Graduate Research Colloquia: Dr Bethan Winter (University of Oxford)
Harmonizing Nations: Classical Music and Cultural Diplomacy between East Germany and Japan during the Cold War
Abstract
The study of cultural diplomacy in the twentieth century has long been dominated by a focus on the superpower dynamics of the Cold War, often portraying smaller states as passive actors beholden to the agendas of their respective hegemons. This pericentric study of East German-Japanese relations challenges that narrative by demonstrating how East Germany actively leveraged classical music to transcend ideological divides and foster normalized diplomatic and economic ties with Japan, even amid the geopolitical constraints of the time.
Through choral and orchestral tours and scholarly exchanges, East Germany projected itself as the steward of German cultural heritage, capitalizing on Japan's profound admiration for German classical music. Additionally, the involvement of non-state actors, exemplified by Japanese pianist Noboru Toyomasu's collaboration with GDR Bach scholars, further enriched these cultural ties, demonstrating the significance of individual agency in cultural diplomacy.
This case study underscores the strategic use of music as a tool for diplomacy, the interconnectedness of cultural and economic relationships, and the critical role of smaller states in shaping international relations during the Cold War. It illustrates how East Germany successfully employed cultural, and specifically musical, diplomacy to navigate a polarized global landscape, leaving a legacy of enduring cultural and diplomatic connections.
Biography
Dr. Bethan Winter is a social and cultural historian specializing in the Cold War, with a focus on the German Democratic Republic and its international relations. Currently a postdoctoral associate member of the History Faculty at the University of Oxford, she has previously held lectureships in both History and Music at Magdalen College, Oxford, as well as teaching for DPIR. Bethan will soon take up a Mieroszewski Scholarship in Warsaw, where her research will focus on East-East relations during the Cold War.