Curious about the use of food in politics? Culinary diplomacy strengthens a nation’s diplomatic relations through the use of its local cuisine and food heritage. Singapore, a city-state in South East Asia, is making a global mark with its culinary diplomacy. We explore this soft power, a term coined by Joseph Nye, in our featured article “Singapore marks a global mark with its culinary diplomacy” in the Southeast Asia Globe, published on August 22, 2022.
Instead of military arms, food is the weapon of choice in this tasty and tangible version of soft power. Culinary diplomacy ranges in levels of formality and public, from high-level communications (government-to-government) to low level (people-to-people).
Culinary Diplomacy: people-to-people
Culinary diplomacy raises international awareness of a country’s culinary and cultural heritage by using food to reach the general public. It differs from culinary tourism, which is the exploration of food as the purpose of tourism. Rather, culinary diplomacy’s intentions are broader, i.e., enhance national branding, foster cross-cultural understanding, increase global standing, appreciate cultural heritage, and stimulate economy.
The Singapore government has engaged actively with food initiatives to make Singapore food an integral part of the global scene. For example, the Global Chef Exchange is an immersion program of Singapore that brings together talented international chefs to Singapore in order to experience Singapore food in cooking demonstrations and workshops with renowned local chefs.
Another form of culinary diplomacy is through the food itself. National dishes of Singapore, such as Chicken Rice, are being reappreciated as important expressions and carriers of tradition and cultural heritage. Hawker centers, open-air food stalls, always have chicken rice.
Being able to taste a national dish may be the most lasting and memorable form of culinary diplomacy for locals and tourists alike.
Culinary Diplomacy: government-to-government
Our scholarly article on the 2018 summit between American President, Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman, Kim Jong-un, shows how luncheons and state dinners are an effective way to promote diplomatic relations and interests with menus representing national values and leadership.
Below is the menu from the famous Trump-Kim lunch served on Singapore’s Sentosa Island.
Unique to the menu of this diplomatic event is the representation of the national cuisine distinct of all three nations involved: U.S., Singapore, and North Korea. A showpiece in diplomacy, the menu offers three courses, each with three options. The three desserts were: dark chocolate tartlet ganache, Haagen Daz vanilla ice cream with cherry coulis, and Tropezienne, a light brioche cake layered with soft silky cream, aptly known as Diplomat Cream.
Culinary diplomacy creates commonality through food, as locus of community, both domestic and international. Sharing a meal with others strengthens ties, whether the exchange is made formally at the diplomatic dinner table, vicariously in the media, through travel to the host country, or tasting it at home.