Cultures and the global(ist) future: globalism, heritage and cultural revitalisation

Abstract

There is no doubt that globalisation has fundamentally changed perspectives and perceptions of culture. One of the most significant effects of globalist philosophy is the emergent dichotomy between the “One World culture” movement versus the revitalisation of traditional autonomous cultures. While this debate has a global reach, the South African context is not unaffected. One of the main reasons underpinning this initiative of a South African Cultural Observatory is the keen sense of the need to protect South African cultural enterprises in their various guises. However, this paper seeks to address the question of to what extent are South African heritage(s) and culture(s) able to withstand the globalist influence? Related to this are the questions of how the conflict between globalist and “traditionalist” views have impacted on some groups in South Africa, or how it may impact on them in the future. It is argued that an understanding of this interaction between globalism, heritage and cultural revitalisation is critical in order to chart a viable route for the protection of local cultures into the future.