The Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies

The Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies (CCDS) is a prominent institute dedicated to the research, education, and promotion of cultural diplomacy in the context of international relations.

Overview

CCDS is recognized as one of the world’s leading centers for the study of cultural diplomacy. It offers a wide range of educational programs including graduate degree programs (MA and PhD), e-learning certificate courses, professional development programs, and study abroad credit programs. These programs focus on cultural diplomacy as well as related fields such as international relations, global governance, international economics, business, and intercultural relations. The center aims to extend research and practical applications in cultural diplomacy and foster intercultural dialogue at all levels. Its faculty includes senior university professors, high-profile politicians, and experienced professionals from public and private sectors (Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies [CCDS], 2022; Mastersportal, 2025).

Location

CCDS is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with additional affiliations and partnerships internationally, including the USA. Berlin serves as the main hub for its educational and research activities (CCDS, 2022; LinkedIn, 2024).

History, Establishment, and Founders

The origins of CCDS trace back to 1999 with the founding of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization established in both the USA and Germany. Since then, the organization has worked to raise awareness of cultural diplomacy and build sustainable networks among individuals from diverse cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds. In 2010, the Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies was formally established as part of this broader initiative to focus on education and research in cultural diplomacy. Since 2011, CCDS has developed MA and PhD programs in partnership with universities such as Babes-Bolyai University (Romania), University of Bucharest, and University of Siena (Italy) (Mastersportal, 2025; ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, 2025).

Financial Sponsors

CCDS operates as a non-profit organization and is supported through tuition fees from its educational programs, partnerships with universities, collaborations with international organizations, and possibly grants related to cultural diplomacy initiatives. It also partners with institutions such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for executive diploma programs, indicating institutional backing and sponsorship through such collaborations (LinkedIn, 2024; ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, 2025).

Website and Contact Information

• Official website: http://www.ccds-berlin.de
• Contact details and program information are available on the website, which also hosts news and updates about conferences and educational offerings (CCDS, 2022).

Prominent Research Figures

CCDS’s faculty includes high-profile individuals such as Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and President of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy; Dr. Hans Köchler, President of the International Progress Organization; Michele Alliot-Marie, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mark C. Donfried, Executive Director and Founder of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy. These figures bring extensive expertise in international relations, diplomacy, and intercultural dialogue (Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies [CCDS], 2022; ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, 2019).

Key Fields of Concentration (Research)

The center’s research focuses on cultural diplomacy theory and practice within international relations, global governance, international economics, business, intercultural relations, and the balancing of hard and soft power. It explores how culturally based initiatives can foster mutual understanding, peace, and stability globally. Thematic programs address political, cultural, and economic issues, as well as specific geographic regions, promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation (CCDS, 2022; ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, 2019).

Relations to the Islamic World

While CCDS is a global institution, it engages with the Islamic world through its inclusive educational programs and intercultural dialogue initiatives. The center’s emphasis on intercultural exchange and understanding aligns with efforts to bridge cultural divides involving Muslim-majority countries. CCDS’s global conferences and programs often include participants and perspectives from the Islamic world, fostering dialogue on cultural diplomacy’s role in international peace and cooperation (CCDS, 2022).

Publishing / Significant Reports

CCDS produces research outputs, organizes international conferences, and publishes thematic reports on cultural diplomacy’s evolving role. Its programs and events facilitate knowledge exchange between scholars, diplomats, and practitioners. Although specific flagship reports are not detailed in the available sources, CCDS’s ongoing research and conference proceedings contribute significantly to the academic and practical discourse on cultural diplomacy (ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, 2019).

Impacts and Partnerships from Iran’s Perspective

From Iran’s viewpoint, CCDS’s emphasis on intercultural dialogue and cultural diplomacy offers a valuable platform for engagement with global actors beyond traditional political channels. Iran’s interest in cultural diplomacy as a tool for soft power and international cooperation aligns with CCDS’s mission. While direct partnerships between CCDS and Iranian institutions are not explicitly documented, the center’s inclusive approach and global reach provide opportunities for Iranian scholars and diplomats to participate in its programs, contributing to mutual understanding and potentially influencing international cultural relations (CCDS, 2022; Mastersportal, 2025).

Critique and Hidden Objectives from Iran’s Perspective

Cultural Diplomacy as Soft Power with Geopolitical Ends

Iranian scholarship and policy analysis frequently emphasize that cultural diplomacy in Western or Gulf-based institutions may serve as a form of soft power aimed at shaping global narratives and advancing specific political interests. From this viewpoint, centers like CCDS might be seen as promoting Western or Eurocentric cultural frameworks under the guise of intercultural dialogue, potentially marginalizing non-Western or Islamic perspectives, including Iran’s own cultural and diplomatic narratives (Majidi & Shojaee, 2023; DergiPark, 2024).

Concerns over Cultural Hegemony and Ideological Bias

Iranian critiques often highlight that cultural diplomacy initiatives can mask hegemonic agendas, where dominant powers use cultural platforms to influence public opinion and policy in other countries. This can be perceived as a subtle form of ideological subversion or “cultural invasion,” which Iran actively resists through its own cultural diplomacy efforts focused on Persian heritage, Islamic values, and regional identity (Majidi & Shojaee, 2023; USC Public Diplomacy, 2016).

Limited Recognition of Iran’s Cultural Diplomacy Model

Iran advocates a model of cultural diplomacy that is deeply rooted in its religious, historical, and regional identity, emphasizing cultural ties with neighboring Muslim countries and promoting Persian culture globally. From Iran’s perspective, Western-based centers like CCDS may insufficiently engage with or acknowledge such alternative models, leading to a perceived imbalance in cultural representation and dialogue (Majidi & Shojaee, 2023; JCCS, 2017).

Political Context and Distrust

Given the complex geopolitical tensions between Iran and Western countries, including Germany where CCDS is based, there is inherent skepticism about the neutrality of cultural diplomacy initiatives. Iran’s own experience with negative international perceptions, sanctions, and media portrayals fuels concerns that cultural diplomacy efforts by Western institutions may be part of broader strategic attempts to influence Iranian society or policy indirectly (Russian Law Journal, 2024; Pew Research Center, 2013).

Summary

In sum, from Iran’s perspective, while cultural diplomacy centers like CCDS contribute to intercultural dialogue, they may also serve hidden objectives aligned with Western soft power strategies. Iran critiques these efforts as potentially biased, insufficiently inclusive of Islamic and Persian cultural narratives, and embedded within geopolitical contestation rather than purely cultural exchange.