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Arriving here from the homepage,
you might expect something different in focus. In fact, to watch cultural
diversity one needs bifocal glasses (at least). At the outset, years ago, the
expression more or less covered the issue that was also associated at that time
to the notion of l'exception culturelle,
the concern for imbalances of global exchange and circulation of cultural goods
and services, affecting economic interests on the one hand and referring to a symbolic
battle field of cultural influences on the other. When Unesco entered this
stage, the term was therefore closely linked to the position of culture in
world trade. Lately, the semantic field of term has shifted towards the primary
meaning of the two words, that is towards artistic variety, multiculturalism
etc, almost to the point of being interchangeable with intercultural dialogue.
BO has been more involved in the observation of the first meaning of cultural diversity (see the title of this chapter)
than the second, where - among others
- the Compendium
project excels.
Thus the issue is the role of culture
within international commerce: How is the Unesco
convention on the diversity of cultural expression implemented? What is at stake in the negotiations over
the renewal of the general agreements of the World Trade Organisation?
What is, or should be
done in
this context in our region? By action we mean one of the following:
- The interpretation
of this complex issue to the decision-makers in any part of east-central
Europe, bearing in mind the interests of culture.
- The same, directed
to the wider public, especially those in the cultural field, with the
aim to sensitise them towards the issue.
- The articulation
of the particular interests of the countries of the region, which could
eventually be represented jointly in the international arena.
BO attended an early
meeting in Paris
in 1999, entitled Culture:
a form of merchandise like no other? That conference came about at
the joint initiative of the Canadian and French governments, long-time
champions of an exceptional treatment given to culture within international
trade agreements. The Canadians have been particularly active in searching the
ways of reconciling the opposing interests of dynamic expansion of world trade
(with all its positive effects) and the protection of national cultures; they
have repeatedly raised the question if another "instrument" like the
Florence (Lake Success) Agreement on the importing of cultural goods can be
created. The answers, if any, have been cautious and ambiguous.
In the following year,
BO attended another meeting
in Warsaw. Still in 2000, within the frames of the Mosaic
project of the Council of Europe, a meeting was dedicated to the topic in Zagreb.
Seven years later, the Round Table of Circle, held in December 2006 in Helsinki dealt with this issue in a very substantial
and professional manner.
In April 2007, Nearly seven years
later, BO participated in a major
conference dedicated to the subject in Essen.
Our experience tells us that
in the eastern half of the continent the communication gap between people
"in culture" and the technocratic decision-makers is wider than in the
west. Chances that the members of negotiating delegations at world trade talks will conscientiously consult the representatives of culture, are smaller
in a country in transition than in an established market society. Also
the other way round: ministries of culture rarely put the issue on their
agenda in our region. What happens then? The delegations at WTO meetings
keep the overall interests of their countries in mind: how to promote
exports, how to ensure international aid and credit, how to please investors
etc, without thinking of the specific nature of cultural goods and services.
BO has dealt with
various aspects of the issue in the monthly newsletters. These can be consulted
by typing "cultural diversity" into the search box.
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