9781137366269

1137366265

Cultural diversity, because it is perceived to have significant security, developmental, and social implications, is fast becoming one of the major political issues of the day. At the international level, it overlaps with the now extensive debates on multiculturalism within states. This work shows how cultural diversity challenges the understanding of international relations as relations between states and, by looking at the issue through the magnifying glass of an international organization, offers innovative insights into the interplay between various levels of international society. The book examines in particular the role of UNESCO, the only United Nations agency responsible for culture and the main forum for international diplomacy on the issue of cultural diversity.

"Cultural diversity, because it is perceived to have significant security, developmental, and social implications, is fast becoming one of the major political issues of the day. At the international level, it overlaps with the now extensive debates on multiculturalism within states. This work shows how cultural diversity challenges the understanding of international relations as relations between states and, by looking at the issue through the magnifying glass of an international organization, offers innovative insights into the interplay between various levels of international society. The book examines in particular the role of UNESCO, the only United Nations agency responsible for culture and the main forum for international diplomacy on the issue of cultural diversity."-- Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents

PART I: INTRODUCTION

Book's Structure

Definitions

UNESCO: Structure and Agency

1. Legal Basis and Institutional Structure

2. Functions

3. Member States

4. Other Actors

5. UNESCO as an Actor

PART II: UNESCO'S RESPONSES, PAST AND PRESENT

6. Early Years: Protection and Diffusion of Cultural Expressions

7. Decolonisation: Stress on Cultural Identity and Promotion of Cultural Development

8. Responding to the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century

PART III: FRANCE

9. The State and Culture: An Enduring Marriage

10. From Cultural Exception to Cultural Diversity

11. The Makings of the 2005 Convention

12. Protecting and Promoting Cultural Diversity: A View from France

PART IV: THE UNITED STATES

13. Culture in the United States and its Place in the Country's Foreign Policy

14. The United States and UNESCO: An Uneasy Relationship

15. The US Opposition to the Cultural Diversity Convention

PART V: CAMBODIA

16. The Place of Culture in State Policy

17. World Heritage Sites in Cambodia: National or Common Heritage of Humanity?

18. Angkor

19. Preah Vihear

20. Protection and Promotion of Intangible Culture from the Cambodian Perspective

PART VI: BRAZIL

21. Brazil's Racial and Cultural Diversity

22. Cultural Policies in Brazil

23. Public Access

24. Culture as Economically Remunerative

25. UNESCO in Brazil and Brazil at UNESCO

26. Racism and Discrimination

27. Indigenous Cultures

PART VII: UNESCO'S DIFFICULTIES IN HANDLING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

28. Challenges in Handling Cultural Diversity

29. Weaknesses of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

30. Gaps in UNESCO's Legal Action towards Sustaining Cultural Diversity

31. Shortcomings in UNESCO's Functioning

PART VIII: CONCLUSION

32. Double Vision: Culture or Cultural Expressions?

33. Porous Borders and Fuzzy Mandates

34. Imperfect Instruments for an Imperfect World

35. UNESCO: Puppet or Master?

36. UNESCO as Beacon

ANNEX : CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS.