France to Open New Louvre in Abu Dhabi

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 6, 2007

This article is about an agreement made between French and United Arab Emirates officials to open a new Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi. The agreement means that the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be able to display thousands of works from some of France's best museums, such as the Louvre, the Georges Pompidou Center, the Musee d'Orsay and Versailles. The museum is set to be opened in 2012 on the Abu Dhabi waterfront and expected to be the centerpiece of the cultural district.

The move has sparked a lot of debate as some people see the French as trying to turn their culture into a commodity to be sold.

“We're not selling the French legacy and heritage. We want this culture to radiate to parts of the world that value it,” the culture minister said. “We're proud that Abu Dhabi wants to bring the Louvre here. We're not here to transform culture into a consumer product.”

This is one of many plans in the works to spread French culture around the world. Apparently, a project is underway by the Pompidou Center in Paris to set up a branch in Shanghai, China.

Some of the reasons that the French gave for doing this controversial deal recognize the greater world importance of globalization. The most notable one was that the museum will help reinvigorate France's postcolonial stature in the Arab world. French officials have also noted that the negotiations with Abu Dhabi's royal family had already improved bilateral ties between the two countries. French President Jacques Chirac sent a message saying the museum is a symbol of a “world which considers the clash of civilizations the most dangerous trap of our time.”

I think that this move by the French is very important in fostering favorable ties between two civilizations with a complicated past. For the Arab countries, they get a boost in legitimacy by showing interest in global cultures and creating cosmopolitan cities. The French get a chance to promote their culture in other countries and develop a stronger relationship with one of the most prosperous Arab countries.

Cultural globalization has been a hot button issue in globalization. This is a positive example of how globalization can bring two cultures together who have had problems in the past.