DIPLOMACY BY DESIGN: KNIFE HERITAGE AS CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC STATECRAFT

This article investigates whether—and how—heritage knife craft can function as cultural and economic statecraft in Central Asia. Building on historical linkages along the Silk Roads, we conceptualize knives (pichoq/pchak) as portable “knowledge objects” whose forms, motifs, and maker marks travel with people, fairs, and museums. We assemble a program typology (joint exhibitions, city twinning, master–apprentice exchanges, cross-border fairs, and geographical-indication branding) and propose an identification strategy that pairs mixed-methods case studies with quasi-experimental evaluation: difference-in-differences (DiD) and synthetic control. Outcomes include bilateral trade in cutlery categories (HS 8211, 8214) and tourism flows, augmented by cultural memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and media sentiment. A brief policy section distills design principles for “craft diplomacy”: target specific city-pairs with artisanal density, codify standards via GI-style specifications where lawful, and synchronize events with tourism seasonality. The framework yields a replicable way to test whether heritage-led initiatives move the dial on cooperation and commerce—without demanding large budgets or treaty-level negotiations.