Encontro das Áreas Culturais: o Desafio

Abstract

The restlessness of today's international community is inserted in a paradigm with no historical precedent, characterized by the defense, by each and every cultural community, of their interests, perceptions, projects of power and utopias. ln past times, Europe created a true "Eurocentric Empire", which led to the reconceptualization of the "rest of the world" as inhabited by "barba­rians", to whom the European mission was superior. The Peninsular peoples evangelized; the French spread lights; the English introduced civilization. This Eurocentric system has vanished. ln areas previously called "the rest of the world" lie emerging powers. Now one of the most important challenges is the proposition of an "ethical contract" for a global society, which includes the recognition of cultural diversity.