Cultural diversity is something that has existed since the dawn of man but has really only been acknowledged by the public as a quality of great importance within the last century. It consists of the world’s faiths, habits, beliefs, imaginations, traditions, and other characteristics that are products of humanity’s various manifestations of human intellectual achievements. There are many different cultures around the world that are currently facing suppression, expulsion, and even extinction. So, we must first figure out what is causing this problem, and then we must figure out how to fix it. Some argue the main cause dwindling the world’s cultural diversity is globalization, while others believe it to simply be evolution naturally taking its course. Cultural extinction existed long before globalization did, but this world’s fast moving, and growing, globalized network has increased the pace cultures are fading away to an alarming rate. Monoculturism is pushing itself into many areas of the world and, in some cases, to the detriment of multiculturalism.
Indonesia, for example, is currently dealing with problems between cultures as their Muslim population, which accounts for over 85% of the population, has been clashing with other minority faiths in recent years resulting in a political shift that seems to be pulling away from the county’s previous pursuit for unity through diversity. Indonesian politicians have recently been resorting to joining fundamentalist political groups in an attempt to win conservative votes. This could possibly empower the Islamic extremists who would most likely attempt to push out all other cultures from their borders and invoke Sharia Law. Indonesia currently has over 300 different ethnic groups, all with very rich histories and traditions that, if not protected and preserved, will slowly fade away and turn the country into a monocultural society. The reasons for these threats to cultural diversity are not entirely clear, but some believe the problem to be gaining momentum due to globalization. Globalization has brought the world many great things, none more important than the ability of people connecting with each other all over the globe. Humanity has generally believed, for quite some time now, that the benefits of globalization outweigh the harm it causes. However, more and more academics are finding and exposing the dire effects globalization is having on specific issues like cultural diversity. According to renowned anthropologist Wade Davis during a Ted Talk in 2003, over half of the worlds current languages are on the brink of extinction. Language, according to Davis, is “a flash of the human spirit” and “a vehicle through which the soul of each particular culture comes into the material world.” Invariably what this means is, each different language that exists in our world makes the human experience that much richer and fuller. So as the existence of different languages in this world grows smaller, so does mankind’s cultural diversity. What can be done? Many governments around the world are making an honest effort to protect cultural diversity within their own nations. Australia is one good example as their government, in recent years, have been making positive changes in cultural diversity promotion through government programs like the Diverse Australia Program. DAP promotes respect, fairness, and inclusion for all peoples of Australia while keeping a strong focus on multiculturalism. Programs like these show people that unity with different cultures is possible without either side having to sacrifice their beliefs, traditions, practices, or identity.
2 Comments
Lauren Labrum
4/8/2018 11:55:32 am
I really enjoyed hearing about Indonesia and their cultural diversity. I like how you brought up Wade Davis and his views on the topic. I also talked about Wade's comments about how out of 6,000 languages, only half are spoken today if that. I thought that was crazy. Just like Australia, Iceland has also been trying to protect cultural diversity. Iceland celebrates cultural diversity and takes part in different Human Rights Events to help keep the cultural diversity they have and to promote more of it. I agree with your last comment about how programs like these show that cultural diversity is possible without taking away the meaning behind each culture. Great post, thank you!
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4/18/2018 11:13:00 pm
Hello,
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