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Damaging diversity: Cultural diversity is one of the key elements to taking humanity forwards.
Our Future Planet looks at ways to halt its decline.
Cultural diversity may not seem on the top of the hit list of greatest fears, compared with environment, climate change, conflict or education.
But in fact, it touches upon and impacts a strong force on all these drivers. Sustainable development, seen widely as today’s solution to the ills of the past, is impossible without richer diversity and growth.
‘Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.’ explains The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
There are a whole bunch of elements threatening such diversity, from mass media influences to diminishing languages, urbanisation or social norms which value differing cultures less. Indeed in some situations different, minority cultures often face violence and rejection.
In the rush to create an integrated, global community, we need to be careful not to climb all over the unique cultural elements that contribute to our humanity as a whole.
Culture clash
The AHRC Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity (AHRC CECD) is an international network. It runs projects looking at how population size or structure can be determinants of behavioural diversity and innovation rates, and how species diversity and cultural and linguistic diversity are related.
It’s relevant stuff. Essentially interaction between differing cultures brings technologies, languages and gene groups into contact. So new science and new genetic elements become intertwined, speeding growth and change.
But when there’s little interaction, this becomes impossible. In today’s planet, there seem fewer and fewer really diverse elements to modern societies beyond language. This could ultimately become very damaging. Remembering why we are all different might be a good start.
‘Indigenous peoples currently number some 350 million individuals in more than 70 countries in the world and represent more than 5000 languages and cultures.’ explains UNESCO.
‘Despite their important contribution to world cultural diversity and to the sustainable development of our planet, many of them live on the fringes of society and are deprived of basic human rights.’
‘Despite these advances, indigenous peoples remain particularly vulnerable to the impacts of globalisation and climate change. Often victims of displacements, dispossession of their lands, or lack of access to basic social services, it has become increasingly difficult for them to transmit their distinctive knowledge, values and ways of life from one generation to the next.’
Even modern businesses are realising the dangers and advantages, and some are looking to help ease cultural diversity back into a global society. communicaid runs courses on how to best manage interaction between culturally diverse clients and cultural awareness preparation, explaining to companies how to communicate better and make the most of the opportunities provided by a global business environment. Equally, communicaid provides branding and communications to local aid organisations globally. It’s an interesting example of how partnerships between advanced and poorer societies can work together to joint advantage.
One world
Ethan E. Cochrane is Projects Manager/Senior Archaeologist for the Int'l Archaeological Research Institute, in Honolulu, and works as part of AHRC CECD.
“What cultural diversity 'is' can be broadly defined in material culture, behavioural, and linguistic terms.” he suggests.
“It is fairly easy, however, to argue that diversity should be promoted. If cultural variation is a product of evolutionary change, then transmission, selection and other processes come to bear.”
“One of the major lessons of evolution is over the long term, specialisation leads to extinction when environments change. The less diverse culturally we become, the more prone we are to catastrophic change.”
”Some might say that human foresight and ingenuity will mitigate this. There is good evidence, however that this is not the case, see work by Mesoudi, Omerod and others.”
In other words, the less we guard the variety inherent within our species, the less we can deal with global catastrophes, such as those threatened by climate change.
Mass media
Of course, the elements that can contribute to less diversity needn’t necessarily do so. The Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) in the UK focuses on modernising the casting and portrayal of ethnic minorities in mainstream programming.
The more this happens, the better represented cultural diversity is and the better it becomes cherished. A Channel 4 UK spokesperson, on behalf of the CDN, revealed:
“Diversity in its broadest sense is an inclusive approach that should run throughout an organisation to encourage talent and participation regardless of background, gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.”
“Drawing on the skills and experience of people from diverse backgrounds keeps programming fresh and relevant, ignoring them stifles creativity, impacts negatively on audiences and hinders talent. Supporting diversity is a win win formula: it adds depth to our output, increases the talent pool, and adds value to your company.”
“Although we have made some strides forward, we’ve still got a long way to go to truly reflect modern Britain, especially in off screen employment - this is why we’ve created the Diversity Pledge.”
“With half of content production now taking place in the Independent Sector at a value of £1.35billion each year, it is essential that the CDN works alongside the Independent Production Sector. The Diversity Pledge forms one part of that process.”
The answers to why we need cultural diversity, and why is it threatened, seem clear. What’s less certain is what we do to mitigate this. Whilst media in certain countries, or research councils can play their role, something more fundamental in terms of our value systems for diverse societies and peoples needs to change.
Until such cultures are valued for what they are, not for the resources that can be taken from them, or the goods sold to them, the rush to a monocultural planet may be set to continue.
What are your views? Not sure? Read the resources below for more information. Add your comment below. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Not a Planetary Citizen? Sign up to Our Future Planet today!
Resources:
BBC Planned actions to tackle ethnic diversity
CDN Diversity Tool Kit
Pact Diversity Tool Kit 2009
UNESCO World Report - Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue
