In the Middle East and North Africa region, this potential empowerment of civil society organizations provides the possibility to shatter existing monopolies by overcoming political and geographical boundaries and enabling organizations to mobilize local and international support for democratic, health, environmental and development issues. This new sense of participation is enlivening other areas of culture as well. We are seeing this in discussions within and about Islam in our region and the rest of the Muslim world. Just as differing cultural viewpoints are tempering the monolithic market orientation of globalization, the technologies of globalization are fostering diversity and debate within cultures themselves. Some of the other most valued ideas that we share, from the Magna Carta to Gandhi s passive civil disobedience, are the products of particular cultures, and the individuals steeped in them.
Cultural diversity is as irreplaceable as environmental diversity.
Just like the ultimate cure for cancer, possibly hidden somewhere in the rainforest, it is vital that we not homogenize cultures to extinction, because we risk destroying potential inspirational catalysts for progress. Rather than fostering the divisions between cultures that can breed resentment and even violence, global networks can, and should, provide a means of cross-fertilization of cultures for the growth of peace, and the prosperity in which it can flourish. For several years, Palestinian students and academicians have marshalled the internet to tell their story to the world and discuss the challenges of building a Palestinian state. The region s academics circumvent travel restrictions and limited financial resources and meet colleagues in cyberspace. And as Palestinian and Israeli negotiators work to resolve extremely difficult final status issues, individuals from both sides of the divide meet in that non-territorial space to address concerns, and air opinions.