The transparency of conflict: On various roles of cultural politics

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the concept of politics of culture with an emphasis on the notion of culture. The idea of culture, which is often defined as a formal space, program/repertoire, or stimulus for economic development, ceases to maintain its anthropological meaning and relations to the values or any ideological connotations. This, however, may be considered as a deliberate practice of the representatives of politics of culture. They present it as an attempt to increase the inclusiveness of cultural content. In fact, they pursue the strategy of maintaining the relations of power. The article analyses varied concepts of politics of culture and potential ways of its improvement, with a reference to Jim McGuigan’s theory of cultural policies and politics. His concept emphasizes the fact that the authorities may find disturbing: that the so-called transparent politics of culture is de facto the space of rival discourses, conflicts, and interests.