Contradictions and Criticism of Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

Abstract

In this study "Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions" presented by UNESCO in 2005 is examined with a critical point of view focusing on some of the contradictory statements in the convention. These statements are discussed through two main concepts that are used in the convention: "sustainable development" and "cultural industry". The first concept signifies culture as an industrial product. So culture becomes a means of sustainable development. The convention also defines "sustainable development" as one of the ultimate goals of every culture. But it depends on the idea of "progress" which is the fundamental motivation of the western way of thinking: historically the western culture is superior to other cultures. This global convention recognizes the adaptation of regional and local cultures to comply with the conditions of the global market through the second concept: "cultural industry". In this process, which can also be defined through "glocalization", the traditions and the cultural values are commodified. Thus global habits relying on consumption leads to cultural homogenization. In this study the convention text, which has the assertion on the potentials of cultural diversity, is discussed regarding its contradictions through dicourse analysis. The aim of this study is to problematize the meaning and the boundaries of the concept of "culture" in culture industry/cultural industry conditions reflecting on the text of this convention with a critical point of view.