“Every culture represents an equilibrium among current economic and social forces”
-Eric Zones
According to UNESCO, three countries - the United Kingdom, United States and China - produced 40 percent of the world’s cultural trade products in 2002, while Latin America and Africa together accounted for less than four percent. So this implies to UNESCO head that;
“However, “while globalization offers great potential for countries to share their cultures and creative talents, it is clear that not all nations are able to take advantage of this opportunity,” said UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura. “Without support to help these countries participate in this trade, their cultural voices will remain marginalized and isolated.”
Even the Pope is worried about globalization. Pope Benedict’s 2007 encyclical will address “ethical and spiritual questions posed by the process of globalization.”
I’m not sure whether Daniel Cohen’s observation (cited at Café Hayek) that globalization adds to cultural diversity is generally shared among the general public. The title of the book reminded me of the comment made by Jagdish Bhagwati of the difficulty he had getting a publisher for the French edition of his book, In Defense of Globalization- he had to include an additional chapter on capital flows.
As for me, growing up in the Maldives one is bombarded in a sense by the culture of the neighboring giant, India. A large number of Maldivians understand the Hindi language- learned through watching Hindi films. I think it adds to the richness of the local culture and doesn’t make me less of a Maldivian.
Related;
INTERNATIONAL FLOWS OF SELECTED CULTURAL GOODS AND SERVICES, 1994-2003
