Westernisation

 

Is it inevitable?

 

Westernisation means the way a country adopts the values common in major western countries such as the united states, Great Britain, Canada, Germany and Australia. These values include democracy, capitalism and the adoption of free market industrialisation. “Western cultures” are also understood as having adapted cultural traits of the afformentioned countries – secular, consumer, and individualist, technologically advanced. Western countries claim stability, law and order and cultural integration.

 

Democracy – the objective is rule by majority. Many different forms. Modern democracy centres around the idea of balancing the “desires of the majority” with the “tyranny of the majority”. That, is modern western democracy believes if “the mob” rules there would be chaos. There fore, democracy is based on elections where all elegible citizens may vote, and by a separation of powers. The law, government, police and religion are separate.

So what countries are not democratic in this sense?

 

Capitalism – the society that results from a capitalist economy. That is, a market based on competition for profits. Free market capitalism means there are no controls on how much wealth individuals and groups can aqcuire and thus how much power. Capitalist societies are characterised by class inequality and competition.

So what societies are not capitalist?

 

Free market economic industrialisation – it’s basically capitalism.

Industrialisation is the process of converting to a socioeconomic order in which industry is dominant. The changes that took place in Western Europe during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s led the way. Industrialization is about technological and social change stemming from a reorganisation of how commodities (things you can buy) are produced.

Culture in these societies is largely market based – consumerism, individualism, competition.
Are there any societies which are not industrialised?

 

 

How can we relate Westernisation to social theory?

-Conflict

-Functionalist

-Evolutionary

 

World events that relate to westernisation:

-Colonialism…

-War…

-“Aid” and economic restructuring…

-Technological advance…
 

So… is westernisation inevitable?

How will you answer this question?

What are the best examples can you use?

 

Interesting: Gender and symbolism in the West

Art historian John Berger argues in episode 2 of his "Ways of Seeing" series that Western culture is one in which 'Men look at Women," and "Women watch themselves being looked at," thus locating the nude in Western art as an objectification of women.' (thesociologicalcinema.com) Concepts here include the contruction of feminine and masculine morality and values, religion, objectification and symbolism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72AIab-Gdc&feature=youtu.be