Catholic
University of Lublin
1.
The ambiguity od globalization
The
processes of globalization are most advanced in the fields of technology,
economy and politics.
Doubtless, a global European and worldwide culture, the popular culture is being
formed too. If the processes of globalization proceed in such forms and at such
a pace as till today, before two or three generations pass, the world will
become boring and its only diversity will be a change of the place of living. A
number of questions arise in connection with these statements: Does
globalization encourage or
discourage forming personal and collective identity? Does the progressing
globalization bring about annihilation of ethnic and national cultures? Will a
great village really emerge, where everybody will think, dress and have fun in
the same or similar way?
The
researchers and many politicians demand the existence of a variety of cultures
in the world. They suggest that every region, every nation, every ethnic group
should cultivate their own cultural heritage and create their own culture.
Hence, surrendering to the process of globalization Europe must be both united
and varied. Preserving different cultures should maintain its wealth and its
inner dynamism of development. Justification of these two tendencies is based on
the following premises:
a.
Globalization makes the world uniform and at the same time pluralistic.
Pluralistic, because by facilitating mutual communication between nations and
ethnic groups it shows their different values, cultural products and
psycho-social states, even small local cultures are presented to the general
public.
b.
Globalization significantly loosens the strong relationship between nation and
state, which has existed up to now; this process is taking place in most
contemporary European states. It more and more distinctly shows that an ethnic
group or a nation may exist even if they do not form a state. Their sovereignty
is based on their own culture and the legislation of the European Union.
c.
Globalization brings centres closer to the peripheries and vice versa. This is
done first of all thanks to the development of the electronic media, tourism and
emigration.
d.
Globalization loosens the
relationship between individuals and their environment and introduces
individuals in wider world.
Globalization
also keeps buried many dangers, especially for the weak groups, nations, states.
This is because in the globalization processes strong nations and states
dominate with their political conceptions, their products and services. And
economic advantage is soon followed by cultural domination.
However,
if someone believes that the process of globalization is going to erase nations,
ethnic groups or local communities, he is making a mistake. We can see that the
more the globalization process is intensified, becomes universal and includes
more domains, the stronger the tendencies become in great and small nations to
maintain their own identity; the same can be observed in local communities.
Defence mechanisms of their own cultural identity are triggered; however,
although this is relatively easy for strong and great nations, weaker and
smaller nations or ethnic groups have to make great efforts to maintain their
cultural identity and constantly develop it. Still, they gain from it by the
fact that particular members of the group realise their cultural identity more
fully. Globalization leads some people towards cosmopolitanism, and some towards
a more conscious cultural identity.
The
meeting various values, different ways of perceiving reality, different customs
and products individuals continuously learn, evaluate and choose something new.
In this way attaining a peculiar kind of independence from the environment they
live in. Also with respect to the social-cultural groups they belong to they
remain to a large degree autonomous. No group owns them completely and they are
not just an element of the group but they always remain free members of it and
may remain in it or leave it. They are externally independent and internally
free. It can be said then that multiplicity of cultures is an important factor
in the development of individuals’ both cognitive and volitive properties,
which favours strengthening and experiencing their autonomy, at the same time
giving them a chance to consciously experience their own cultural identity and
personal dignity.
3.
Multiplicity of cultures as a factor in cultural development of particular
societies
This
statement is clearly seen when a society, for some political reasons, is
separated from other cultures, or its contacts with other cultures are
drastically limited, or they are selectively regulated. In this situation it
looses the dynamism of its development or the development is not versatile. It
remains an undeniable fact that many elements of culture of each society, generally considered as typically
own, come from other cultures. Every society oscillates between two tendencies:
of keeping together and doing everything after its own fashion on the one hand
and following others on the other. These two tendencies have to be kept in
balance, or proportional dynamism. If the first tendency wins, the society loses
dynamism of its development; if the latter is the dominant one – the native
culture grows weaker.
The
uniting of Europe cannot be a process of levelling cultural differences. Unity
does not mean uniformity. Multiplicity of cultures is requires by: a. Europe’s
culture, and b. the federal character of the future Europe.
Ad
a. Although unity of Europe postulates acceptance by all Europeans of the same
fundamental values, norms, ideas, and a common vision of the future, which is
manifested in enacting common law, creating a common currency, a common
education system, it assumes a variety of situations and forms of its
realisation. It also assumes different ways and means of satisfying fundamental
needs, laws, beliefs, customs, events, experiences, impressions and desires.
Moreover, ever-bigger groups of people come to Europe with completely different
cultures. Hence in the united Europe the multiplicity of cultures which occurs
there, is a manifestation of its spiritual wealth and a lasting factor in the
development of particular cultures as well as of the all-European culture.
