COUNTERING POLARIZATION – RETHINKING CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

The conference “Countering Polarization: Rethinking Cultural Diplomacy” took place on 28 May, 2026 in the Danish parliament, Christiansborg. It explored how Europe can strengthen trust and relations in an era marked by polarization, war, and geopolitical tensions.

The conference was grounded in the need to rethink cultural diplomacy as a fundamental condition for long-term relations within a complex interplay between foreign policy, media, and culture.

Watch the conference here:

The recording of the conference is divided into three parts.

Part 1 – see the programme below the video:

10:00–10:05

Welcome remarks by host Moussa Mchangama

10:05–10:10

Opening speech by Flemming Møller Mortensen, MP

10:10–10:20

Reading by poet Amina Elmi, winner of The European Poet of Freedom Award 2026 (in Danish)

10:20–10:40	Directors Panel: Why discuss cultural relations now?
	Camilla Mordhorst, CEO, Danish Cultural Institute Charlotte Flindt Pedersen, Director, Danish Foreign Policy Society Jakob Sørensen, Director, Dansk Kulturliv Ulrik Haagerup, Founder and CEO, Constructive Institute

10:40–10:50

Keynote by Bjarne Corydon, Director General of Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR)

10:50–11:30	Panel: Who Shapes Europe’s Story? Media, Culture, Youth, and Democratic Trust
	Bjarne Corydon, Director General of Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Lars Ebert, Secretary General, Culture Action Europe Naima Yasin, Head of Secretariat, SAGA

Part 2 – see the programme below the video:

11:40–11:50

Keynote by Helle Faber, Producer on the Academy Award-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”

11:50–12:25	Panel: Documentary, representation, and the ethics of storytelling
	Helle Faber, Producer on the Academy Award-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” Sine Plambech, Senior Researcher, DIIS – Danish Institute for International Studies Ingrid Tinmannsvik, Co-founder, Demo

Part 3 – see the programme below the video:

13:00–13:10

Keynote by Emile Hertling Péronard

13:10–13:50	Panel: From Cultural Promotion to Cultural Relations
	Emile Hertling Péronard, Producer and Co-Owner, Ánorâk Film Anni Syrjäläinen, Deputy Director, Nordic Culture Fund Kasper Holten, CEO, The Royal Danish Theatre Julija Reklaitė, Director, Lithuanian Culture Institute