Identity and cultural policy

The consequences of coloniality have an importance in shaping cultural policies if only because national identity typically cannot be assumed. Essay reviews the major themes that have informed cultural policies given the legacy of coloniality. Cultural policies are not simply about support for the arts but entail addressing major political concepts and redressing legacies of coloniality. Conceptual concerns include: (1) cultural renaissance (Quebec); (2) cultural reconstruction (Africa); (3) cultural revivalism (Latin America); and (4) cultural reclamation (Ukraine). Finally, author gives some concluding observations about cultural nationalism and the politics of identity with particular reference to Puerto Rico. Paper held at the 5th ICCPR conference, 20-24 August 2008, Istanbul, Turkey.