Ad
b. The federal system at which Europe aims, assumes existence of various
nations, ethnic groups and states with their own cultures. They have the right
to further shape it, as culture secures their cohesion, identity, lasting
existence and development. The right to have its own culture is the same
fundamental right of every nation, of every ethnic group, as an individual’s
right to live and develop. This is why sovereignty of culture should be
guaranteed to every ethnic group, to every nation, as it is in culture that
their members express their perception of themselves and the world, their
experiences and talents, strivings and aspirations, and also their inner bonds.
Thus
it is in the individual and social, national and international interest that
apart from ours, other cultures should exist, both on the international scale
and within the same state community.
4.
Multiplicity of cultures on an inter-state scale
Stressing
the sovereignty of culture of every ethnic group and of every nation in Europe
is not a manifestation of separatism or nationalism, but it is the understanding
of the essence of cultural wealth, because “all the cultures are part of
humanity’s common heritage”. And
everything should be done so that no culture falls out of this heritage. In
order to make sure that sovereignty and development are guaranteed many
principles should be adhered to. Here are some of them:
a.
Rejection of the division of cultures into superior and inferior, developed and
undeveloped, rich and poor ones. In relation to other cultures an attitude of
respect and positive openness is necessary. It helps to notice common elements
as well as elements that are valuable in other cultures, which facilitates
contacts, exchange and co-operation.
b.
Love towards one’s own culture and a sense of its importance, however, without
megalomania.
c.
Dialogue with other cultures
d.
Exchange and mutual creativity instead of domination, absorption and
polarization.
e.
Institutionalisation of mutual relations
5.
Multiplicity of cultures in the scale of one country
Even
if we relatively easily agree to multiplicity of cultures on the international
scale, on the scale of our own country questions and doubts arise. However the
mono-cultural model in a modern state is theoretically rejected, but in practice
it occurs.
The
multicultural model appeals to the minds that accept the right of individuals
and social groups to their own distinct character and autonomous actions. It
appeals to minds that can create far-reaching visions of development and form
unity out of multiplicity. As characteristic features of multiplicity of
cultures within one country the following can be mentioned:
a.
Different cultural groups live having the same rights; they compliment one
another and stimulate one another to develop. In everyday life the same
individuals, belonging to their own cultural group, also participate in other
groups’ culture.
b.
Culture of the society that develops on the base of the multicultural model in
some respects has a relatively open character and in some a relatively closed
one toward other cultures. This is accompanied by a relatively great interest in
other cultures, usually chosen ones, and accepting various elements from them
relatively easily.
c.
The cultural policy of a multicultural state assumes the form of patronage, and
not one of supervision and administration. State authorities
do not identify themselves with any cultural groups in the sense that
they do not choose one of them to be the national, obligatory or privileged one.
They also do not ignore or disregard any of them. They act as a mediator between
different cultural groups. The patronage of the state patronises any valuable
forms of creativity that have various aspirations; it also allows any other
patrons – individuals or groups – to act.
d.
Treating culture non-instrumentally. The ruling groups do not treat culture as a
tool for propagating their own ideology, and the more so for strengthening their
power or the power of their party.
The
basis for the formation of an overall cultural system of a given state society
is acceptance of a definite group of values, ideas, norms, behaviour patterns,
cultural products, historical events and hero-figures important for that society
by its members, that is by all the cultural groups. Experiencing a common
history and common vicissitudes occurs here. It becomes the basis for
establishing institutional frames of culture, for formation of common centres
that will co-ordinate and plan the cultural development. In a multicultural
situation the society is not divided into various parts but is a varied whole, a
rich unity in multiplicity, and hence it is a multi-factor environment where its
members can develop.
6.
Conclusion
The
problem of the keeping and development of own national and local culture and a
connection it with a wider culture is not a novelty for a small societies and
weak states. It emerged quite clearly during the period their occupation or
partition. For example, it
is not a new problem for Irelands, Hungarians, Poles, Slovaks. For Poles it
emerged quite clearly during the period when Poland was partitioned. Poles,
living on their own land, were citizens of foreign states or had to emigrate to
other countries. It was then that the Polish elite already held the view that in
the world of culture it is necessary to merge what is local with what is
European and universal. Precisely this attitude was expressed by poetry and
political leader Adam Mickiewicz when he characterised Joachim Lelewel, writer
and politician, in the following couplet:
“And
so, wherever you turn, you will always show
That you come from the Niemen bank, that you’re a Pole, inhabitant of
Europe”.
And
Lelewel himself advised the Polish Parliament in 1831 to be able to “associate
the past and the future, to join what is Polish with the tendency of the age”,
that is Polish national culture with the culture of Europe and of the world.
This postulate is still topical for Poles and for others.
A
modern European needs both European culture and national culture. Breathing with
these two lungs and creating both these cultures forms creative, open and
individual personalities.
Rome,
27.07.2003