Westernization
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- This article is about the influence of western culture. For the eye surgery, see Epicanthoplasty.
Westernization is a process whereby non-western societies come under the influence of Western culture in such matters as industry, technology, law, politics, economics, lifestyle, diet, language, alphabet, religion or values. Westernization has been a pervasive and accelerating influence across the world in the last few centuries. It is usually a two-sided process, in which western influences and interests themselves are joined by a wish of at least parts of the affected society to change towards a more westernized society, in the hope of attaining western life or some aspects of it.
Westernization can also be related to the process of acculturation. Acculturation refers to the changes that occur within a society or culture when two different groups come into direct continuous contact. After the contact, changes in cultural patterns within either or both cultures are evident. In popular speech, Westernization can also refer to the effects of Western expansion and colonialism on native societies.
For example, natives who have adopted European languages and characteristic Western customs are called acculturated or Westernized. Westernization may be forced or voluntary depending on the situation of the contact.
Different degrees of domination, destruction, resistance, survival, adaptation, and modification of the native culture may follow interethnic contact. In a situation where the native culture experiences destruction as a result of a more powerful outsider, a “shock phase” often is a result from the encounter. This shock phase is especially characteristic during interactions involving expansionist or colonialist eras. During the shock phase, civil repression using military force may lead to a cultural collapse, or ethnocide, which is a culture’s physical extinction. According to Conrad Phillip, the westerners "will attempt to remake the native culture within their own image, ignoring the fact that the models of culture that they have created are inappropriate for settings outside of western civilization" (Phillip, Conrad. (2005). Window on Humanity. New York: McGraw-Hill).
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[edit] Definition of the West
Main article: Western civilization
[edit] Territorial
The West was originally defined as Western Europe, but most modern uses of the term refer to the societies of Western and Central Europe and their close genealogical, linguistic, and philosophical descendants, typically included are those countries whose ethnic identity and dominant culture are derived from European culture.
The Western civilization can be defined as at least North America, West and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand. North America includes the U.S.A., Canada and Greenland (as part of Denmark). Widening this definition however invites controversy. This widened definition can include these countries, or a combination of these countries:
- Latin-America. Some people[citation needed] regard Latin-America as a Westernized part of the world (language, culture, etc.), and so a part of the Western world. Many indigenous cultures and languages remain in this part of the world however.
- Israel. Some people[citation needed] add Israel to the Western civilization, as about 1/2 of all Jews worldwide live in the West[citation needed], as the Western culture is rooted in a Jewish-Christian tradition,[dubious — see talk page] because the Jewish community has historical and cultural ties with Europe, and because of Israeli membership of European organizations (like UEFA and the Eurovision song contest).
- South Africa. South Africa is most of the time considered Western because of its languages (English, Afrikaans) and because of its religion (Christianity). Furthermore it has a similar economic system.
- Former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Some people[citation needed] add these countries to the definition of the West, as they have in many ways the same roots as Western Europe. This view has increasingly gained support, especially since the disintegration of communism and the current European integration process that is a direct result of that disintegration. Others, however, like the American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, consider the majority-Orthodox Christian part of Europe as different from the West.
- Turkey. Turkey is considered by some[citation needed] as Muslim and European (Western). The shared history, the membership of certain European organizations, the membership of NATO and the wish to become part of the European Union could be regarded as signs that this is the case.
- The Philippines. The Philippines are sometimes considered Western because of their Spanish-influenced languages and due to the fact that most of the people are Roman Catholic. The Filipinos' culture has been influenced by Spain and the United States. Furthermore, about 3.6% of the Filipino population are of European origin.
- Japan (and the original East Asian Tigers). Japan is sometimes considered Western, as this country supported the West during the Cold War, has a similar economic system and welfare, is a stable democracy, protects human rights, is member of typical Western organizations (like the OECD), etc. The cultural aspect is neglected in this definition however. Japan has a unique culture with distinct non-Western traits. Furthermore South Korea, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore can be regarded as Western for the same reasons.
- Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). With American statehood of Hawaii, French control of French Polynesia, the colonial influence of Britain, and the current political influence of both Australia and New Zealand, Oceania is gradually, but inevitably, becoming more and more "westernized".
