International Network for Cultural Diversity

Newsletter 16

January 2002

 

UNESCO General Conference adopts Declaration on Cultural Diversity

 

On November 2, 2001, UNESCO’s governing body, adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. The Declaration, in the making since UNESCO’s pivotal 1998 meeting in Stockholm, takes its place alongside the declarations of La Francophonie and the Council of Europe as more intergovernmental bodies frame positions on cultural diversity.  (The full text of the Declaration is at: / General Conference / Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity).

 

The Declaration has a very broad definition of cultural diversity.  The preamble stresses the interdependence of human rights and diversity, draws attention to the need for exchange and dialogue and discusses the effects of globalization and new technologies on culture. It situates the Declaration alongside other UNESCO documents, as well as the UN Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The major themes of the Declaration are:

 

Previous drafts have circulated over the past six months and the final Declaration shows that the pressure of nongovernmental cultural groups had a positive effect.  It is more concise than expected and strongly advocates action - a primary concern of NGOs has been the essentially declaratory nature of most UNESCO documents.  The areas covered in the Declaration continue to include such things as science and agriculture, with a strong emphasis on education.  In its message to UNESCO in the Lucerne Declaration, the INCD stated: “we are concerned about all aspects of human culture, including mass media and popular culture, language, folklore and cultural survival.  But we must also remember we are discussing culture, not science or agriculture”.

 

Inevitably, a number of elements remain ill-defined, particularly Articles 6 and 9 on the circulation of ideas and content. The concept of free circulation is potentially risky, being subject to a number of divergent interpretations. Article 8’s language stating copyright laws must provide “due recognition of the rights of authors and artists,” can be read several ways.  UNESCO’s desire to consult with civil society and the private and public sectors is commendable, but it is difficult to imagine how UNESCO can reconcile these diverse and sometimes contradictory interests.

 

Most interesting for the INCD is the Declaration’s Action Plan.   In Point 1, UNESCO expresses an interest in the development of a new international instrument on cultural diversity, a major goal of the INCD since its inception in 2000.  It remains to be seen how proactive UNESCO will be in implementing the twenty points of the Action Plan given that a number of countries worked to avoid language that would fully endorse the instrument.

In the end, the text does not endorse the development of a legal instrument, stating only that UNESCO’s objectives include:  “taking forward notably consideration of the opportunity of an international legal instrument on cultural diversity.”  However, the fact UNESCO achieved consensus on this initiative and avoided a potentially divisive vote bodes well for its implementation.  At the INCD’s Lucerne meeting, there was discussion about whether UNESCO was the appropriate venue to negotiate the global accord.  Delegates finally agreed that, while supporting UNESCO, there were concerns about its effectiveness.  The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity helps to alleviate some of these concerns.

 

 

The Death of France’s Cultural Exemption?

 

After the recent speech by Vivendi’s CEO declaring “the death of the cultural exception” and Vivendi’s acquisition of Universal Studios Group and USA Networks, the French cultural community has rallied to oppose the pronouncement.  The charge has been led by French president Jacques Chirac who defended the distinction between works of art and commercial products.  The French film industry protection measures have created a viable mainstream film industry and the declaration that Vivendi will seek to abolish the exception threatens to upset the delicate balancing act of the industry.  Canal+, a Vivendi subsidiary, is the largest private funder of French films.  If its direction changes, it may seriously damage the industry, leading to a decrease in the number of French films and an increase in American imports.

 

In France, a percentage of all cinema ticket revenues is directed back into the industry to support French films.  Ticket surcharges, screen quotas (see www.screenquota.org, for information on the Korean model), and other measures promote indigenous creativity in films. These measures would be considered trade barriers if culture were to be included in trade agreements.

 

The positive side to the Vivendi story is that it has mobilized the Minister of Culture, Catherine Tasca, and President Chirac to reiterate publicly their support for the preservation of cultural diversity.  Chirac expressed a “fear for cultural identity and for culture in general” in his passionate reaction to the announcement.  The French film industry was instrumental in the defeat of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment.  With their renewed activity and presence, the momentum to create a new convention on cultural diversity will increase.

