Unity in Diversity

In today’s world there is greater interconnectedness through transport, communication, trade etc., and thus a marked increase in intercultural contact. While this may well improve opportunities for cooperation, unfortunately it also increases the potential for conflict because of a lack of understanding.

Technology, mobility and progress have made our world seem smaller and closer and thus our sense of space, time and culture has become more compact. This trans-nationalism has given us the illusion of a borderless world. Information and experience through various media give us a sense that we have ready access and virtual consumption of other cultures. We think we are connected and an ‘international’ community.

The false assumption of globalisation is that we actually know our neighbours. We begin to imagine that the world is ‘flat’ and that mass and homogenized culture is everyone’s inheritance. The truth, of course, is that globalization has opened up our awareness that we are in fact living in a time of increasing hybridity and diversity.

Cultural identity is constantly changing and because of the plural nature of culture, we witness increasing diversity. Differences do not disappear. They multiply. As a civilization grows, each community, state, nation and region faces the critical issue of ‘difference’ and ‘identity’.

This lack of understanding to cultural differences has resulted in the continuation of conflicts in different parts of the world.

The issues impacting negatively on peaceful development are many. Consider the many health issues ranging from malaria, access to drinking water and the HIV/Aids pandemic. Consider land grabs & forced migration, continuing environmental degradation, the increasing number of refugees, as well as the ongoing violation of human rights & lack of good governance in many parts of the world.

We need to understand cultural pluralism and commit to it; we need to promote and safeguard cultural identity and cultural rights.
The recognition of different cultural identities and rights, religious beliefs and practices, and minorities and indigenous cultures; can serve to promote the concept of “unity in diversity”.
Recognizing that we need to understand each other’s perspectives and that there is a need to inter-act in order to promote positive change, this symposium thus provides the opportunity to clarify misunderstanding and challenge perceptions which is indeed the only way to move forward.