As the world is becoming a global village ‘cultural diversity’ which is the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society, has become a major social concern. The points of interaction as well as friction have increased between cultures giving rise to identity-linked tensions particularly of a religious nature.
We have seen the intermingling of cultures through history in trade as well cultural impositions in wars. These divergent memories have been the source of many conflicts through history. Today’s technological advancements have accelerated the flow of everything – capital, commodities, and information ideas, beliefs -transporting events, influences and experiences to our immediate vicinity. While this can be seen as a positive opportunity creating novel cultural expressions, it can also be viewed as a threat to one’s identity and erosion of traditional cultural practices.
At such times the long standing concern on conserving culture – endangered sites, traditions, customs and expressions, ought to evolve towards finding ways to manage and sustain cultural change through intercultural dialogue. Rather than safeguarding our sense of commonality of national identity, religious beliefs and past inheritances, there is a need for a futuristic approach that is self- transforming, facilitating creative and perceptive thinking and the ability to intermingle and accommodate cultural differences.
The success of intercultural dialogue rather than being dependent on knowledge of world cultures requires the basic ability to listen, empathize, interact, connect and experience diverse cultures, leading to tolerance, respect and mutual understanding in the world.
Cultural tourism, which includes visiting sites and events which have cultural and historic value, is a great way to get an ethnic perspective about a destination and promote cultural understanding by taking travelers in the natural settings of another culture to experience a different ‘way of life’. We are already seeing traveler preference shifting from mass tourism to seeking authentic local experiences.
In fact, the World Travel Organization has asserted that cultural tourism accounts for 37% of the global tourism, and will grow at a rate of 15% per annum. Cultural tourism nurtures intercultural competencies amongst travelers who are sensitive and interact appropriately with those who are different from oneself. For cultural tourism initiatives to be effective in facilitating intercultural dialogue, rather than exoticizing cultural differences in ‘folklore spectacles’ travelers should be allowed to interact and mingle with communities in their natural settings.
Initiatives like cultural exchange programs, sports activities, global networking events inculcates cognitive flexibility amongst students. Inclusion of world religions and faith in educational curriculum will help students to get present to their own biases and dissipate cultural differences. The practice of art is also an effective tool for socializing and communicating ideas and perceptions and promoting intercultural openness.Educational curriculum can include the learning of endangered languages, encouraging multilingualism. Owing to the ease of access to information facilitated by the Internet, individuals’ exposure to multiple languages is becoming increasingly frequent, thereby promoting a need to learn additional languages.
‘Cultural Intelligence’ which can be understood as the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures, is becoming an important concern in corporate management. Multi- national companies see the financial benefits of investing in developing ‘Cultural intelligence’. It reaps benefits such as greater employee diversity, creativity and innovation, successful marketing in global markets and comprehensive decision making as firms internationalize and get exposed to different environments. In building cultural diversity, organizations cannot confine to mere classroom training, but need to explore experiential programs through travel, creative arts and other real and virtual forums facilitate intercultural dialogue and interactions.
Cultural and creative economy are growing at a rapid rate. Cultural consumption encompasses a wide range of cultural expressions and experiences. The promotion of cultural diversity depends to an important extent on the commodification and commercialization of cultural expressions. Both traditional and contemporary art is increasing income and employments in many parts of the world. Globalization and technology have increased the stakes for cultural expression by opening exposure to global market. The proliferation of global music and cinema is a testimony to the growing creative economy
Another testimony is Lisbon’s thriving creative economy, which is emerging from Portugal’s economic disaster. Lisbon creative economy attracts creativity and unites modernity to a rich cultural past and conveys a captivating liveliness. With money short, government strategy is to bring creative players together and nurture a supporting environment. There are 22000 creative companies – from fashion to architecture. This growing creative economy has helped to rehabilitate historical buildings, reuse obsolete infrastructure and turn abandoned areas into what the council calls “creative districts’
A culture which had been viewed as a set of ideas, values, customs and social traditions is now becoming an evolving entity, moving towards shared cultural beliefs and way of life. We need to place futurity rather than pastness at the heart of managing Cultural Diversity, enabling people to aspire and become agents of their own development.
