Cultural policy vs. globalization: Diversity against uniformity

Abstract

The article Cultural Policy vs. Globalization - Diversity against Uniformity explores the contemporary globalization flows as well as the nature and the extent of its implications on world cultures. The focus is set on studying cultural policy areas that aim to diminish globalization negative consequences, responsible for making uniform cultural values and patterns. Firstly, it engages in understanding the globalization phenomena, its origins and causal processes, as well as the relevant theoretical perspectives. The complexity of cultural diversity and its relation to uniformity, standardization, homogenization and universalism is also examined. In the light of theoretical approaches, further analyses reveals how the European Union and international organizations shape the global level of cultural policymaking by creating instruments whose purpose is to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions. The results of implementation of these instruments into local context is an issue addressed in the third part of the article via empirical analysis. A comparative analysis of policy priorities, goals, strategies, instruments and measures in the cultural field of four elected countries, Denmark, Spain, Canada and Serbia, enables the verification of initial hypothesis and allows us to revise the role of nation state in the contemporary globalized world. The article examines the nature of relationship between the forces that uniform and those that diversify cultural expressions, giving its final judgment on whether the cultural policy-making can stand equal against cultural globalization.