Round Tables

Theme 2

Synthesis

The Chair of the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization, Vladimir Skok, highlighted the work of the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization over the past year. The Working Group explored existing international instruments related to cultural diversity. The existing instruments ranged over several themes including human rights, social cohesion, democracy and trade. However, there is clearly a need for new instruments to address new challenges.

Mr. Skok's presentation also touched upon some of the concerns that INCP member countries identified in the survey performed by the Working Group. One major reoccurring concern was the growing importance of the concept of cultural diversity, very much linked to essential public policy areas that go far beyond the traditional cultural area, focused on central issues of government and participation.

David Streiff from Switzerland began the discussions by acknowledging that any discussion of cultural diversity must take into account the difference situation that cultural diversity finds itself in the developing world. Senegal's Mamadou Diop reaffirmed this idea when he stated that before discussions surrounding the promotion and defense of cultural diversity can take place all communities need to be provided with modern communications tools.

Canada's minister of culture, Sheila Copps, stated that while a considerable amount of work has been done on the instrument thus far, there remains far more work to be done. In particular the development of international action plans related to culture.

Ministerial discussion recognized globalization as a "fait accompli" that has both positive and negative aspects for cultural diversity. Bridgett Sylvia Mabandla said that rather than countries expending effort to fight off globalization more effort should be placed on developing a strong local culture. These sentiments were echoed by Minister Ulvskog of Sweden who said that one method to fight against global media conglomerates, which she identified as the biggest threat to cultural diversity, was by having a flourishing local cultural life.

France's Catherine Tasca reminded ministers that cultural diversity cannot be chosen over globalization due to the potential for the development of cultural isolation. Instead it is up to states and the public to promote and protect cultural diversity to restore balance in its relationship with globalization.

The issue of languages was brought up again in the discussion by Norway's Ellen Horn who suggested the need to maintain and expand measures that serve to protect small linguistic communities. Minister Horn also urged ministers to give due consideration to the qualities and vulnerabilities of cultural goods and to ensure that measures to protect culture are not simply viewed as obstacles to trade.

The importance of differentiating between the concepts of cultural nationalism and cultural chauvinism in a international instrument was brought up by Ukraine's Yuriy Serheiev.

Minister Maltais of Québec, Canada, suggested that an international instrument should contain methods for states to protect their own cultural interests within and even outside of their borders.

Meeting participants reacted favourably to Mr. Skok's presentation and generally agreed that further thinking is needed on an international instrument on cultural diversity. Ministers also grappled with the difficult issue of globalization and its positive and negative effects for cultural diversity. The overall feeling from ministers was that cultural diversity can be protected and promoted while fully participating in the global economy.

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