DIPLOMATIC ARCHITECTURE AS SOFT POWER: A CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper examines embassy architecture as a form of soft power, revealing how built environments function as cultural and political instruments in diplomatic contexts. Through selected historical and contemporary case studies, the study explores how embassies embody national identity, project political values, and adapt to evolving diplomatic strategies. Moving beyond their administrative roles, embassies are analyzed as symbolic structures shaped by both cultural narratives and geopolitical shifts. The research highlights how architectural styles ranging from open and transparent to fortified and conservative reflect the diplomatic posture of nations across time and space. By bridging architectural history with international relations, the paper offers a cultural and historical perspective on how architecture participates in diplomacy, emphasizing the need for intentional collaboration between architects and state actors in designing meaningful, context-aware diplomatic spaces.