1995 Global Cultural Diversity Conference Proceedings, Sydney
Global Communications and Cultural Identity: Challenges and Opportunities
Mr Jonathan Parapak
Secretary-General, Department of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication, Indonesia
1. A World of Diversity
Our world is a world of diversity. For many centuries the peoples of the world were separated by mountains and seas. They rarely saw each other; their lives were practically unrelated. They developed and lived their own unique cultures. People in a particular locality developed their own particular way of life, their own language, their religion and thus became known as a tribe, an ethnic group or a particular group of people who established a nation of their own.
The world, although one world, was and is inhabited by diverse populations, each with their own identity, physical, spiritual and cultural uniqueness. Indeed this world has always been a world of diversity. There is no reason to be ashamed or frightened of diversity. Indeed diversity can become a source of strength and enrichment.
The invention and development of new technologies have been and continue to be instrumental in changing the way we live, the way we communicate, the way we respond to our environment, the way we express our thoughts, our ideas. In short technology has influenced the dynamic development of our cultural identities.
I have no intention of discussing all the profound impacts of technological development on our lives and our societies. I wish to limit my discussion to the development of communications and its impacts on cultural identity. During the early days of human civilisation, direct, mainly verbal communication using a particular language was one of the elements of our cultural identity. The circle of influence was very limited, very much dependent on the physical environment accessible by simple technology. This is still the case with some ethnic groups in Irian Jaya. The development of transportation and communication technologies enlarge the circle of encounters, influence and interdependence.
Columbus discovered America, Cook sailed to Australia. New communities were established because of new access through technology. The invention of radio and telephone technology just over 100 years ago made possible inter-cultural communications through long-distance media. Radio and television broadcasting have reinforced and globalised our intercultural encounters, communications, inter-influence, interdependence and interrelationship. Now we are truly globalised. Through transportation, trade, tourism and telecommunications, we can access a global market; we can meet with almost anyone on this planet earth; we have the facilities to instantly see and follow any event around the world.
Our conference is about diversity. Is diversity a liability? Is it not the main ingredient of an interesting life? In some ways technology has united the world and mankind. But technology has not eliminated our diversity.
2. The Global Village?
Less than 50 years ago MacLuhan anticipated the arrival of a global village where everyone on this planet earth could feel himself to be a citizen of a village. MacLuhan's vision was inspired by the tremendous development of radio and television broadcasting. The development of global satellite transmission and broadcasting in some ways realised the dream of MacLuhan.
Technological development, however, has kept on accelerating, especially during the last 25 years. Now, through satellite, radio and cables, almost any part of the world is reachable by a telephone. Or to put it in another way, potentially everyone on this planet earth can access a telephone, or if he has a computer and a modem, he can access information stored in any computer around the globe. The experts and the leaders of the world, are talking about superhighways of information, the global intelligent information infrastructure which could be creating a totally new world not a global village, but a global intelligent community, a global brain.
The superhighway of information or global network of intelligence, will allow us to globally share information, communicate instantly and work together to develop robust and sustainable economic progress, promote democracy suitable to our different societies, improve our environment, health care and education and ultimately realise a prosperous and just world society.
Global high-tech communications facilities can help us to work together as nations, exchange ideas and nurture friendships which transcend the barriers of nations, mountains and seas.
Let me illustrate the scope and magnitude of global communications by the year 2000. TTU estimates that the communications business could well become the largest industry by the year 2000 with a value nearing $2000 billion of which about $1000 billion will be the service component of the business. By the year 2000 we will have our globe circled by hundreds of satellites in GSO orbits, MEO and LEO, providing communications and broadcasting services including mobile communications through satellite.
By the year 2000 our globe will be circled by superhighways of optical fibre cable systems providing almost an unlimited bandwidth of information transmission. By the year 2000 most of our major offices and some homes will be linked with optical fibre systems giving us access to global multimedia services, visual, intelligent and personal (VIP) services.
These facilities will give an almost unlimited choice of information and entertainment to those who have access. Our sky will be loaded with programmes and anyone with a receiving system will have an unlimited choice of programmes. Yes, through communications the global world will be filled with information and entertainment that will potentially have an impact on our value systems, religious beliefs, business activities, taste in and choice of entertainment.
3. Global Communications, Global Culture and Cultural Identity
Many people are concerned or even frightened by the so-called global culture brought about by global communications. Global cultures are not my field of expertise. However many people say that a global culture has penetrated every aspect of our lives. Most of use wear blue jeans. Most of us, I expect, have eaten McDonald hamburgers. Most of us have watched Hollywood films. Many of us sing or at least listen to the Top Ten. Most of us watch a world news broadcast every day. Why are we influenced so much by events in other countries? by fashions developed thousands of miles away, by songs sung by people we do not even know? The answer is that communications, broadcasting are powerful media which are influencing us every day.
Many nations, societies, peoples are concerned about the profound influence of global communications and broadcasting. They are concerned about the shifting of value systems, change of religious beliefs, loss of cultural identity.
The fundamental questions are:
- "Must we protect our cultural identities?"
- "Must we reject anything that is foreign?"
- "How do we preserve our cultural identities?"
