The-Morality-of-Capitalism-PDF

his prophecy seemed quite daring. However, globalization willlikely make it a reality in the twenty-first century, and we must behappy about this. A rebirth of small, local cultures will give backto humanity that rich multiplicity of behavior and expressions thatthe nation-state annihilated in order to create so-called nationalcultural identities toward the end of the eighteenth, and particularlyin the nineteenth, century. (This fact is easily forgotten, orwe attempt to forget it because of its grave moral connotations.)National cultures were often forged in blood and fire, prohibitingthe teaching or publication of vernacular languages or thepractice of religions and customs that dissented from those thenation-state considered ideal. In this way, in many countries ofthe world, the nation-state forcibly imposed a dominant cultureupon local ones that were repressed and abolished from official life.But, contrary to the warnings of those who fear globalization, itis not easy to completely erase cultures—however small they maybe—if behind them is a rich tradition and people who practicethem, even if in secret. And today, thanks to the weakening of thenation-state, we are seeing forgotten, marginalized, and silencedlocal cultures reemerging and displaying dynamic signs of life inthe great concert of this globalized planet.122