of the twentieth century, Spanish policies began to reveal different traits from those that characterized them in the past, reflecting the new scenarios and perceptions that arose during the "Transition" period. Spain's international role became more diverse, and new ways based on factors such as dialogue, cooperation and mediation began to emerge to join long-established ones. All of this helped awaken expectations regarding our new international role, thus fuelling the process.

These newly emerging ways gradually consolidated a line of advance in Spain's foreign policy, which achieved international recognition in 1991 with the Madrid Conference and which was further developed four years later in 1995 with the launch of the Euro-Mediterranean Process in Barcelona. This new foreign policy approach can be classed as what Joseph Nye called "soft power" as opposed to coercive power or "hard power". This soft power arises from the persuasion of a country's culture, ideas, values and politics.

The public presentation of this new line of Spanish policy took place on 21 September 2004, when the country's Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, proposed at the United Nations that an Alliance of Civilizations be created. This initiative was later assumed by the Organization and in 2007 the post was established of High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.

The success of the Spanish proposal has made it possible for this new line of advance in the country's foreign policy to finally take shape. Its renown has been enhanced because it embodies another way of practising politics, of offering a new global model.

Córdoba, a leader in the field of interculturality, is the best symbol that Spain can put forth to spotlight the new model that it is now offering the international community. The echo of Al Andalus, the so-called "Córdoba paradigm", is an invaluable asset that must be capitalized on, above and beyond local or national interests and particular situations, as long as this asset is linked to social needs, to building the public policies needed by the citizens of the twenty-first century.

The intercultural legacy that has been handed down, the sensitivity of civil society and institutions in Córdoba today, and the fact that the city is highly motivated to join already existing intercultural networks make it the ideal location to focus attention on matters relating to interculturality and soft power, both within Spain and internationally.

An awareness of these circumstances has encouraged the preparation of a comprehensive programme to promote dialogue between cultures, based on the conviction that Córdoba is the right place to establish a new space for the exchange of experiences in the development of public policies aimed at fostering interculturality and a culture of peace.

Events calendar

Next Events