[edit] Personal
A different view on the Western world is not defining it by its territory, but by its people, as these tend to differ in an increasingly globalized world. This view highlights the non-Western population in countries with a Western majority, or vice versa. The Boers for instance can be regarded as Western inhabitants of South Africa.
[edit] Differences
It would be incorrect to regard the Western world as a monolithic bloc, as there exist many cultural, linguistic, religious, political, and economical differences between Western countries and populations. The western world itself is changing over time as it has in the past.
[edit] Process of Westernization
[edit] Colonization (1492-1960s)
Main article: Colonialism
[edit] Europeanisation
From 1492 onward, Europeanisation and colonialism spread gradually over much of the world, colonising major portions of the globe. During this period a strong influence was exercised on the indigenous cultures, which resulted in many colonies' indigenous populations assimilating certain elements of European culture willingly or by force, such as the language of the European motherland or the Christian religion. In many cases the indigenous population was supplanted or marginalised by European and African immigrants.
The two World Wars weakened the European powers to such extent that many colonies strove for independence, often inspired by nationalistic movements. A period of decolonisation started. At the end of the 1960s, most colonies were autonomous. Those new states often adopted some aspects of Western politics such as the adoption of a constitution, while frequently reacting against western culture.
[edit] Reactions
[edit] Asia
A reaction to Westernization can include fundamentalism and protectionism. Countries such as Japan and China tried to adopt isolationism, but they have been unable to resist the adoption of many aspects of Western culture.
[edit] Globalization (1960s-now)
Westernization is often regarded as a part of the ongoing process of globalization. This theory proposes that western thought has led to globalization, and that globalization propagates western culture, leading to a cycle of westernization.
The main characteristics are economic liberalization (free trade) and democratization, combined with the spread of an individualised culture. Often it was also regarded of the opposite of the worldwide influence of communism. After the break up of the USSR in 1991, many of its component states and allies nevertheless underwent westernization, including privatization of hitherto state-controlled industry.
Westernization as globalization is seen by many as progress, as democracy and free trade spread gradually throughout the world. Others view westernization as a disadvantage. Some have protested that Asian cultures who have traditionally existed on a primarily plant-based diet might lose this healthy lifestyle as more people in Asia switch to a Western-style diet that is rich in animal-based foods. (Cornell Times, 2001[1])
[edit] Consequences
Due to the colonization of the Americas and Oceania by Europeans, the cultural, ethnic and linguistic makeup of the Americas and Oceania has been irreversibly shattered. This is most visible in settler colonies such as the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand and Uruguay, where the traditional indigenous population has been overtaken demographically by non-indigenous settlers. This demographic takeover in settler countries has often resulted in the linguistic, social, and cultural marginalization of indigenous peoples. However, even in countries where large populations of indigenous peoples remain or the indigenous peoples have mixed considerably with European settlers, such as Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, marginalization still exists. Due to colonization, the prevalent languages in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand are now: Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (the rest of Latin America), French (Quebec in Canada, French Guiana), and English (USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). Many indigenous languages are on the verge of becoming extinct. However, some settler countries have gone to great lengths to preserve and expand indigenous languages, for example, in New Zealand the Maori language is official.
[edit] See also
[edit] The West
[edit] Cultural influence
[edit] Europe and USA
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[edit] Other
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[edit] Other
- Anti-Americanism represents a hostility towards the government, culture, or people of the U.S.A.
- Democratic peace theory is a theory which holds that democracies (almost) never go to war with one another.
- Diseases of affluence are diseases thought to be a result of increasing wealth.
- North-South divide is the socio-economic division which exists between the wealthy developed "North" and the poorer developing "South".
[edit] References
- The Idea of the West (2004), written by Alastair Bonnett (Palgrave)
- The Decline of the West (1918), written by Oswald Spengler.
- The End of History and the Last Man (1992), written by Francis Fukuyama.
- The Clash of Civilizations (1996), written by Samuel P. Huntington.
- The Triumph of the West (1985) written by Oxford University historian J.M. Roberts.
[edit] External links
- Global Culture Essays on globalization and its impact on global culture
