iranglobalisation The Local and the Global: the new face of tradition

I am well aware that it is impossible or at least very difficult for a foreigner to speak of traditions and traditional architecture and urbanism in another culture. Traditions are always specific to a place or a people. They are a key part, if not the totality, of any community’s identity. At the very least, even to begin to understand the traditions of others needs study and in-depth engagement with the community itself. Unfortunately, the spread of a universal architectural type and the growth of transnational architectural firms, has given architects and urban designers the idea that their cultural values are universal and applicabl everywhere. It has also convinced some city authorities and companies that local traditions are oldfashioned and anti-modern. What we are witnessing one aspect of the worldwide phenomenon of globalisation. I intend, therefore, talk about globalisation and how it relates to tradition. Globalisation is global and so anyone on the globe can discuss it. Tradition is a universal human phenomenon and so can be discussed as a phenomenon by anyone.At first sight, it would seem that globalisation and tradition are on a collision course. Globalisation represents the spread of a homogenised culture and the consequent erosion of national and local traditions. While there is some truth to this, I don’t think that this is the whole story. To understand this, we have to try and understand globalisation – not an easy task as it’s always hard to understand anything that is in progress.