Culture in Ecuador: future perspectives

Abstract

This article examines cultural planning in Ecuador, stressing that any future strategy must take into account the current reality of its diverse social formation. It rejects the idea of a homogeneous "Ecuadorian culture" or a deterministic process towards a unified national culture. Instead, it asserts that cultural manifestations reflect the social and historical practice of dominated groups, influenced by their environment and a history of oppression. The cultural expressions of popular sectors and indigenous nationalities are not intended for commercial consumption, but respond to collective needs and provide self-definition and self-valorization. The article argues for cultural planning that recognizes cultural plurality and guarantees the right to cultural equality. This implies that the State must facilitate the implementation of cultural policies, promote the active participation of provincial and municipal corporations, and support oppressed groups in the transformation of their cultures. Cultural planning must integrate the protection and dissemination of cultural values, avoiding commercialization and alienation, and considering the phenomenological and symbolic realities of each social group.