- "Which elements of cultural identity?"
Several examples have been quoted by experts. They say, "Look at Japan, very modern, but still maintaining her cultural identity." Many say "Look at Bali, flooded by millions of tourists every year, but Bali remains Bali." Are Bali and Japan exceptions?
Must we search for ways and systems of entering the global communications era while maintaining our cultural identities?
I personally believe that we have reached a point of no return. We can no longer establish an iron curtain around us. We have to accept that global communications will become even more powerful in potentially influencing our cultural identity. It is up to each one of us to critically look at what we wish to preserve as our cultural identity. Cultural identity is normally lined with geographical environment, historical developments, language, technological development, social groupings and organisation, stages of education, science and technology, working environment, value systems, religion and artistic expressions. Examination of these elements tells us that most, if not all of them are dynamic in nature. We must therefore conclude that cultural identities are intrinsically dynamic and thus subject to influence by external elements. This means that we must also accept that Global Communications with information of global developments due to the progress of science and technology will impact, influence and change some of the elements of our cultural identities. Our concern should be whether the impact or change is positive or negative. Accepting that changes are unavoidable does not mean that we will allow everything to be wiped out, destroyed or forgotten. It is our duty to critically examine the elements which we must preserve, which will be maintained as our specific cultural identities, of which we can be proud.
Some of us would fight hard to protect our value systems, our religious systems, some forms of artistic expression, but at the same time would have no problem in accepting changes relating to technology, the way we work, the way we interact and the way we organise our society. The challenge is thus to develop our criteria for selecting which elements are important to preserve and which can be renewed or replaced and also the mechanism we need to employ to ensure the attainment of the desired results.
Most cultures have adopted religious systems, political and legal systems as methods of preservation. Promotion of cultural appreciation, which will help us preserve some of that cultural identity we value, also needs our attention.
4. Unity in Diversity - the Indonesian Experience
Modern, global communications, have made our world a small city of intelligence. Distance is no longer relevant to our way of life. We can obtain, process, store, transmit and utilise information at the speed of light. With modern communications, we enhance our competitiveness, we accelerate our national development, we modernize and integrate our economy and our society, we improve our national efficiency and productivity, we strive for equitable distribution of our development, we eliminate isolation of remote and rural areas, we attract capital inflow for infrastructural development.
For Indonesia, excellent communications through the PALARPA satellites have played a vital role in uniting a very diverse population, strengthened the cohesiveness of the people and promoted a national cultural identity of the Indonesian people. However the achievement of a sense of national identity has not eliminated distinctive regional cultures, but rather aroused a sense of pride in the diversity which is a source of Indonesia's rich cultural heritage.
Indonesia is the largest archipelagic nation in the world with 17,508 islands, with more than 300 ethnic groups, each with its own language. One of the strengths of the Indonesian people is expressed in Indonesia's national motto: "Unity in diversity." We are proud to be many, so diverse and yet we are one people, one nation Indonesia and we speak one language Bahasa Indonesia.
Perhaps the Indonesian experience is worth noting as input for our conference. What are our cultural identities? How do you describe an Indonesian or a Japanese for that matter? Is language an identity? Perhaps "Yes".
What about religion? The value systems, unique traditions, dances and song? Our State Philosophy?
Accepting diversity as a strength, we are mindful of the vital role of communications in bonding the diverse cultures, diverse ethnic groups, diverse languages, diverse religious beliefs into one nation.
Through our experience we have also learned to accept that the world is so diverse with its more than 180 nations.
We believe that global communications will play a vital role in uniting the peoples of the world. Global communications give global access to information, global contact and encounter, global appreciation of the diverse cultures of the world, global access to market places, global outlook to view mankind as one, global common experiences as for example when we watch a global sport or cultural event. Diversity is indeed a spice of life, a potential source of strength and character.
The challenge is: "How do we use diversity for our benefit and for the enrichment of our lives?"
5. Vision for the 21st Century
As I elaborated earlier, by the year 2000, the beginning of the 21st century, the linking of our world through global communications will be nearly completed. Our world will be circled by Superhighways of Information. Our skies will be loaded with satellites for broadcasting our communication. Interconnectivity, potential encounters, exchange of information, TV, scientific and cultural programmes should be easy
Does this mean that our world will become one world, integrated and united economically and politically, harmonised culturally? I do not believe this will be the case.
The observation of John Naisbitt in his book "Megatrends 2000" says "The more homogeneous our lifestyles become, the more steadfastly we cling to deeper values religion, language, art and literature. As our outer worlds grow more similar, we will increasingly treasure the traditions that spring from within." This summarises for us the point in question.
In some ways we will be more and more globalised in our lifestyle, business, factories, music, fashion, fast food. However the inner elements, the fundamentals of language, philosophy, religion and value systems will remain in diversity.
However, as President Soeharto has stated: "Let these differences unite us ... like the harmonious beauty of a multicoloured rainbow".
Global communications will improve our ability to share our diverse cultures, diverse opinions, our diverse value systems, our diverse knowledge. One thing is sure: "Our diversity" will remain with us. Maybe the national motto of Indonesia, "Unity in Diversity", can serve as a shining light for the future ahead.
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