Thank you Mr. President. It is an honour to be associated with this
distinguished panel in a discussion of a topic which I have long felt has
received too little attention, particularly at the policy level. Thank you
for the invitation.
I offer my comments this morning from the perspective of someone who has
been a long-standing observer of cultural evolution in the developing world
of Africa and Asia, and from more than twenty-years of experience with
activities such as the Aga Khan Award for Architecture that have attempted
to make a positive contribution to that process.
At present there is a great deal of apprehension about the future of local
and national cultures in most countries in the developing world. What can
the cultural diplomacy of the United States do to address these anxieties
and replace them with a sense of confidence through new and shared
initiatives?
If the cultures and value systems of the developing world are being
challenged -- or are believed to be under threat - I think it valuable to
try to identify the nature of the challenges. For the sake of discussion, I
would put the major issues under the headings of language, institutions,
people, communications, and funding.
First, there is the issue of language. During the process of de-colonisation
in Asia and Africa, the driving objective of the governments of the newly
independent countries was to create nation states. A national language was
seen as an important part of this process. Forty years later, the world's
dominant foreign language, English, is viewed as a necessity in most areas
-- but not yet as an opportunity. For cultures in the developing world to be
globally accessible, understood, respected and admired, and to be
represented in electronic communications, they must ensure that their
cultures find expression not only in the national language, but also in
English.
The second issue is institutions. In most parts of the developing world
institutions and places of particular importance to cultural inspiration and
expression are all too often abandoned or neglected by both governments and
civil society. Museums, conservatories, and buildings and public spaces in
historic cities are generally in a precarious state. This is also true of
higher education, particularly in the arts and the humanities. In their
present state these institutions cannot contribute to the survival and
reinvigoration of inherited value systems, and may actually contribute to
their further degradation.
The third issue is people. Culture is by its nature rooted in people.
Unfortunately, in the countries of Asia and Africa which I know, cultural
expression as a life-long vocation nearly always leads to a dead-end.
Artists in the industrialised world at least have the possibility of
mobilising the resources necessary to live with dignity. The economic
environment for cultural professionals in the industrialised world does not
exist in the developing world. Indeed it is being weakened further by the
collapse of traditional value systems and the cultural production they
supported.
The fourth issue is communications. Cultures that do not or cannot
communicate become increasingly isolated, inward-looking, and, in due
course, marginalised. Some would argue the United States' dominance of
global communications systems is, because of what has been called the
digital divide, a contributor to this problem. I would offer a different
perspective. It seems to me that by a purposeful effort, the United States
could play a significant role not only in making the cultures of Asia and
Africa available globally. Doing so would also make a massive contribution
to the full acceptance to the legitimacy and value of social and cultural
pluralism, something that is urgently needed in most parts of the developing
world.
The last issue is funding. The reality in the countries of Asia and Africa
is that the material resources required to sustain cultural activities are
either not available because of higher priorities, or because there are no
incentives to support culture. But with their economies becoming
increasingly liberalised, an increasing percentage of national wealth being
will be created by private initiative. It is my dream that private
individuals and organisations will come to the support of culture, as has
been the case for centuries in the industrialised world. For this to happen,
many new methods of giving will need to be stimulated and developed through
appropriate public policies.
In response to the challenges facing countries in Africa and Asia that I
have outlined, the United States, with a wealth of educational, private
philanthropic institutions and global corporations that is unparalleled in
human history, can play a leadership role. Specifics can be discussed later
this morning or in this afternoon's sessions. Much very important work
devoted to the issues of language, institutions, people, communications and
funding is already underway, but there is scope, and I would say a need, for
a massive expansion.
It is my hope that this meeting will lead to a re-conceptualisation of the
role in culture in public life and international policy and move more public
and private institutions to initiate or expand their activities devoted to
the support of culture. I can assure you that you will find interested and
reliable partners in the parts of the world with which I am familiar to join
you in this process.
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