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Concept of cultural democracy comprises a set of related commitments:

protecting and promoting cultural diversity, and the right to culture for everyone in oursociety and around the world;

encouraging active participation in community cultural life;

enabling people to participate in policy decisions that affect the quality of our culturallives; and

Assuring fair and equitable access to cultural resources and support.Much more can and will be said throughout Webster's World about the idea of cultural

democracy and how it plays out in practice; but these principles are its essence. If you'd like

more information about theorigins of the idea of cultural democracy, check out the essays in thecore resources section.

Culture as a Realm of Action

Since culture is our human creation, it is always subject to change. The powers-that-be wouldlike us to think of culture as a given -- that whether we like it or not, we ordinary people can'tchange it in any significant way. We are awash in information about the enormity of the world's

problems, and this can be disabling. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of racism, poverty, violence

and other oppressive forces, we tend to go passive -- or to strike out in usually futile individualacts of rage. Thus the tyranny of those who benefit from the status quo is maintained.

Cultural democracy is therefore a deeply radical idea. It is the ultimate extension of the idea ofdemocracy: that each one of us, each community, each cultural minority has rights that deserve

respect, and that each must have a voice in the vital decisions that affect the quality of our lives.

No one who commands a disproportionate share of power in the world is happy to hear this idea

put forward, for it demands that they share this power with those who are locked out by thecurrent order: better to keep us confused and divided.

Cultural democracy is also a beautiful idea. It inspires a vision of humanity which embraces us

all. Each of us is as complex and fascinating as the multiple factors and influences which have

shaped our own identities. Each of us is creative, gifted and potentially powerful. Our

communities are creative organisms that dynamically change in response to the appearance ofnew people, ideas and circumstances. Cultural democracy calls forth our most loving selves,

illuminates places where healing is needed, and challenges us to develop the best in ourselves, to

be respectful of the harmonious interrelations of all life on the planet.

Webster's World of Cultural Democracy is not just about ideas, though. It's also about action.Despite the depressing news brought to us by the mainstream media, people all over the world

are acting on their hopeful visions for themselves and their communities. We want Webster'sWorld to grow to incorporate them all. You will find many practical suggestions here --

community projects, organizing campaigns, theoretical explorations grounded in activist politics

-- which reveal promising ways of remaking the world according to the values of cultural

democracy. The concept of cultural democracy comprises a set of related

commitments:

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