Cultural policy: Plutarco Cisneros Andrade

Abstract

The text, attributed to the Director General of the Otavalo Institute of Anthropology (IOA), discusses the urgent need for a cultural policy grounded in scientific research as the foundation for national strategies. It frames culture as an integral human endeavor inseparable from the individual and their environment and warns against homogenizing policies that lead to cultural ethnocide. Within this perspective, the author emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Ecuador’s cultural pluralism, comprised of Indigenous, mestizo, and Afro-descendant groups, each with distinct languages and traditions. The proposed cultural policy should encourage rigorous knowledge of the country’s historical and social realities while rejecting colonial and pseudoscientific interpretations. The author calls for the creation of a national research body to guide technological and scientific development according to local needs, avoiding external dependency. Ultimately, the text advocates for an ethical and collective commitment to research and cultural self-determination as essential foundations for genuine social transformation.