Benefits of Processes of Cultural Interaction

Abstract

In this article we intend to show that, after a long period of the United States cultural domination through a practice of soft power, the world is witnessing very interesting changes. Similarly to politics, the cultural world is becoming multi-polar and intercultural influences can be noticed everywhere. But what is even more noteworthy is that the world is not heading towards a kind of potpourri without any flavor and generalized, but that we are witnessing a real diversity and a richness of our own cultural heritages and of future endeavors. After remembering the famous trade routes of the past which brought different countries in contact, now new cultural routes are built. Indeed quite a few countries have realized the importance of such a new approach. By culture we mean that a lot of applications can be made in several forms such as art, literature and son on. Thus South Korea, which is a real economic powerhouse, started to invest a lot in soft power practices such as King Sejong Institutes which have been set up in many countries. Not only South Korea but other Asian countries including Japan and China have launched new cultural projects. This paper intends to present a few examples of these intercultural links and observe how they are adopted in our countries as well as how they enrich our different societies. Obviously such influences did occur in the past, but we have noticed that at present, in particular among the younger members of our societies, there is a keen interest for these new cultural forms and approaches. Is it not our duty and our desire to answer such demand and to make the world more open and more tolerant for the benefit of all of us?