Nowadays, institutions are too quickly turning to culture and identity to explain politics, especially at election times. As simple and convenient as it seems, it is not as accurate as such. All across Europe, the governments failed at distributive justice, not on culture or behavioural recognition.
We are discussing these highly topical issues with our special guest …
Grand-granddaughter of the glorious Hapsburg Empress Maria Therese
“We need culture to know where we came from”, says her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Tuscany Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen. “At a time when our western society is complaining, is frustrated and not making the best of what we have, there we need culture. The cultural field enables us to build up dialogues better and faster than administrations can.” Contributing to a better world is why the descendant of the Habsburg house that traces its roots back to Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Therese of Austria chose the cultural field over a more political role.
How does it feel be the great-great-great-granddaughter of such a historical figure as Maria Theresia?
“Recently, we celebrated the 300th anniversary of Empress Maria Theresia’s birth. She was bright and very advanced for her time. Great policy such as the obligation to go to school, the vaccination against chicken pox, the opening of the stock market and the founding of the academy for diplomats was some of the many actions implemented by her. Her strong character and personality as a ruler, wife and mother impresses me strongly.
“It is a big responsibility to carry this name, which will always be imprinted on me. It is not easy to fulfil all people’s expectations but I try to be true to myself, not to lose my focus and keep remembering my history, where I come from.”
Do you consider this responsibility to be political?
“No, there is no role for me in politics. The time to get involved is very limited. First you have to get elected, and during the mandate you try to do as much as you can and then the electorate either replaces or re-elects you. All this makes it difficult to make real changes, not to mention the opposition parties that try to block all suggestions, even if they are good ones.
Politics lacks consistency and coherence over longer period?
“Indeed! One of the big dilemmas of democracy and modernity…
Politicians mostly take responsibility over a certain period. This is understandable because they receive legitimacy over a certain time. But the downside is that many do not understand the responsibility for future consequences of their actions. Monarchies, nobility and family-run companies all have to make careful decisions as these leave an impact and imprint on the future of generations and the empires or business. Politicians should learn from this, and vow to take consequences for the effects of their actions in the future.
“Besides that, I feel that real change should be realised via initiatives.”
Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Tuscany Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen.
One of the most prominent international institutes from Central Europe, IFIMES that has even a consultative status with the UN, has entrusted you as their Director for the Euro-Med Diplomacy and Intercultural Affairs. In that capacity, you are all the time at the world summits and important meetings. Do you feel that we need a change?
“I am pretty thankful to live in a peaceful country with strong stability like Austria. But it worries me that people don’t recognise that. In the last years, throughout Europe, I observe the increase of a complaining and unsatisfied society that is questioning everything. Also, greed and materialism have become very dominant in our times and this leads to a feeling of emptiness. And so it’s understandable that people become very scared and receptive to any kind of manipulative information that threatens this artificial way of life.
… peddling reductive messages to electorate in the EU?
“Yes. In our times, there is a strong destabilizing fear for the future and of other cultures. The result is a lack of focus and investments. Constant worrying will lead us nowhere and won’t enable us to build a strong future. That is something we need to change.
“I would say that there is a need for respect. Respect is much stronger than tolerance. The population is growing fast, everybody is getting closer, and more people will live in our countries. Just tolerating others will not be sufficient, we need to respect each other and other cultures and learn from them.”
Do you see any role for yourself in this?
“I have a background in PR and advertising, besides that I am also very active in the field of networking. But most important for me are values: the stability of a society and passing on of ideas and sending impulses. I was never involved in representing companies, firms, but always more looking in the direction of a so-called atmospheric PR if you understand what I mean. That is a kind of seismographic feeling towards our environment and our global thinking and acting. Searching for solutions, to get together those people who feel and think in a similar way and then move things into action.”
Sofi B. and Director Camilla of IFIMES – soft power of subtle diplomacy
Do you consider that to be diplomacy?
“Yes. Diplomacy has a very important stabilizing function in this world. I prefer the cultural field because it is neutral and makes it easier to bind people and nations on a diplomatic base. As the IFIMES Director, I would like to connect the Euro-Mediterranean, Central-Eastern Europe and the Balkans and give a voice to those without one. For me that is one of the important aspects of diplomacy. Our Institute is active within the UN, OSCE but elsewhere too.”
Do you feel that the European Union contributes to a better world?
“The European project – the European Union, brought prosperity and peace to the continent. But now they are getting lost in a big construction of bureaucracy and regulations like on what kind of energy saving light bulbs we are allowed to buy. There are too many paragraphs blocking any fast action. I find this a waste of energy, time and money. There is a real need for solutions to the bigger problems, like immigration for instance. The European Union should focus on the bigger political issues and on the cultural field.
“The near future might be challenging, but we need to keep the dialogue going, because together we can tackle every crisis.”
Based on the talks of Djoeke Altena with Archduchess Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen, interview arranged by the Magazine.
Photos by IFIMES.