Culture and Globalization
Preface

The Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter famously characterized capitalism as a process of "creative destruction." While this phenomenon may help propel economic development, many people around the world are coming to question the impact that the worldwide expansion of the capitalist model is having on the most precious aspects of their identity.

For many people, their own cultural values are too important to put a price tag on, and no destruction can be considered "creative."

On the other hand, globalization can also be a profoundly enriching process, opening minds to new ideas and experiences, and strengthening the finest universal values of humanity.

The question of how the protection of local or indigenous cultural values come into conflict with the forces of globalization is unchartered territory for many policymakers. Many of the questions raised pertaining to cultural issues are new—and, as you will see, some of the ways that cultural issues are raised may be of questionable merit.

This Issue Brief seeks to explore some of these especially sensitive and subtle issues pertaining to the globalization debate.

Readers of this issue brief should try to think of cultural issues pertaining to globalization in terms of conflicting values, and decide for themselves what aspects of globalization may be positive, negative, or truly indifferent to cultures around the world.