Plenary Session 3 Roundtable
“Implications for National Action”
Countries are addressing a broad range of complex issues that
require actions in support of sustainable human development –
which is essential for social cohesion and a strong community, as
well as for economic growth.
In this context, countries are increasingly considering the impact
of cultural diversity and globalization on shifting relationships
among local (or sub-national), national and international identities
and forms of association. In so doing, countries need to promote
cultural diversity both at home and abroad, while promoting their
heritage, cultural expression, creativity, innovation and bolstering
social cohesion.
Thus, as the world undergoes profound changes in the information
era, countries are looking for the appropriate balance between openness
to international culture and support of their own. In this context,
it is essential that cultural diversity and creativity be preserved
in the face of globalization. Social and cultural diversity are
critical tools for sustainable development. By preserving the roots
of creativity, the world will be better equipped to meet the challenges
of the homogenization of cultural expression. At the same time,
it is important to harness and integrate cultural heritage for the
future as well as to ensure its’ stewardship of the past.
Purely interventionist and protectionist policies are of limited
value and effectiveness. The establishment of new action frameworks
for cultural production and distribution is a primary vehicle for
change. At this point governments have to move in innovative and
knowledgeable ways in order to keep with the pace of change. They
will need to create a domestic climate to foster cultural and intellectual
diversity and, in some instances, to preserve and protect ways of
life and traditions tied to language, expression and so on.
It is important for cultural policies to support and define the
new forms of identity and belonging in diverse societies and new
roles for national governments in mediating the local and global
environments. This leads to the challenges of rebalancing powers
and responsibilities at different levels of governance. In particular,
the INCP is committed to strengthening linkages and collaboration
among nations in addressing shared interests and to generating concrete
ideas and proposals about how to further cultural policies both
domestically and internationally. The INCP has the opportunity to
share insights and concrete strategies about local (or sub-national)
cultural development.This focus also reinforces the INCP’s
relationship with the parallel network of NGOs, linking cultural
NGOs working at the local level.
Back toTop
|