Cultural Diversity and the Need to Safeguard it

Cultural diversity is an indispensible trend in today's world and has gained considerable momentum as a result of globalization and ubiquity of communication media. In this essay I attempt to provide a plausible answer to the following question: "given the fact that in the world today no society can truly achieve a monolithic culture, how would it be possible to draw up a cultural policy that would respect cultural diversity and yet fulfill the goal of national unity?" Criticizing various monistic discourses that insist on creation of a monolithic society and culture, a number of arguments are advanced in defense of cultural diversity and multiple identities. Relying on these arguments and in light of Iran's particular historical and cultural conditions, adoption of a cultural policy that is inclusive of various segments of Iran's society is proposed.