UNESCO and Globalization

Globalization has given rise not only to new forms of exchange and understanding but also to the emergence of disturbing forms of ignorance, or their re-emergence in a new context. In the last decade, the world has experienced new forms of wars and conflicts and has been confronted with radically new threats.

UNESCO and the United Nations University (UNU) have a long history of working together on issues related to globalization. The UNU/UNESCO series of globalization conferences started in 2003 with the UNU/UNESCO International Conference entitled Globalization with a Human Face - Benefiting All that was held in Tokyo from 30-31 July 2003; the UNU/UNESCO International Conference on Globalization and Intangible Cultural Heritage: Opportunities, Threats and Challenges held from 26-27 August 2004, also in Tokyo; the UNU/UNESCO International Conference called Sustaining the Future - Globalization and Education for Sustainable Development held from 28-29 June 2005 at Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; the UNU/UNESCO International Conference on Science and Technology in the Era of Globalization organized from 23- 24 August 2006 in Yokohama; and the the UNU/UNESCO International Conference called Pathways Towards a Shared Future: Changing Roles of Higher Education in a Globalized World, organized from 29-30 August 2007 in Tokyo;the UNU/UNESCO International Conference on Globalization & Languages: Building on Our Rich Heritage , organized from 27-28 August 2008 in Tokyo; and the UNU/UNESCO International Conference on Africa and Globalization: Learning from the Past, Enabling a better Future, organized from 28-29 September 2009 in Tokyo.

UNESCO/UNU publications from the globalization series: