The soft power of cooking to create mutual bonds in people: the case of Über den Tellerrand in Berlin 2016-2019

This paper aims to demonstrate how cooking and sharing food can help the integration of Syrian refugees in Berlin through the work of the German NGO Über den tellerrand. The paper positions cooking as an intangible heritage and cultural construct of Syrians. The methods used rely on navigating multidisciplinary academic literature to position cooking as a form of intangible heritage and discusses its power while applying a theory of change. The study examines the extent through which food and cooking can contribute to the integration process. A series of semi-structured interviews with personnel from the Über den tellerrand as well as Syrians and Berliners involved in the organization of the initiative were conducted. Theses (sic) interviews were in-depth and open-ended and discussed a theory of change that sharing a sustained cultural experience can contribute to build understanding, trust, acceptance and mutual respect. Data analysis using a meta-frame was developed while utilising soft power and cultural diplomacy concepts to underpin the fieldwork. The paper provides an evidence-based discussion into the discourse and participation in mobilising intangible cultural heritage, which is often ignored in favour of tangible heritage, for more effective international cultural policies to face the current significant social problems of successful integration of refugees in Europe. The paper concludes that the development of these symbolic skills, can lead to social and cultural participation and partnership as preconditions for integration.