International Journal of Education, Culture and Diplomacy
In 2021, the Swiss Institute of Cultural Diplomacy officially launched the International Journal of Education, Culture and Diplomacy, supported by its Scientific Board. The journal aims to advance research and innovation in executive and cross-cultural education. Our first issue has been published and is now available.In subsequent years, we shifted to a more concise publication format, focusing on works with the greatest impact on society. These publications are contributed by our philanthropic scientists and are made freely available to everyone.
We Thank Our Contributors:
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Huib Wursten: Reflections on Culture, Art, and Artists in Contemporary Society:
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an Vincent Meertens: A Journey to Macondo. Will outside readers ever be truly able to crawl under the skin of the author, challenging their own cultural preconceptions?
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Arthur d' Ansembourg: In search for a philosophy of African art
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Carel Jacobs: The vulnerable human being. A cultural anthropological study on life and work of Vincent van Gogh.
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Eric Alexander de Groot: Culture and The Art Market.
Our Publication Guidelines: (document).
Keep up to date with the developments in your field, direct your research and build your professional success with us. To contribute or partner, please, contact us.
Individualism and economic theory (by Huib Wursten and Fernando Lanzer)
Introduction: It happened again! In a discussion in New York among members of an informal think tank, I was again confronted with the idea that while we used the same word, Individualism, we did not share the same meaning. I say again, because it happened so much in my life as an international consultant that I usually start my presentations with anecdotes. In North America, people frequently try to break the ice by discussing sports. They use the words football and hockey. They assume then that we share the same meaning. But I know now that they are talking about American Football, which, in my humble opinion, is not football. And they are talking about ice hockey, which, for me, is irrelevant. For me, hockey is field hockey. Individualism is again such a concept. Below is an analysis of some frequent misunderstandings. Individualism: A Comparative Analysis of Hayek, Rand, and Hofstede Individualism has been pivotal in various philosophical, economic, and cultural discussions. Despite their diverse backgrounds and disciplines, Friedrich Hayek, Ayn Rand, and Geert Hofstede each provide unique perspectives on individualism. This blog seeks to compare and contrast their views, exploring how each thinker understands and promotes the idea of the individual within society
Wealth Taxes Won’t Fix Inequality—But They Can Start a Conversation ( by Huib Wursten)
Introduction: Inequality isn’t just a policy problem—it’s a story. And like all good stories, it plays out differently around the world. From Manhattan to Mumbai, Lagos to Lisbon, a tiny slice of humanity controls more wealth than most of the rest combined. And what’s the progressive response? Tax the rich. Enter the wealth tax. Cinematic, poetic—but in practice, it’s more like sprinklers than hurricanes. It makes a splash—but rarely changes the tide.“Even modest wealth taxes can start a conversation about fairness—but alone, they won’t rewrite the rules of society.”
Why Culture Shapes Policy of How societies conceive of wealth, fairness, and responsibility shapes everything—from compliance to political reaction
The concept of worldviews* helps explain this. In some countries, collective responsibility and social cohesion make redistribution feel natural. Norway, Switzerland, and Japan, for example, accept modest wealth levies as normal. In other societies, like the U.S. or Brazil, individual achievement dominates. Taxes on the rich feel like punishment rather than civic duty.
“Worldviews determine whether a policy is embraced, ignored, or resisted—and a wealth tax is no exception.”
A Special Edition on Cultural Diversity:To build bridges, you must know where the shorelines are (by Huib Wursten)
Introduction: Trends like globalization, digitalization and the climate and energy transition are accelerating and deepening, strongly affecting our minds. It is getting clear that we must tackle these
urgent global problems by forming complex, adaptive coalitions. The "WE" in this statement is, in reality, a problem. To put is simply: " There is no we ." The first important issue is, therefore: what do we mean by Inclusion and why is it important? Three main answers: -Democracy/Inclusion needs to be understood in the context of a functioning democracy. Democracy is not simply about "the will of the people". It is about accepting that different groups have different interests and outlooks on life in every society. Democracy is about a system to "balance" diverse interests and find peaceful solutions for tackling problems. It requires that people from different groups feel represented. -Sense of belonging It creates a sense of belonging for individuals in various social and organizational settings. Inclusive practices recognize and value individual differences in culture, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, sexual orientation, and religion. By creating an environment that accepts and celebrates differences, Inclusion allows individuals to feel valued, respected and accepted for
who they are, rather than being excluded or discriminated
The EU: the third great European cultural contribution to the world (by Huib Wursten and Fernando Lanzer)
A Short Summary: The article presents the European Union as a unique cultural project rather than just a political or economic entity. It argues that Europe’s greatest strength lies in its cultural diversity. The authors identify several distinct cultural “mental images” that shape how different European countries think and act. These differences are based on established cultural theories, including Hofstede’s dimensions. Unlike other global powers, the EU brings together multiple cultural models within a single system. This diversity makes decision-making more complex and often slower. However, it also creates a strong capacity for dialogue, compromise, and mutual understanding. The EU is described as a major cultural achievement, comparable to earlier European contributions such as democracy and industrialization. The authors emphasize the importance of cultural awareness in managing cooperation across countries. Ultimately, the EU demonstrates that diverse societies can work together successfully without losing their unique identities.