In theory I like the idea of relativism. When cultures vary so much, it seems insensitive- and impossible- to hold everyone to the same values or standards of behavior. However I don't think it works in practice. It is unrealistic to believe that culture lives in a bubble. With globalization, the advent of internet and the ease of travel, cultures that were once very separate can collide on a daily basis. With all of these former walls being knocked down, there will come a point when the excuse "but it's a different culture" will no longer be enough.

On the other hand, I understand that pure universalism is not effective either. It can clearly cause more trouble than it prevents. When trying to create a set of values to apply to a world's worth of people, the beliefs of the powerful will invariably overshadow others. You cannot have equality under a global law if it is founded upon inequality.

But despite its flaws, I think we need to work towards some kind of universalism if for no other reason than that it is our current reality. Globalization is effectively putting the world's cultures in a blender so that we can no longer ignore that the lines between "us" and "them" are blurring. We can't really choose between relativism and universalism; the nature of cross-cultural interaction has made that choice for us.