El Food Design como método para la práctica de la Gastro-diplomacia Social. Reflexión a partir del caso de la diáspora venezolana y la arepa.

Abstract

The gastronomic heritage, as a cultural asset, defines the identity of societies, which allows the use of cuisine and food by States as an instrument to create experiences that promote cultural understanding, relations and international cooperation, through a public diplomacy strategy. Over time, gastro-diplomacy has transcended the strict realm of relations between states and foreign audiences (gastro-nationalism or culinary nationalism), evolving in the form of citizen diplomacy, which highlights the importance of non-state actors in the construction of the perceptions of the international public. From this point of view, it is possible to glimpse links between gastro-diplomacy and Food Design, design thinking being able to facilitate communication between stakeholders involved in gastro-diplomatic initiatives aimed at  promoting innovation and social transformation. Based on this approach, the article proposes a reflection on the contributions of Food Design as a method for gastro-diplomacy supported by diasporas for social purposes. For this, the potential of the case of the Venezuelan diaspora is addressed, having as a pivot the exaltation of its food heritage and the arepa as a bastion in the global context.