A soft diplomacy open to civil society

Santiago Velo de Antelo, Executive President of the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain, was admitted as an Honorary Member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ) during a solemn ceremony held on 26 June in the auditorium of the Círculo Ecuestre in Barcelona. The recipient read his admission speech, “Diplomacy as an Integral Practice of Foreign Policy and International Relations. The Academy of Diplomacy”, in which he analysed the evolution of the concept of diplomacy and the growing role of civil society in international relations.

Sr. Santiago Velo de Antelo

He was represented by the Royal Corporation on behalf of the Numerary Member and President of the Governing Board, Alfredo Rocafort. After the session, the traditional READ Summer Dinner was held, which, as in recent editions, also brought together at the same Círculo Ecuestre venue members of the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain and the Consular Corps of Barcelona.

The new academic defended the evolution of traditional diplomacy towards a broader and more inclusive model that actively incorporates civil society, companies, universities and other non-state institutions. In his address, the Spanish political scientist and diplomat argued that, although official diplomacy remains predominant, the 21st century has consolidated an integral contemporary diplomacy in which private and civil actors play an increasingly important role, even in areas such as defence and geopolitics. “Today, diplomacy cannot be understood without the substantive contribution of civil society”, he emphasised. Velo de Antelo highlighted the role of honorary consuls as the most human face of international relations and underlined the importance of public diplomacy, culture and the economy in building bridges between nations.

As for the Summer Dinner of the Royal European Academy of Doctors, the Academy of Diplomacy of the Kingdom of Spain and the Consular Corps of Barcelona, it was preceded by a scientific session presented by Ignacio Buqueras, President of the Adiprope Foundation for the Dissemination and Promotion of Spain’s World Heritage and Emeritus Member of the READ, in which an assessment was made of the cycle of eight commemorative round tables organised to mark the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí. This was followed by the solemn ceremony of the admission of new members to the Academy of Diplomacy and the presentation of the Award for Solidarity through Patronage, granted by the three institutions to the family of the Counts Güell. The award was received by Carmen Güell, Marchioness of Gelida, author of the book “Gaudí and Count Güell, the Artist and the Patron”. The events preceding the fellowship dinner were brought to a close by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Emir of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.

A profound expert in the diplomatic world, Velo de Antelo is an Honorary Member of the Society of International Studies and a Member of Merit of the Carlos III Foundation. He has promoted and chaired the presentation of the Ambassador José María Velo de Antelo Award, which has been granted in recent editions to King Simeon of Bulgaria and Pope Benedict XVI. He has lectured at the Diplomatic School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission, the international courses of the Menéndez Pelayo University, the General Military Academy, the Cervantes Chair and the International Defence Course of the Ministry of Defence and the University of Zaragoza. He is Professor of Protocol on the Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Event Organisation at CEU San Pablo University. He has published the books “Call to a Sleeping Homeland” and “The Virgin Venerated by John Paul II”.

ADIPROPE Conference Photo Gallery

Photo gallery of the induction of His Excellency Mr. Santiago Velo de Antelo into the RAED

Photo gallery of the RAED Institutional Ceremony and Summer Dinner