The Italian model of humanitarian diplomacy

Abstract

Тhe term humanitarian diplomacy is undergoing a number of changes in the political discourse of international relations. Already, various states and international organizations are investing in it with diff erent content. In this article, we will look at how Italy, the ancestor of the modern diplomatic system, puts into practice humanitarian diplomacy in the broad sense of the term. If initially the concept of "humanitarian diplomacy" meant only "providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable segments of the population during a confl ict and victims of natural or man-made disasters", today it is already a whole umbrella concept that includes a wide palette of humanitarian cooperation on an ongoing basis in such areas such as: culture, science, education, youth, tourism. Particular attention is paid to the institutionalization of humanitarian diplomacy in the process of "transformation" of the foreign policy system of the Italian Republic. In addition, the author studies the cultural and scientific component of the international activities of the state on the example of cooperation with such "vulnerable" regions as: Africa and the Mediterranean. As the analysis of plans and reports of the relevant Italian structures, namely: the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs and International Cooperation, the Italian Cooperation Agency, showed, the main areas for cooperation in the humanitarian sphere are: education, fundamental research on environmental issues, agriculture, clean water and gender policy. In fact, activities in the fi eld of humanitarian diplomacy cover most areas of a universal, comprehensive nature. It is concluded that the Italian model of humanitarian diplomacy follows the global "trends" of reforming the ministries of foreign aff airs, and also "creates" its own practices of diplomatic discourse — legal and "hybrid" diplomacy, which, unfortunately, are not currently widely used and in its essence, in the first case, it is part of a multilateral (conventional), and in the second, it is rather a characteristic than an independent form of foreign policy activity, in the extreme case, a part of public diplomacy.