Chef Arun Sundaraj leads the catering teams at Taj Palace Hotel hosting G20 delegates. The podcast discusses the art of food diplomacy, including the role of food in peace negotiations, hiring culinary experts for diplomacy, and the challenges of adapting to different cultures through food.
Food diplomacy showcases culture, builds connections, and facilitates negotiations, but mistakes can have negative consequences.
Food diplomacy is a form of soft power that promotes cultural understanding, enhances global image, and connects nations.
Deep dives
The Impact of Food Diplomacy
Food diplomacy plays a significant role in international relations, with meals and cuisine being used to build connections and showcase culture. It has been observed throughout history that meal times have facilitated negotiations and the exchange of ideas. Food diplomacy continues to be practiced today, with countries using their native cuisine to influence policies and win friends on the global stage. Success in food diplomacy requires balancing sensitivities of religion and flavor, as well as careful consideration of the preferences and dietary restrictions of world leaders. When done right, food diplomacy has the power to create a constructive and peaceful environment where conversations can thrive. However, making mistakes in food diplomacy, such as serving overly spiced or culturally insensitive dishes, can have negative consequences.
Food as a Soft Power Tool
Food diplomacy is a form of soft power that enables countries to build relationships and promote cultural understanding using food. By showcasing their national cuisine, countries can communicate their heritage, attract tourism, and enhance their global image. Various countries have implemented food diplomacy strategies, such as Thailand, which has sent chefs and restaurateurs to open authentic Thai restaurants around the world. The United States, during the Obama administration, established an American Chef Corps to act as culinary ambassadors, promoting American cuisine and engaging with foreign cultures. Food diplomacy offers a powerful tool to connect and create meaningful exchanges between nations.
The Role of Food in Peacebuilding
Food serves as a catalyst for peacebuilding and can play a vital role in conflict resolution. During sensitive negotiations, sharing a meal allows for a peaceful and conducive environment that fosters understanding and collaboration. In past experiences, the consumption of traditional and well-prepared cuisine has symbolized a shift from violence to peace. The act of sitting at a table with former adversaries, exchanging weapons for spoons, signifies the construction of peace. Food creates a sense of unity and provides a platform for open dialogue. However, it is crucial to be aware of cultural sensitivities and to approach food diplomacy with respect and intentionality.
As India welcomes the world’s biggest economies for the G20 meeting this September, we look at the role that food might play in top level discussions.
Food diplomacy is increasingly seen as a form of ‘soft power’ that can help build bridges and find common ground.
In this programme Devina Gupta speaks to chef Arun Sundaraj, who is leading the catering teams at the Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi which is hosting many of the G20 delegates. She visits the Colombian embassy in London to hear from the country’s ambassador about the role food played during vital peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC. Devina also travels to Glasgow in Scotland to share a plate of haggis with Scotland’s national chef, Gary Maclean and Lauren Bernstein, founder and CEO of The Culinary Diplomacy Project in the United States, explains why governments are looking to hire culinary experts to aid in diplomacy.
Presented by Devina Gupta.
Produced by Rumella Dasgupta.
(Image: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden raise two wine glasses in a toast. Credit: Getty Images/ The Washington Post/ BBC).
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