European cultural policy is based on the exchange of artists. It has devoted decades to the objective of encouraging dialogue and enabling cooperative production; especially between the countries of the so-called 'Global North' and 'Global South'.

Cultural policy makers and agents in Europe, such as those working in cultural institutions and at the ministries responsible for cultural relations, constantly stress their claims of a 'dialogue of equals'. However, if and how cultural cooperations really are in practice brought to life on equal terms is an open question.