 

 

Changes in the German Broadcasting System

 

Jurgen Brugraaf of the German public broadcasting organization ARD, has sent an analysis of current developments in German broadcasting.  Mr. Brugraaf reports on recent agreement on a standard for the introduction of digital television, efforts of cable television companies to upgrade their systems to provide high speed Internet and other interactive services, demands of certain copyright owners that conventional over-the-air broadcasters encrypt their programs to prevent the spill-over to neighbouring markets and on recent European legislative initiatives.

 

But Mr. Brugraaf also examines themes familiar to members of the INCD.  He reviews how the concentration of media ownership, the refusal of key players to conform to the agreed standards and technological developments can threaten media pluralism, diversity of content and public access to information.

 

The full article is available, unfortunately in English only, at www.incd.net/res/ana.htm .

 

 

Events

 

Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN), 7th Annual Convention

"Peoples, Nations, and States: A Cross Disciplinary Convention"

Columbia University, New York

April 11-13, 2002

Deadline for proposed papers - December 6, 2001.

 

Contact: Dr. Troy McGrath, ASN Convention Program Chair, Political Science Department, Arnold Hall, Box 76, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820, tel:(607) 431-4586; fax: (607) 431-4351; e-mail: mcgratht@hartwick.edu or visit the ASN web site: http://www.nationalities.org

 

International Society for the Study of European Ideas (ISSEI)

"European culture in a Changing World: Between Nationalism and Globalism".

University of Wales, Aberystwyth,

July 22-27, 2002.

 

Those who are interested in participating in the conference or organizing workshops should contact the conference Chair, Daniel Meyer-Dinkgrafe, e-mail: dam@aber.ac.uk or contact Ezra Talmor, Chair, ISSEI, Kibbutz Nachshonim, D.N Merkaz 73190, Israel, tel: 972-3-938-6445; fax: 972-3-938-6588; e-mail: ISSEI@nachshonim.org.il

 

The World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education 2002

First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC)

Stony Nations Reserve, Calgary, Alberta, Canada,

August 4-10, 2002.

 

Abstracts are invited. For further information, contact 2002 WIPCE Calgary, Suite 310, 6940 Fisher Rd. SE, Calgary AB T2H 0W3; phone: (403) 258-1775; fax: (403) 258-1811; e-mail: wipce@fnahec.org or visit:

International Congress on Philosophy of Culture and Intercultural Philosophy

Universidad Michoacana, Morelia, Mexico,

August 27- 31, 2002.

 

The conference theme is "Towards a New Cultural Universalism?". Paper proposals can be sent by January 2002. To send a proposal or for further information, contact Faculdad de Filosof¡a "Samuel Ramos", Universidad Michoacana de San Nicol s de Hidalgo, Cd. Universitaria, Morelia, Mich, .P. 58030, Mexico; telephone: 52 (4) 327-1799; fax: 52 (4) 327-1798;

e-mail: filos@jupiter.umich.mx; rcobian@zeus.umich.mx Or visit the conference website:


Globalizations: Cultural, Economic, Democratic

University of Maryland College Park

April 11-18 2002

The conference will be interdisciplinary and the organizers hope to have as many different perspectives presented as possible. This includes persons on both the academic and activist fronts. Emphasis is on the interactions between different kinds of globalization: cultural, economic and democratic.

For more information, please contact: Richard Brown at rbrown@socy.um.edu

or go to www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/conference

 

Trading Culture

An international conference on the themes of the ‘indigenous’ and the ‘exportable’ in film and television culture.

Sheffield, UK

July 18-20

 

Call for papers

International trade in film began in the early part of the twentieth century. By the start of the twenty -first century this was extended to include an increasingly global trade in television programmes and a re-working of the concept of export in the era of satellites and the Internet. This conference will focus on the cultural dimension of these economic developments.

 

For more information, please contact: Sharon Stone, AHRB Centre Administrator, Sheffield Hallam University, School of Cultural Studies, Psalter Lane, Sheffield S11 8UZ UK

ahrb@shu.ac.uk