Diplomacy of the European Union: The Impact of Cultural Diversity on External Trade Strategies
Abstract
This study examined how cultural diversity shaped the European Union’s external trade strategies between 2007 and 2025. It analyzed official EU policy frameworks, trade agreements, and reports in which cultural and creative dimensions intersected with trade provisions. Using qualitative document analysis, the research identified patterns through which culture functioned as an operational rather than symbolic factor in trade diplomacy. Findings showed that cultural cooperation strengthened negotiation environments, fostered mutual trust, and supported regulatory convergence with partners such as Japan, Mercosur, and African states. Cultural diversity operated as both a resource and a mediator—enhancing soft power, promoting institutional coherence, and improving the legitimacy of the EU’s market actions abroad. The study concluded that integrating cultural diplomacy into trade frameworks enabled the EU to combine normative influence with economic pragmatism. This approach positioned cultural diversity as a strategic driver of global competitiveness and a cornerstone of an adaptive, inclusive European trade identity.Published
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