Culture Compatible Public Policy Part 1

What is Culture-Compatible Public Policy?

Culture-compatible policy is public policy that is rooted in the cultural ethos of a nation, which takes into account its formative values, history, and aspirations. This compatibility is not simply about adopting policies that are in consonance with the internal cultural ethos of a nation, but also about adopting a certain terminology and behavior even in the implementation of more universalized or global policies. It is distinct from cultural policy, which is to do with culture-specific paradigms and governance of the same. Culture-compatible public policy, however, is the incorporation of cultural considerations into broader economic, legal, social and political policies that might be seemingly unrelated to culture, but in reality could benefit greatly from the infusion of a cultural worldview. Such policies are ideally, not simply about monetizing culture to stimulate economic growth — for instance, policies that directly or indirectly promote the development of cultural industries, such as music, art, crafts, and tourism that generate revenue and export opportunities. However, when we talk about culture compatibility, its intended outcome is that cultural values penetrate domains where they have previously been ignored. For example, rooting environmental policy in Indian cultural norms where rivers, trees and the land itself are sacred, can change the manner in which governments view nature as a resource to be exploited for industrial and economic development.

Rao and Walton in their work ‘Culture and Public Action’ (2002) analyze economic and social polities across multiple countries and suggest the adoption of a ‘cultural lens’ in the framing of policy. In their work, the authors contend that:

‘culture is about relationality— the relationships among individuals within groups, among groups, and between ideas and perspectives. Culture is concerned with identity, aspiration, symbolic exchange, coordination, and structures and practices that serve relational ends, such as ethnicity, ritual, heritage, norms, meanings and beliefs’.

Therefore, there is a need for a ‘cultural turn’ in public policy to lead to the development of more relationally-aware public policy.

Culture at the Root of Policy

Culture is the lifeblood of societies, shaping a people’s identity, values, and aspirations. Beyond the realms of art, music, and tradition, culture encompasses the collective experiences, beliefs, and customs of a community or nation. Recognizing the profound influence of culture on society, it is surprising that not enough policymakers are advocating for its central role in public policy. At Bṛhat, we believe that culture and values must be at the heart of public policy, and drive its long-term vision and intention.

Cultural factors influence economic behavior, political participation, social solidarity and value formation and evolution (Sen, 2002), which are closely linked to how and why public policies develop uniquely in different countries. Governments worldwide are confronted with a common spectrum of challenges encompassing the management of resources such as water and food, the development of infrastructure, healthcare, education, social welfare, economic progress, environmental sustainability, international diplomacy, security, and governance frameworks. Nevertheless, the strategies and methods employed by national governments and other stakeholders to address these fundamental public policy challenges exhibit notable disparities among countries and regions. It is a widely accepted notion that social and cultural factors exert a profound influence on human conduct. Furthermore, it is recognized that a primary objective of public policy is to influence and shape behavior. As articulated by Coyle and Ellis in 1994, “culture influences policy, and policy, in turn, influences culture.”

Given the rise of the phenomenon of the ‘civilization state’ — which is distinct from the notion of a religious, ethnic or national identity — culture, which is at its core, provides an overarching framework for social and political life, and therefore presents a viable and practical alternative to the hegemonic liberalism of the West — an idea explored later on in this essay. This is why many thinkers emphasize the importance of taking a ‘cultural turn’ in the understanding of governance and public policy, and advocate the use of cultural analysis to enrich knowledge of politics, policies and practices. An apparent constraint is that cultural values and practices cannot be fully captured by nationality. Yet, nationality defines the legal, political, social and territorial constraints within which public policies and national institutions function and many nations have historically developed, even if they still comprise minorities that are less integrated.

A diverse society often possesses a wealth of cultural knowledge, traditions, and practices that can be harnessed for economic development. By recognizing and supporting these cultural assets, governments can foster innovation and entrepreneurship. There is also the very purpose of policy-making and implementation - the generation of prosperity and happiness — where culture is uniquely and solely poised to inform us. As Shri Aurobindo wrote:

“True happiness lies in the finding and maintenance of a natural harmony of spirit, mind and body.”

A culture-compatible policy will finally enable the vital turn towards this true happiness, without which any civilization is one of matter alone, and never of mind and spirit.

Culture as a Constitutive Part of Development

The furtherance of well-being and freedoms that we seek in development cannot but include the enrichment of human lives through literature, music, fine arts, and other forms of cultural expression and practice. To have a high per capita GDP but little music, arts, literature, etc., stemming from a specific value system, would not amount to much developmental success. Specifically, within the Hindu worldview, the pursuit of puruṣārtha would serve as a doctrinal basis to guide policy making, encompassing holistically, economic, social and spiritual aims, apart from setting the ethical and moral tone. In one form or another, culture engulfs our lives, our desires, our frustrations, our ambitions, and even the freedoms that we seek. The freedom and opportunity for cultural and religious endeavors are among the most basic of freedoms. the enhancement of which can be seen as constitutive of development.

By acknowledging and integrating the deep-seated cultural ethos of a community, such policies not only preserve the cultural identity but also promote sustainable and inclusive growth. This approach fosters a society where policy decisions are not just effective but resonate deeply with the people's way of life, leading to more harmonious and prosperous communities.

Read more in Part 2 of this series.

Authored by Sai Priya Chodavarapu. Published by Brhat.