Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 SOFT power is a gentle ap- proach to international re- lations, typically relying on economic, technological and cultural exports rather than military might. But it increasingly relies on the ability to network and on the promotion of a 'positive' brand. Iceland is one example: an island-nation with a popu- lation smaller than Malta's, it managed to punch above its weight not just in football where it made it to the World Cup finals, but also as a pop cul- ture powerhouse – think artists like Björk or the late Jóhann Jóhannsson – as well as its other-worldly landscape which serves as a backdrop for TV series like Games of Thrones and a number of Hol- lywood blockbusters. Other countries like Norway have excelled in conflict resolution brokering a peace accord between Israel and the Pal- estinians in the 1990s. Energy powerhouse Qatar is set to host the World Cup while gas-rich Azerbaijan hosts For- mula One races, wielding this soft power by leveraging the influence that hosting sports events brings, and helping to camouflage their suspicious reputation. Can Malta punch above its weight and make its mark in the world? JAMES DEBONO caught up with experts and thinkers in different fields to map out Malta's soft power arsenal and come up with some ideas of his own NEWS Powering up the soft touch Powering up the soft touch Powering up the soft touch MALTA itself is not new to the exercise of soft power, having crafted a major in- ternational law – the Law of the Sea – just a few years after gaining its Independence from Great Britain. Veteran journalist and news analyst Godfrey Grima iden- tifies four instances in the past where Malta asserted its soft power. The Law of The Sea In 1967, shortly after gaining inde- pendence from Britain, Malta moved a motion at the United Nations for the ocean's seabed to be considered the common property of all mankind. "The idea was brave and risky with unknown prospects of success. The oceans then were the exclusive pre- serve of the two superpowers," recalls Grima. But after hard-nosed negotia- tions "the world applauded and made Malta's initiative its own". Mintoff's standoff with the superpowers In 1980 both the USA and the USSR were attending an assembly of heads of government in Ma- drid discussing the setting up of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Mintoff insisted the final declaration separately guarantees security in the Mediterranean. Since agree- ment rested on consensus, both the Russians and the Americans "feared postage stamp-sized Malta would wreck years of painful negotiations". The stand-off earned Mintoff "untold flak" not least from the international press – but in the end Malta got its way. Mintoff's Mediterranean para- graph went into the final document, to the benefit, at least notionally, of the entire Mediterranean region. Ac- cording to Grima, Mintoff's diploma- cy was anything but soft or silent "but he did manage to make Malta punch above its size". The Chinese embrace Grima gives some interesting back- ground to "how tiny Malta came to bear-hug mighty China, to Malta's ev- erlasting gain". Grima refers to diplomatic rumours that when US President Richard Nix- on convinced the Chinese to abandon their hermit existence, Mao Zedong insisted China be offered a physical presence in a Nato country to balance out the Russian threat. "Mintoff was then about to sign up to a seven-year deal with Nato. The story goes that Henry Kissinger, then US Secretary of State, suggested China talks to Malta. Both grasped the enterprise with both hands. That deft piece of diplomacy still provides little Malta with unri- valled privilege in colossal China. I once asked Lawrence Eagleburger, for years Kissinger's sidekick, whether the story was true. His answer? "No com- ment." Gonzi's Libya gamble Lawrence Gonzi's decision to allow the military use of Malta in the evacu- ation of Libyans at the end of Gaddafi regime again showed "the sort of sub- stantial contribution tiny Malta can make to the international community – to the benefit of Malta's benign rep- utation." Key moments in Maltese soft power A lot of things shout 'Malta', but certain identifiers, symbols, and events could be used to put Malta on the international map: like Pete Buttigieg (centre), the Maltese- American exploring a run for the US presidency, or more historic figures like Law Of The Sea diplomat Arvid Pardo, and of course, socialist firebrand Dom Mintoff (below, pictured in his meeting with Chinese leader Mao Zedong)