Rewind 75 years to 1951. This is when the Goethe-Institut was established to promote German culture abroad. Its founding as a civil society organization reflected a truly unique approach that remains distinct today. The Goethe-Institut operates independently from the German government, embodying civil society and the soft power it represents. Despite its autonomy, Goethe-Institut remains Germany’s most important partner organization in the realm of foreign policy.
This fact alone reveals a lot about Germany’s approach to cultural relations. We entrust the promotion of German culture, and therefore the shaping of our cultural relations abroad, to representatives of civil society: teachers, artists, actors, musicians, filmmakers and many more. Culture cannot exist without people, so cultural relations cannot exist without people-to-people ties. Germany believes in the power of civil society. The constitution of the Goethe-Institut as a civil society organization is an expression of this belief.
In the Philippines, learning German is one of the most important ways to gain a deeper understanding of our culture. In this context, the Goethe-Institut plays a key role in providing German language training, facilitating 5,000 German certificates in six locations all over the Philippines. It is through our language that people find access to Germany, its universities, labor market and enterprises. These exchanges keep German-Filipino relations alive, whether through student exchanges, working abroad or traveling – all of which bring our societies closer together.
Another good example of the strong people-to-people ties between Germany and the Philippines is the German European School in Manila. Here, German, Filipino and international students learn alongside each other, gaining access to German culture through shared experiences, and – via the German International Baccalaureate – to German universities.
However, our commitment to promoting cultural relations through the work of the German Federal Foreign Office and its partner organizations, such as the DAAD and, of course, the Goethe-Institut, extends far beyond that. In addition to language training, there is program and project work, forming another important pillar of our cultural foreign policy.
Some might argue that, in times of increased military confrontation, cultural work becomes less important, or even obsolete. But the opposite is true. In times of escalating geopolitical tensions, we must engage with other societies. When different societal models are competing with each other, we must explain to people abroad who we are, what we stand for and what we believe in. This encompasses more than just Neuschwanstein Castle, Oktoberfest, German cars and Birkenstocks. Our culture encompasses human rights, freedom of expression, minority rights, creative engineering and sustainable living and so much more.
It is most powerful to not explain all this with words, but show it.
We show it through films. In May, as part of the Cineuropa European film festival, the highly acclaimed German film ‘Afire’ was screened. The Goethe-Institut also regularly organizes its own German film festival, Kino Fest, with the next edition running from Oct. 15 to 18 at Ortigas Cinemas and featuring the most recent German blockbusters and festival entries. Goethe-Institut also provides an online film library with a broad selection of German movies.
We show it through music. In April, the Goethe-Institut brought together world-renowned German DJ Boris Dolinski and young Filipino DJs in cooperation with the local collective Kaput, demonstrating how creativity and individuality are valued in Germany and how productive and innovative results can be achieved by bringing together many creative minds and allowing them to work freely.
We show it through performance, exhibition and arts. The ongoing exhibition of Berlin-based artist Olafur Eliasson at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, with support of the Goethe-Institut, invites visitors to experience artistic immersions and offers a space for reflection on global warming and environmental change.
All of these examples demonstrate how culture and cultural relations can shape the environment for political and economic ties to flourish. People-to-people ties are the bedrock upon which diplomatic relationships are built. This also applies to German-Filipino relations: skilled migration, scholarships, tourism and cultural affinities bridge the 10,000-kilometer distance between our nations. These ties enhance collaboration in trade, politics and defense.
Underpinning all of this is a vibrant and engaged civil society – an essential force that fosters trust, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. It is through this shared dedication of German and Filipino individuals that our countries continue to grow closer, strengthening not just our partnership but our common values. This is why I believe in diplomacy beyond politics – in cultural diplomacy.