Bulgarian Cultural Diplomacy in the West: Between Ideology and Universal Values

Public lecture via Zoom by Theodora Dragostinova, Department of History, The Ohio State University.

Exploring small Bulgaria’s cultural diplomacy with Western Europe and the United States in the long 1970s, this talk shows how communist elites constantly adjusted their message, swinging between culture, ideology, and propaganda, to project a new image of Bulgaria as a cultural pioneer in a pan-European context. As they opened exhibitions, organized concerts, screened films, and led book discussions, Bulgarian cultural ambassadors skillfully built new partnerships and projected a positive image of their country. Cultural diplomacy emerged as a good strategy of a small state to become a European and global player.

Presented by the Center for Austrian Studies. Cosponsored by the Department of History and the Center for German & European Studies.