On April 10, 2026, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion titled “The challenges of Depoliticisation of Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Ties in the Modern World.” Moderator Oleg Barabanov
called this topic important and pressing, given the current international climate. Geopolitical divisions, conflicts and acute contradictions between states inevitably affect the cultural sphere. Humanitarian and cultural ties, as well as connections between people find themselves at the centre of geopolitical struggles. In this context, Barabanov highlighted the phenomenon of “cancel culture,” which is acquiring an international dimension and is now being used against Russia.
Elena Galaktionova, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations at the Russian Foreign Ministry, noted that although the use of culture as a weapon is inherently paradoxical, it is far from a new phenomenon. Cultural mechanisms have been used as a tool of pressure almost throughout human history. The situation in which Russia finds itself is unique in this sense, primarily in the scale and comprehensiveness of this pressure, the number of sanctions applied, including in the sphere of science and culture. It is also important that a large regulatory and legal framework in the field of culture has now been accumulated. Moreover, it is generally accepted that damage to the culture of a particular people causes damage to all humanity. This makes anti-Russian sanctions so odious that they have given rise to an international backlash, Galaktionova noted. She emphasised that Russia, for its part, postulates openness to the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation with all countries, including those pursuing unfriendly policies, but this dialogue must develop on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect.
Tings Chak, Director of Research and Education, Department of Culture, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research (China), analysed the role of the cultural sphere in the context of Western international hegemony. She called what is happening now a battle of ideas and emotions. For decades, Western hegemony has been based on the language of universalism. The West extolled international law, human rights, and rules-based order. Now it has changed the rhetoric, speaks openly about civilisational superiority and has begun to dehumanise other cultures. This can be seen, in particular, in the example of narratives regarding Gaza or Iran. In fact, we are talking about justifying the destruction of entire peoples and their cultures. According to Tings Chak, dehumanising narratives are also being built regarding China. ️She sees this turn from universalism to dehumanisation and the rhetoric of superiority not as a sign of confidence, but as a sign of weakness and incipient decline, signalling that hegemony can no longer rely on its economic and political supports and is being forced to exploit cultural mechanisms and resurrect old myths.
Souleymane Anta Ndiaye, Former Minister-Counsellor and Head of the Economic Department of the Embassy of Senegal in Moscow, discussed the problem of depoliticisation of humanitarian aid. He pointed out that humanitarian cooperation has always been one of the fundamental principles of international law and one of the foundations of international relations. However, in the modern world it is often under attack due to geopolitical problems. The question is how to ensure that humanitarian aid is not used as a political tool and reaches those who need it. The diplomat stressed that aid should always be provided on terms of neutrality, impartiality and independence, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for humanitarian organisations to adhere to this approach and not become involved in complex power games. Speaking about the importance of cultural ties, he noted that they are designed to reduce international tension and promote mutual understanding and dialogue in a polarised world. However, instead they often become instruments of political manipulation, losing their original purpose of serving as a bridge between nations.
Ivan Kostić, Member of the Serbian Parliament and chairman of the Dveri party, said that the deep political division that the modern world faces affects not only diplomacy and interstate relations, but also humanitarian cooperation and cultural ties. These areas, which in theory should be outside of politics, are increasingly being sacrificed for the sake of geopolitical interests, which makes the issue of their depoliticisation one of the key civilisational challenges of the time. In particular, the “collective West” tends to give preference to solving geopolitical problems rather than preventing humanitarian disasters, declaring the latter “collateral damage.” In addition, in the cultural sphere, Western countries are trying to resort to a policy of cultural isolation. Against this background, it is necessary to increase the role of international humanitarian organisations, strictly observe the principle of neutrality when providing assistance, and also protect cultural institutions from political pressure. “This is the only way to build a world in which human life, dignity and cultural heritage are not sacrificed to political impulses,” Kostic said. “Culture and humanism must remain the common space of humanity.”
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
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