Culture - Beacon of the Future. By D. Paul Schafer.

Profound changes are taking place in the cultural complexion of the world. Not only is the cultural complexion of the world changing drastically as a result of countless political, economic, environmental, technological, demographic and social changes, but also culture is rapidly becoming a potent force in municipal, national and international affairs. If we are to be successful in coming to grips with these changes and understanding the role that culture can play in the world of the future, much will depend on our ability to size up the present situation and interpret it correctly. A misreading of the present situation could have disastrous consequences for the future. The Changing Cultural Landscape - There can be little doubt that contemporary political developments are having a profound impact on the world situation. Not only are the forces of liberalism, democracy, conservatism, and independence blowing more and more freely in the world, but also they are having a powerful effect on every country. There is scarcely a country anywhere in the world that has not experienced fundamental shifts in political ideologies, geographical borders, bureaucratic practices or governmental structures as a result of these changes. Closely connected with these political changes are the economic changes. The shift to capitalism, democracy and free trade has brought with it greater focus on the private sector and the marketplace, and with it, increased emphasis on profit as opposed to non-profit ventures, commercialization, increased concentrations of world financial wealth and power, and the division of the world into larger and larger trading blocks...

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Contributor: Anuradha Bhattacharjee
Published Date: April 28, 2008