Cultural diversity, because it is perceived to have significant security, developmental, and social implications, is fast becoming one of the major political issues of the day. At the international level, it overlaps with the now extensive debates on multiculturalism within states. This work shows how cultural diversity challenges the understanding of international relations as relations between states and, by looking at the issue through the magnifying glass of an international organization, offers innovative insights into the interplay between various levels of international society. The book examines in particular the role of UNESCO, the only United Nations agency responsible for culture and the main forum for international diplomacy on the issue of cultural diversity.

Table of Contents PART I: INTRODUCTION Book's Structure Definitions UNESCO: Structure and Agency 1. Legal Basis and Institutional Structure 2. Functions 3. Member States 4. Other Actors 5. UNESCO as an Actor PART II: UNESCO'S RESPONSES, PAST AND PRESENT 6. Early Years: Protection and Diffusion of Cultural Expressions 7. Decolonisation: Stress on Cultural Identity and Promotion of Cultural Development 8. Responding to the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century PART III: FRANCE 9. The State and Culture: An Enduring Marriage 10. From Cultural Exception to Cultural Diversity 11. The Makings of the 2005 Convention 12. Protecting and Promoting Cultural Diversity: A View from France PART IV: THE UNITED STATES 13. Culture in the United States and its Place in the Country's Foreign Policy 14. The United States and UNESCO: An Uneasy Relationship 15. The US Opposition to the Cultural Diversity Convention PART V: CAMBODIA 16. The Place of Culture in State Policy 17. World Heritage Sites in Cambodia: National or Common Heritage of Humanity? 18. Angkor 19. Preah Vihear 20. Protection and Promotion of Intangible Culture from the Cambodian Perspective PART VI: BRAZIL 21. Brazil's Racial and Cultural Diversity 22. Cultural Policies in Brazil 23. Public Access 24. Culture as Economically Remunerative 25. UNESCO in Brazil and Brazil at UNESCO 26. Racism and Discrimination 27. Indigenous Cultures PART VII: UNESCO'S DIFFICULTIES IN HANDLING CULTURAL DIVERSITY 28. Challenges in Handling Cultural Diversity 29. Weaknesses of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 30. Gaps in UNESCO's Legal Action towards Sustaining Cultural Diversity 31. Shortcomings in UNESCO's Functioning PART VIII: CONCLUSION 32. Double Vision: Culture or Cultural Expressions? 33. Porous Borders and Fuzzy Mandates 34. Imperfect Instruments for an Imperfect World 35. UNESCO: Puppet orMaster? 36. UNESCO as Beacon ANNEX - CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS Bibliography