1. South Africa United Nations Development Programme South Africa Global Human Development Report 2004 Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World

2. South Africa United Nations Development Programme The Report Contextualises the Issue of Cultural Diversity Identifies Global Threats: Racism Sexism Xenophobia Ethnicity & Nationalism Religious intolerance Cultural hegemony Economic, social and political discrimination Outlines Global Challenges: Recognising that cultural diversity is an inescapable feature of the landscape of politics in the 21 st century Managing cultural identities through policies that explicitly recognise diversity

3. South Africa United Nations Development Programme The Report Articulates a Normative Perspective Cultural diversity flourishes within a rights-based, democratic context Cultural determinism is an obstacle to freedom, equitable development and self-determination Cultural identities are fluid, multiple and dynamic Multicultural policies are a way to build diverse and unifies states

4. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Cultural Liberty – Core Assumptions of Report Cultural liberty is a vital part of sustainable human development Cultural liberty is a human right Cultural liberty is a simple notion, but profoundly unsettling for narrower agendas of identity politics States need to find progressive ways of forging national unity amid cultural diversity

5. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Five Myths vis Cultural Diversity People’s ethnic identities compete with their attachment to the State, so there is a trade- off between recognising diversity and recognising the State; Ethnic groups are prone to violent conflict with each other in clashes of values, so there is a trade-off between respecting diversity & sustaining peace;

6. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Myths Continued Cultural liberty requires defending traditional practices, so there could be a trade-off between recognising cultural diversity & other human development priorities such as progress in development, democracy & human rights; Ethnically diverse countries are less able to develop, so there is a trade-off between ….

7. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Myths con’td ……Respecting diversity and promoting development; Some cultures are more likely to make developmental progress than others, and some cultures have inherent democratic values while others do not, so there is a trade-off between accommodating certain cultures & promoting dev & democracy.

8. South Africa United Nations Development Programme The Report Identifies Five Central Policy Domains Policies for ensuring political participation Policies for ensuring religious freedom Policies for ensuring legal pluralism and access to justice Policies for ensuring equitable treatment of languages Policies for ensuring access to socio- economic opportunities

9. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Global Threats and Challenges to Cultural Liberty Poverty, unemployment and inequality Forces of globalisation and cultural homogenisation Stigmatisation and Stereotyping Gender violence and discrimination Migration and refugees Xenophobia and related violence Religious and ethnic intolerance Neglect of indigenous minorities

10. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Report Provides Roadmap for Building Multicultural Democracies Multicultural policies that explicitly recognise cultural differences Policies that address the cultural exclusion of minorities and other marginalised groups Political and governance mechanisms that ensure inclusion Legal systems that conform to international standards of human rights and gender equality Legal systems that accommodate customary law/practices Multiple language policies that ensure full democratic participation Public spending regimes that promote equity and inclusion

11. South Africa United Nations Development Programme Report Conclusions – Critical Issues for Reflection Building humane & just societies requires both freedom & equity; Cultural diversity gives people in societies the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of cultural choice; Exercise of cultural liberty may lead to reduction in cultural diversity; Need for liberty & equity in assessing the demands of social inclusion & contingent merits of cultural diversity, Unexamined traditionalism is not part of the exercise of cultural liberty.