Main Trends of Digitization in UNESCO’s Strategy – МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ ЖУРНАЛ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ

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Dimitry L. SPIVAK
D.S. Likhachev Russian Scientific Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage
2, Kosmonavtov ul., Moscow, Russian Federation, 129366
UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue, Chair
Ph.D., Dr.Sc.
e-mail: d.spivak@mail.ru
ORCID: 0000-0001-7276-5182

Main Trends of Digitization in UNESCO’s Strategy

Abstract: Digital issues form an essential dimension of cultural, educational, and scientific strategy of UNESCO, which has been elaborated in a number of strategic and normative documents, issued by this international organization, that are currently in the process of being revised and supplemented, in order to withstand novel global challenges and threats, which is especially the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main trend in the elaboration and implementation of this dimension consists in imbuing digitization by the lofty ideals of UNESCO, especially those concerning the basic human rights, and in converting digital divides into digital inclusions, by means of providing equal, just, and affordable access to the digital realm and the cyberspace. This trend was traced back by us basing upon the analysis of a number of documents, starting from UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001), and ending with UNESCO 2014–2021 Medium-Term Strategy (mostly Strategic Objective 9), which is now subject to being reviewed and continued by a next 8-year Strategy. The second main trend consists in a focus upon preservation of digital heritage, which was acknowledged by UNESCO as ‘a new legacy’, being no less important than the older (analogue) one. Digital heritage basically consists of two kinds of objects, the first one of which comprises those converted into digital form from existing analogue resources, while the second one includes objects created (‘born’) digitally. The latter are granted priority, if all the other conditions are equal. Metadata are recommended by UNESCO to be included into the lists of digital heritage; as to the software, its status in the realm of digital heritage remains an actual matter of discussion. This trend was traced back basing upon such essential documents, issued by UNESCO, as Memory of the World in the Digital Age: Digitization and Preservation Declaration (2012), Appendix 6 (2015) to the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, and Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage, including in Digital Form (2015). Implementation of principles of governance and self-governance of the digital community, and well as of the societal control over its activities (comprising primarily ethical governance and the technological one), especially its compliance with UN Sustainable Development Goals, form the third main trend. Materials of the recent High-Level Panel, devoted to the implementation of the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap on Digital Cooperation (2020), especially the intervention of UNESCO Director General, Ms. A.Azoulay, were analyzed in order to trace back this trend, as well those issued in the framework of the Digital UNESCO Campus (2020).

Key words: digitization, strategic issues, UNESCO.

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For Citation:

Spivak, D. (2021). Main Trends of Digitization in UNESCO’s Strategy. International Journal of Cultural Research, 1(42), 122–144. DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2021_1_122

DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2021_1_122