With more than a thousand different cultures on the planet, reducing the gap between these is an essential priority to achieve peace, stability, and development, in the context of the cultural dimension being one of the causes of three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts.
Therefore, acquiring the appropriate set of skills and thinking that will allow an individual to accept different cultures is one of the requirements of almost all international development job vacancies. The challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, the war in Ukraine have once again shown that protecting the diversity of cultural expression is more important than ever. Let us take a deeper look into this topic today, May 21st, as we celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, also known as Diversity Day.
Key Takeaways:
- According to the UN, 89% of all current conflicts in the world are occurring in countries with low intercultural dialogue.
- Experts suggest that some of the key constraints related to cultural diversity nowadays are cultural appropriation, xenophobia, cultural insensitivity, language barrier, systemic racism among others.
- The cultural and creative sector accounts for more than 48 million jobs globally – almost half of which are held by women – representing 6.2% of all existing employment and 3.1% of global GDP.
- Factors that can contribute to cultural diversity include geography, history, religion, language, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, among others. It is generally agreed that there are thousands of distinct cultures around the world.
- Experts believe that a significant majority of those in decision-making positions today did not have the opportunity to be educated about culture and how to positively navigate cultural diversity which impacts their ability to address the constraints related to it.
- According to experts, promoting cultural exchange, encouraging diversity in leadership, addressing systemic racism, and educating people about cultural differences will build a more inclusive and equitable world.
- The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was established in December 2002 by the United Nations General Assembly following UNESCO’s 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Its objective is to promote cultural diversity, dialogue, and development.
DevelopmentAid: Why is cultural diversity important for humanity?
“Cultural diversity is important for humanity at many levels; indeed it promotes empathy, innovation, heritage preservation, economic growth, and personal growth for humankind. (1) First of all, it promotes understanding and empathy in the sense that it allows people to learn about and appreciate different cultures, beliefs, and values. This promotes understanding and empathy which can help to reduce prejudice, discrimination, and conflict. The radicalization we are seeing across nations is a direct result of the non-appropriation and understanding of cultural diversity. (2) Secondly, cultural diversity brings innovation and creativity to the table. When people from different cultures come together, they bring with them unique perspectives and experiences. This can lead to new ideas, innovations, and creative solutions to complex problems. (3) It also preserves cultural heritage as it ensures that the uniqueness of traditions, customs, and practices of different cultures is preserved and celebrated which, in corollary, helps to maintain cultural identity and promotes a sense of belonging and pride. (4) Culture is a strong economic tool. Cultural diversity can enhance economic growth by promoting trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. Additionally, diverse workplaces have been shown to be more innovative and productive which can lead to greater economic success. (5) Lastly, cultural diversity fosters personal growth and development because exposure to different cultures and ways of life can broaden people’s horizons and promote personal growth and development. It can also help people to develop greater self-awareness and empathy.”
“Cultural diversity is a global reality, so using it as an asset is a pragmatic choice. One well-documented example of how diversity can be leveraged is its support to economic growth:
The link between having a diverse workforce, increased innovation, and the resulting financial gains for companies has been well documented over recent years. We have also observed that an increasing number of enterprises are connected internationally which strengthens (and requires) new levels of intercultural collaboration. Recruiters worldwide use global diversity to tap into new contexts and thereby navigate the current tight labor market. They also experience that job seekers prefer to choose to work for enterprises with a diverse workforce as this signals an environment where they can contribute while being themselves. Diverse teams can also support enterprises in expanding into new markets, adjusting marketing approaches to be compelling in the local context. Cultural diversity in enterprises gives a clear edge on the global market.”
“Cultural diversity is about appreciating the society that consists of people who vary in interests, competence, expertise, and demand to be recognized for having their religion, beliefs, and sexual orientation. All of these are what makes the world fascinating! Equality should be the central focus of cultural diversity! Everyone wants to be on an equal footing with their fellow citizens. The world is changing and creating new modes of communication, technologies, digital revolution, advances in medicine… but cultural diversity is always there, to face these storms! It is our heritage which has been transmitted from the past and this should allow us to move forward in this world.”
