The MONDIACULT conference organized by UNESCO in 2022 made the promotion of
“culture as a global public good” a priority of the international public policy agenda. This article
aims to explore the meanings and implications of this interpretation of culture by focusing on
the link between culture and development, with the help of Appadurai’s analysis of the „cultures
of aspiration”. It concludes by arguing that genuine support for culture in the future should also
give priority to education in the humanities, as these continue to be essential for our sensitivity
to culture and critical thinking.
