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Unit of Study
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Strategic Studies Unit of the ECO Cultural Institute (ECI)
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Author
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Maryam Shayegan
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Focus Area
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The Status of Students (Young Intellectual Capital) in the ECO Vision 2040
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Core Event/Concept
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ECO Cultural Institute (ECI), Regional Convergence, Intangible Heritage, Cultural Diplomacy, Young Human Capital
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Keywords
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1. Strategic Elucidation: The ECO Cultural Institute and Beyond Economics
The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is primarily known as a regional body with economic mandates. However, the ECO Cultural Institute (ECI), as the cultural arm of this organization, centers its focus on the shared civilizational capital of the ten member states. In the complex world of international relations, cultural diplomacy plays a vital role in building foundations of trust, mutual understanding, and ultimately facilitating economic cooperation.
The strategic goal of the ECI extends beyond organizing sporadic artistic events; rather, it aims to institutionalize a regional cultural identity and ensure the sustainability of this identity across future generations. In this vision, students, as the future bearers of policy and culture, are regarded as the primary intellectual capital for achieving deeper regional convergence.
2. Shared Civilizational Heritage: The Foundations of Regional Convergence
The common heritage of ECO member states (stretching from Central Asia to Southwest Asia and Anatolia) is not merely a historical phenomenon but a dynamic force for contemporary convergence. The ECI's focus is on elements capable of being transformed into a "Regional Cultural Brand":
A) Shared Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
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Domain
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Strategic Nature
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Pervasive Examples in ECO Countries
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Rituals and Customs
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Creating a shared cultural calendar and reinforcing regional seasonal and social identity.
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Nowruz: Joint World Heritage registration, a symbol of seasonal change and revitalization, shared across a vast section of the region.
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Oral and Written Literature
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Establishing a "Lingua Franca" and promoting the cultural literacy of the young generation based on unified classical texts.
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Shahnameh, the poetry of Rumi, Alisher Navoi, Yunus Emre, Hafez, Nizami; shared anecdotes like Mulla Nasreddin (in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Central Asian countries).
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Arts and Crafts
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Promoting cultural vocational training and establishing a network of young regional artists.
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Calligraphy (Nasta'liq and other scripts, illumination), skills in making the dotar and kamancheh.
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B) Tangible Heritage and Historical Monuments
Key cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Isfahan, Tabriz, Lahore, and Konya (Turkey) are viewed as "Living Museums of Architecture" with shared Iranian-Turkic patterns, serving as infrastructure for cultural tourism and platforms for student and school exchanges.
3. Student Day in ECO Member States
While Iran celebrates the 4th of November (13th of Aban) as Student Day, ECO member states observe different dates for commemorating students or children. These differences highlight the necessity for the ECI to focus on the "International Students' Day" (November 17th) or define a single regional day.
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ECO Member Country
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Date (Gregorian)
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Occasion/Day Related to Students or Children
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Turkey
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April 23rd
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National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Official Holiday and Grand Celebration)
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Iran
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November 4th
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Student Day (13th of Aban, Solar Calendar)
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Kazakhstan
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June 1st and September 1st
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Primarily through International Children's Day and the start of the academic year.
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Kyrgyzstan
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September 1st
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Day of Knowledge and Start of the Academic Year
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Uzbekistan
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September 1st
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Independence Day and Start of the Academic Year
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Tajikistan
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September 1st
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Day of Knowledge and Peace Lesson (Start of the Academic Year)
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Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan
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Variable Dates
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Primarily through International Children's Day (June 1st) and International Students' Day (November 17th) or start of the academic year dates.
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Conclusion
By focusing on "Youth-Centric Diplomacy," the institutionalization of transnational values by the ECO Cultural Institute seeks to invite the younger generation into a transnational discourse through events such as the ECO Literary Award, joint photography exhibitions, and regional short film festivals. Ultimately, this approach leads to the nurturing of a generation that accepts shared heritage not as a directive, but as their "inherent identity element," thereby paving the way for deep and sustainable convergence in the region.