Globalization and Intangible Cultural Heritage

"Our world's cultures are as extraordinarily diverse as they are vulnerable. Addressing the broad issue of culture in the context of globalization is thus a key component of UNESCO's work, but also a major challenge."
Koïchiro Matsuura

In the Preamble of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), the following statement appears:

“Recognizing that the processes of globalization and social transformation, alongside the conditions they create for renewed dialogue among communities, also give rise, as does the phenomenon of intolerance, to grave threats of deterioration, disappearance and destruction of the intangible cultural heritage (…)”.

The 2003 Convention expresses the commitment of the international community to this important task of safeguarding oral traditions and expressions of cultural heritage, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship.