1999 - Round Tables

Topic 3. Challenges of culture in a global era

Summary of comments

If we are to have an international debate, we must work on the world scale, like other organizations equipped with a structure to analyze, make decisions, negotiate and create international laws. This has not occurred in the case of culture, since we do not have a forum of this kind.

The question arises of whether in a globalized world, countries are in a position to protect and promote their culture. It is necessary to work globally to create the appropriate tools and decide on suitable international cultural policy measures.

It is also necessary to prevent cultural works from being subject to the rules of the market. Since such works involve freedom of expression and opinion they should not be considered merchandise. States and governments should have the capacity on the international scale to support and promote culture both inside and outside their territory.

Working groups could be established on the topics of the meeting, one on participation by civil society, one on cultural diversity and globalization and a third on the cultural heritage.

(Sheila Copps, Canada)

We should try to find a consensus between those who are inclined to believe that the market is the only factor that determines the enrichment of diversity and who hold that the State should not interfere with the freedom of that market, and those who view the State as being responsible for diversity in the arts and for their protection.

If we follow up on the idea of establishing a working group on cultural diversity and globalization, in association with experts, this would give us the opportunity to reflect and find points on which all positions can agree, thereby determining the forms of international cooperation.

(David Streiff, Switzerland)

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There are national goods that should not be the object of free trade and governments should be able to ban their export. Just as inside a country, there are monuments that cannot be demolished. We claim the right to design a policy to protect cultural materials and the right to design a promotional policy, particularly in the audiovisual field.

The heritage of countries is not simply archaeological or historical. It also extends to contemporary creations and we should promote and favour free trade in them. We should claim the right to make policy, either for protection or promotion, or for free trade. It is the responsibility of governments to preserve heritage, but we should expand and promote our citizen's freedom of choice.

(Miguel Angel Cortés, Spain)

The views of some developing countries on globalization may differ from those of the industrialized countries.

Countries must trade with each other, but they should not create barriers against the cultural products from developing countries. It is necessary to prevent cultural heritage from being treated like any other commodity. It is important that the WTO recognize the special position of cultural industries and the cultural heritage.

(Ben S. Ngubane, South Africa)

UNESCO should be used as a forum for more wide-ranging and advanced discussions on ways of promoting cultural diversity. To that end, it will be necessary to promote the sensitization and commitment of UNESCO and also to sensitize public opinion to the fact that some of the concerns about this issue are shared by a number of States and that globalization should occur by understanding them.

(Catherine Trautmann, France)

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In this globalized era, it is important to develop the appropriate institutions to balance the effects of the market on culture. Many fear the subordination of culture to trade policy and the danger of reproducing trade inequalities in the cultural environment. Therefore we should seek to protect diversity, with the support of institutions that could act as counterweights to the institutions that defend the market.

(Abdoulaye Elimane Kane, Senegal)

Culture cannot be separated from the economy. The forces of globalization and the forces of free trade bring direct benefits for culture. Having said that, there remains an important place for national governments to protect and promote their cultures, and guard against market forces.

(Alan Howarth, Great Britain)

Synthesis

In this globalized era, cultural policies should reach beyond the market, in the opinion of Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The ministers of culture discussed the possibility of working on a global scale to create the necessary tools and to determine cultural policies that are appropriate for all countries.

In particular, there was clear consensus on the need to promote the establishment of international conventions, with UNESCO being an important framework, in order to promote cultural industries, while protecting certain sectors of the arts and culture that do not benefit from market dynamics or which are threatened by them. In short, as Minister Catherine Trautmann of France noted, UNESCO should become the forum for a wide-ranging discussion of ways to promote cultural diversity.

The participants noted, first, the need to raise public awareness about cultural diversity and, second, the right of each country to establish a cultural policy that favours, protects and promotes cultural diversity.

David Streiff of Switzerland pointed out a major difference that continues to exist among the countries and the need for them to reach a consensus regarding it. For some, he said, the market is the only factor that determines the enrichment of diversity and government action should not interfere in the freedom of that market. For others, on the contrary, the government is solely responsible for the different arts and for protecting them.

The representative from Quebec, Agnés Maltais, mentioned that international recognition should be given to the ability of States and governments to support the production, promotion and dissemination of national cultural works within their territories and abroad.

Minister Trautmann, like Minister Copps, noted that in the development of the information society, one of the most sensitive aspects is the audiovisual area. The participants considered that cultural goods and services, including the audiovisual media, merit special treatment since they are the reflection of national and regional cultural identities.

The Spanish Secretary of State for Culture, Miguel Angel Cortés, noted that technological changes and innovations in communications have advantages, such as promoting greater cultural exchange. He stressed that governments are responsible for providing tools to protect, promote and disseminate the cultural heritage, expand options and favour the freedom of choice of citizens.

Some suggestions were made to counteract the possible negative effects of cultural bombardment. The representative of Norway, Per Kristian Skulberg, pointed to the importance of building up self-esteem and appreciation of local cultures. Minister Vladimir Egorov of Russia said that education is another effective mechanism for addressing the process of globalization. The Minister of Hungary, Attila Váhegyi noted the convenience of having a strong national language and Antonio Rudder, representative of Barbados, stressed the need for stronger intellectual property instruments.

Minister Abdoulaye Elimane Kane of Senegal said that international cooperation should play a key role in the preservation and protection of cultural diversity. Like Minister Ben S. Ngubane of South Africa, he noted that the World Bank and other international organizations such as the European Union should include culture in their cooperation activities, since it is one way of promoting development and economic progress in the developing countries.

Last, Minister Copps proposed that specialized groups be established on the topics of the meeting in order to provide continuity. She mentioned Canada's interest in organizing a group on cultural diversity and globalization.

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