Global Divides and Cultural Diversity: Challenges for the World Archaeological Congress

The major challenge of our generation is breaking down global divides, especially as these relate to inequities of wealth, power, and access to knowledge. Related to this is the impact of globalization on cultural diversity. Using the example of the World Archaeological Congress as a case study, this paper explores how scholarly organizations can impact upon, and be impacted by, these divides. This study identifies measures that narrow the gap between richer and poorer and which enhance global diversity, as well as measures that act in a converse direction. Finally, this paper identifies challenges for the future of archaeology that arise from this discussion.