Gastrodiplomacy: Assessing the role of Food in decision-making Flashcards
Gastrodiplomacy
the act of winning hearts and minds through the stomach
Culinary diplomacy
the use of food and cuisine as an instrument to create a cross-cultural understanding in the hopes of improving interaction and cooperation at a higher “government to government” level, as opposed to the “government to public” level
“Food Politics”
the study of the politics of decision-making around the foods that we eat and how/ whether they can be marketed/ advertised.
e.g. how the food industry influences nutrition and health
Luncheon Technique
an effort to persuade people of something or other over a meal
soft power
several governments have come to the realization that they are able to increase their influence abroad by providing their national dishes in foreign countries.
e.g. France, Thailand, Peru, Taiwan -> Little Italy, China Town
Sharing a meal
- Positive social interactions between those who dine together
- fewer hierarchical displays of dominance and submissiveness
- > increase of agreeable behaviour (endorphins released)
Does food influence our decision-making?
- Luncheon technique
+ ethical?
+ People are persuaded through their stomachs rather than their minds
+ some companies treat associates to free meals: for fear of a decline in sales if they didn’t, not because they were consciously manipulating - people who are served the same food are more likely to trust one another, smooth out problems and make deals
Free lunch
- Inspired innovative thinking by pushing individuals from different departments, who otherwise never see each other, to interact and organically brainstorm
- keep employees happy
The nature of food
- food heavy in starch -> individuals slower in thinking
- bitter -> hostility
- sweet -> romantic
- lavender essential oil -> relaxation
- hot cup of tea -> individual holding the steaming cup of tea looks more approachable
- eggs, cheese, pineapple, tofu, shrimps, salmon, Turkey, nuts and seeds -> TRYPTOPHAN rich food increases the brain’s level of ENDORPHINS leading to a more agreeable demeanour
Political drinking and dining
- Politicians need to be extremely careful about what they are seen to consume in public
Communal eating/ feasting
sharing of food, 12 000 years ago in a cave in Israel
- > facilitates bonding
- maintaining social cohesion within groups of individuals
Companion
- cum pane (Latin)
- person you share bread with
Food impact on decisions
- studies show the judges parole in Israel declined the request but recovered after a meal break
gastro warfare
- denial of food -> political tool to interfere with the other side’s negotiating ability
- preventing the opposing side from taking a food break until your desired decision has been reached
- demanding food break -> to disrupt the opposing side’s deliberations
- overwhelm with caffeine -> make the opposing side physically agitated
- poison -> certain political leaders travel with tasters to ensure the food is not poisoned
round table
implies equality and friendship
- fosters more collaborative decision-making
