Arts Under Pressure : Promoting Cultural Diversity in the Age of Globalization

This work reveals how economic globalization affects decision-making in cultural matters worldwide, specifically in the field of arts.

It looks at the theoretical and practical implications of economic globalization on the creation, production, distribution, promotion and reception of all forms of the arts in all parts of the world.

The impact of cultural conglomerates on local institutions and activities is huge.

Ownership is now the core issue in a worldwide battle for mass audiences.

Joost Smiers proposes radical alternatives to this steady convergence under ever-widening corporate umbrellas, to restore and develop cultural diversity, enrich the public domain and be beneficial to the arts and artists of the Third World.

He advocates the abolition of copyright which has become one of the most important commercial products of the 21st century and which he argues no longer protects the interests of the majority of the creative artists.

He proposes a new international treaty on Cultural Diversity, to enable countries to reduce the market domination of cultural industries and to formulate their own cultural policies.