“This concept is useful for any particular and legal person to avoid any simplistic, sometimes degrading, and stigmatizing representation of the individuals and the societies in which they live. It encourages empathy and tolerance in the face of the unknown and uncertainty. The valorisation of cultural diversity by States and international institutions is a global invitation necessary to overcome the spontaneous negative apprehensions of cultural differences, at the basis of mistrust, the contempt, conflict, and violence that can occur between groups around the world.”
DevelopmentAid: What are some of the key issues related to cultural diversity nowadays and what are their consequences?
“There are several key issues that impact cultural diversity that are currently being debated and discussed around the world. Here I propose a few and discuss their potential consequences.
a. Cultural Appropriation: Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by members of another culture. This can lead to a loss of cultural identity, disrespect for the original culture, and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
b. Xenophobia: Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of foreigners or people from different cultures. It can lead to discrimination, violence, and social exclusion. Many countries these days are facing this situation, escalating to public killings in some African countries for instance.
c. Cultural Insensitivity: Cultural insensitivity is the failure to recognize or respect cultural differences. This can lead to misunderstandings, offense, and alienation.
d. Language Barrier: The language barrier can create difficulties in communication and limit opportunities for people who do not speak the dominant language of a particular culture. This can lead to social and economic exclusion.
e. Systemic Racism: Systemic racism refers to the ways in which institutions and systems perpetuate racial inequality and discrimination. This can lead to disparities in education, healthcare, employment, and other areas of life.
All in all, the consequences of these issues can be severe, and addressing these issues requires a commitment to inclusivity, respect for cultural differences, and efforts to promote understanding and empathy.”
“The fact that cultural diversity is a visible reality in all walks of life can make us feel overwhelmed by it. We don’t feel adequately prepared to cope with this change: we can’t ‘read’ people from different cultures and we might feel old stereotypes and prejudices rising up in our minds; we feel unsure of how to relate to the individual and even more the groups they are part of, what to say or not to say to be politically correct. This can cause us to withdraw from situations of diversity into our ‘inner’ group. Staying with ‘people like me’ takes less energy and feels less risky. Others might acknowledge diversity as a given of today’s society and opt to wait for time to erase the cultural differences – after all, we are all just humans, so differences don’t really matter. Obviously, both responses have their downsides. Withdrawing into the homogenous known can lead to entrenching prejudices, othering those different from us and misunderstandings building up into tensions or even open conflict. Just waiting for differences to fade away does not deal with the reality of diversity today, does not tackle issues and does not use the opportunities that the experience and approaches of others bring to the table.”
“Developing relationships and social interventions in intercultural situations imposes a competence on culture, to understand and recognize the elements of culture adopted by individuals for their identity construction. This requires caring, understanding, and egalitarian relationships with people to evoke and justify their expectations. It is necessary to get rid of stereotypes of all kinds to promote the consideration of the most effective references in the eyes of people to improve their situation. Promoting cultural diversity requires a greater emphasis on linking and expressing individuals from different cultures rather than depicting cultural behaviours that can be broken down (e. g. folklore) with the expectations and representations of themselves that the individuals concerned have. These difficulties are reinforced in the context of globalisation (immediate global communication, rapid long-distance displacement) which brings cultures closer together but accentuates their power relations and inequalities to the detriment of groups with few tools to perpetuate their model and products.”
DevelopmentAid: What should the international community do to bridge the gaps between cultural diversities?
“Bridging the gaps between cultural diversities requires sustained effort and a commitment from the international community. This community should promote Cultural Exchange programs as these programs can provide opportunities for people from different cultures to learn from each other, share experiences, and build relationships. These programs can be facilitated by governments, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions. The international community must encourage Diversity in Leadership (in government, business and other institutions) that can help to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of different cultures are represented and valued. Beyond the representation issue, these leaders can serve as ‘champions’ for the promotion of more diversified leaders in key institutions. Systemic Racism is a real issue nowadays so therefore, so international institutions should address this by promoting inclusivity and reducing disparities. This can include policies and programs that address education, employment, healthcare, and criminal justice disparities. Immigration policies have been on the agenda of decision-makers for years. However, it seems that in many countries, these policies seem to become more and more harsh on immigrants and refugees. The international community should therefore support immigrants and refugees as they often face significant challenges in adapting to new cultures and environments. Supporting these populations through language classes, job training, and other resources can help them to integrate and become productive members of society. The international community should foster Interfaith Dialogue that can promote understanding and respect between people of different religions. This can help to break down barriers and reduce prejudice and discrimination. Lastly, the international community must, through educational and campaign programs, sensitize people about Cultural Differences. These programs about different cultures and the importance of diversity can promote empathy and understanding. By promoting cultural exchange, encouraging diversity in leadership, addressing systemic racism, supporting immigrants and refugees, fostering interfaith dialogue, and educating people about cultural differences, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable world.”
“One of the important steps forward could be to more prominently discuss the concept of intercultural competences. It takes more than ‘just being tolerant’ to navigate, strengthen and leverage cultural diversity. The skill sets for effective communication, collaboration, conflict management, staff well-being, running meetings, etc. look quite different in a monocultural and a multicultural context. Most of us, and most people who are in decision-making positions today, did not have the opportunity to be educated about culture and how to positively navigate cultural diversity. Making these skills a foundational part of our education syllabus, leadership development programs, onboarding programs for new employees, job descriptions and performance measurements would allow us to be better equipped for our work and go through life richer.”
“Different ways of thinking, behaving, and living can create cultural gaps. These can appear in communication and interaction between people from different cultures, but with the internationalization of communications, traveling, and trading, which are continuously expanding, some of the communication and cultural segmentation have lessened. To bridge cultural gaps, knowing how cultural norms and values can affect interactions is essential. It is easier to connect with people from the same background and culture. For example, in business, it is necessary to understand the differences between people in the same country and culture. When you plan a trip, you must understand the possible cultural differences and how these affect your customers. Principal bridges could be built through education, by creating a more inclusive society and by teaching children about diverse cultures from an early age. Cultural differences are inevitable, but we should not let them stop us from connecting and exchanging ideas with people from all over the world.”
In connection with this World Day on Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, the international community continues to mobilize. Recently, the Declaration for Culture issued at the UNESCO Conference in Mexico City in 2022 promotes culture as a global public good and the inclusion of cultural rights in public policies (legal, economic, and social protection of artists and their works, of indigenous traditions and of the world’s cultural and natural heritage), with a focus on digital, with equal access to content for all and the online development of cultural diversity. In a couple of days, the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions will take place (6-8 June 2023), preceded by the Civil Society Forum (5 June). Its objective is to evaluate and strengthen the four pillars of the Convention: 1/ Support sustainable systems of governance for culture; 2/ Achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase mobility of artists and cultural professionals; 3/ Integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks; and 4/ Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. So, in the absence of relations of reciprocity spontaneously guaranteed to the weakest societies or groups today, this call for sustainable governance of the culture means that it is necessary to assure their representatives a decisive political role in the choice of how to develop their culture of origin. However, balanced systems of collective decision-making regarding respect for people and their culture may not emerge with current trends towards the cultural domination and assimilation of the world’s economic powers, expansionist or imperialist societies and terrorist groups. More direct interventions by international agencies on these phenomena must help weak and besieged groups and societies by protecting their existence and promoting their participation within states and international organizations, in the desired decisions of accompaniment to cultural choices that concern them.”
See also: What is the “global skills gap” and how can an end be put to it? | Experts’ Opinions
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