Send message to Author

Paper short abstract:

Debates surround integrating culture into sustainable development. Western scholars see culture as an economic tool, while African scholars emphasize indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. This research explores power dynamics, tensions, and synergies between Western and African perspectives.

Paper long abstract:

Western scholars, such as Arif Dirlik (2011) and Wolfgang Sachs (2010), argue that culture is often instrumentalized as a tool for economic growth and development, neglecting its intrinsic value and potential for social transformation. In contrast, African scholars, such as Claude Sumata (2013) and Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2013), emphasize the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices in promoting sustainable development and social justice. While Western scholars tend to focus on the cultural economy and creative industries as drivers of development (e.g., UNESCO's Creative Economy Report, 2013), African scholars highlight the need to decolonize development discourse and prioritize local cultural perspectives (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2013). For instance, Sumata (2013) argues that African cultural practices, such as Ubuntu, can provide alternative models for sustainable development that prioritize community and social solidarity. Prominent sustainable development activists, such as Vandana Shiva (2013) and Kumi Naidoo (2013), also highlight the need to recognize the cultural rights and knowledge systems of marginalized communities. Shiva argues that the dominant development paradigm is "cannibalizing" local cultures and knowledge systems, while Naidoo emphasizes the importance of "cultural humility" in development practice.This research examines the power dynamics at play in the cultural-sustainable development nexus, highlighting the tensions and synergies between Western and African perspectives. This study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the role of culture in sustainable development, one that acknowledges the diversity of cultural perspectives and promotes more inclusive and equitable approaches to development.