Cultural Globalization

What is Culture? Religion Ethnicity Nationalism Language Other forms of Identity The importance of forms of Communication

Cultural Globalization-concepts Cultural globalization: the transmission of culture globally Facilitated by the movement of people, objects, signs and symbols. –Travel –Movement of books and cultural artifacts Key: forms of communication and transportation

Cultural Globalization-Concepts Is it all Coercion? –Proselytism –Evangelism –Empire Better: “Modes of interaction” –Imposition –Emulation –Diffusion: hierarchical, contagious, relocation

Cultural Globalization-Concepts Infrastructures and Institutionalization: regularized and embedded change –Transportation and communication technologies –Social organization and systems: shipbuilding, mapmaking, shipping companies, international satellite companies, regulatory regimes, TV programming –Languages: educational systems, training of teachers

Cultural Globalization: Historical Perspective World Religions Empires Modern national cultures Transnational secular ideologies Contemporary cultural globalization

Cultural Globalization: Historical Perspective World Religions: Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism- none is present everywhere Some odd pockets –1 million Japanese Shintoists in Brazil –Goan Catholics on west coast of India Religious/Political/Military Power –Christianity –Islam No proselytizing: Confusionism/Hinduism

African Religious Diaspora

Cultural Globalization: Historical Perspective By 3 C. bce: Buddhism and Hinduism had their contemporary spread 700 ce: Islam in core regions 16 th /17 th C. :Christianity reaches global presence (Books) World religions have given religious and political elites immense power and resources, ability to mobilize armies, and “governance”

Dominant Religious Traditions

Empires Role of cultural power in creating and maintaining political empires –Difficult to enforce rule at a distance –Armies and governments are expensive –Indirect rule: Universal ruling class Kinship, belief, religion Political divisions become vertical between classes –Diffusion of culture provides cohesion

Roman Empire Capacity to deploy political power. Accomplished through innovations: –Logistical capabilities and civil engineering –Political community –Class solidarity –Shared cultural beliefs, rituals and aesthetics Literacy was key among ruling class Drama and poetry were used to build allegiance

The British Empire Most global of any formal empire: “the sun never sets on the British Empire” Imperial educational policy –English medium schools in India, etc. –Elites went to Oxford and Cambridge Imperial communications infrastructure –Telegraph to India by 1870

Modern National Cultures Nation: cross-class community, whose shared sense of identity, solidarity and interest is rooted in an national identity ad common historical experience (real, imagined or interpreted) and whose central political project is the possession of a distinctive state in a bounded territory. Nationalism: Psychological and cultural affiliation creating a connection with the community of the nation –Ethnic nationalism –Civic nationalism National culture: complex bodies of real and imagined practice, belief, ritual and attitude

Modern National Cultures Non existent before 18th century: Treaty of Westphalia National cultures invented and developed over time Cultural preconditions: –Literacy –National histories, myths and rituals, –Importance of state powers of taxation and conscription

National Cultures Task undertaken by diverse institutions –Official language –National schooling system –Postal service and Communications structures (NBC, ABC etc.) National press –Standing army Suppression or eradication of competing identities and peripheral nationalisms Key factors –Memories/histories/myths –Role of land/landscapes/places: Monuments National Parks sites of battle

Transnational Secular Ideologies European modern culture is secular Socialism and Marxism Enlightenment ideologies: –Modern scientific worldview –liberal political discourse: civil and political rights Limited government Self-determination –Capitalism Globalism?

World Languages

Language Tree

Cultural Globalization/Global Culture Markets Technologically driven Economic liberalization driven: mergers and acquisitions,deregulation, free trade barriers reduced  concentration of ownership Dominated by US, but Japanese, UK, and others are present (see chart)

Global Media Radio and the music industry –Political instrument: Voice of America, Radio Venceremos –Instrument of Localism –Major source of communication in developing countries for community/political/entertainment –Music is highly compatible with globalization: no need for translation –Musical diaspora: religious, African, American –Modern forms are more mixed: Orquesta de Luz, El Vez, World Music

Cinema and Television US Dominates Film Increasing growth of new film industries Other industries: see chart Television: more recent, higher level of individual capital investment Public quality initially, now Satellite and Cable have changed control to private.

Tourism Issues: –Expanding Awareness –Sex Tourism –Ecotourism and Rural Tourism: Contradictions? –Cultural Survival: Who controls the production of culture? Tourism as an economic generator

Tourism 1950: 25.3 million tourists/$2 Billion 1995: 561 million tourists/$380 Billion International Tourists: Country % of Tourists Europe53%, Americas17% Asia (Japan, Taiwan, Korea)17% Africa2.5% Middle East1.2% South Asia.6%