INTRODUCING AFRICAN CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION TO ASPIRING DIPLOMATS

While the need for training in African language and culture for students of diplomacy and IR focusing on the region might appear obvious, it was not always the case in Russia. Despite the country’s strong tradition of African studies, underpinned by close political connections with the continent in Soviet times, in the 1990 s the government considered the idea of wiping African studies altogether from the curriculum of all major universities in Russia, including the ones run by the foreign ministry. A renewed call for African studies took root in Russia’s recently growing interest in Africa for potential military, political and economic partnership. Yet, the revival of the subject at the diplomatic school has offered little insight into the generic communication issues that anyone dealing with a totally different culture may well encounter. Once posted in Africa, Russian diplomatic agents will typically engage with the locals in three main cultural contexts: the international diplomatic milieu, i.e. a shared professional culture in diplomacy, based upon the norms of conduct, rules and institutions more or less universally accepted by diplomats worldwide; the bilateral milieu, in which both formal and informal contacts with diplomats representing the host country occur, with more opportunity and more need to take into account one another’s national protocol, etiquette and communication styles; and informal communication outside the diplomatic circle, including cultivating day-to-day relationships with the locals. As Moscow continues its march to captivate the hearts and minds of African leaders and their people, more effort has to be invested into teaching intercultural communication to Africa professionals, embracing all the three contexts in concert. This objective has to be translated into reality by incorporating culture studies into the curriculum, encouraging early student internships and pre-graduation training at Russian diplomatic missions in Africa, introducing contemporary African media to students, and more. Organizing and stimulating student participation in social events revolving around the topic, especially ones attended by foreign dignitaries and Africans studying in Russia, would indispensably help to review cultural expectations and make diplomatic engagement per se more smooth and efficient.

Keywords: intercultural communication, Africa studies, diplomacy