Westernisation: Encyclopedia - Westernisation

Westernisation

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Westernization is a process whereby traditional, long-established societies come under the influence of Western culture in such matters as industry and technology, law, politics and economics, lifestyle and diet, language and the alphabet, religion and values. Westernization has been a pervasive and accelerating influence across the world in the last few centuries.

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. More specifically, Westernization refers to the effects of Western expansion and colonialism on native societies.

For example, natives who wear store-bought clothing, learn European languages, and otherwise adopt 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, follows 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. Often, the intruders 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)

Westernisation - Definition of the West

Main article: Western civilization

Westernisation - 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 colonial 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 suscites controversy. This widened definition can include these countries, or a combination of these countries:

• Eastern Europe. Some people add Eastern Europe to the definition of the West, as it has in many ways the same roots as Western Europe. This view increasingly gains support, especially since the desintegration of communism and the current European integration process that is a direct result of that desintegration. Others however, like the American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, consider the Orthodox Christian part of Europe as different from the West.

• Israel. Some people add Israel to the Western civilization, as about 2/3 of all Jews worldwide live in the West, as the Western culture is rooted in a Jewish-Christian tradition, because the Jewish community has strong historical and cultural ties with Europe, and because of Israelian membership of European organizations (like FIFA and the Eurovision song contest).

• Turkey. Turkey is considered by some 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.

• Latin-America. Some people regard Latin-America as a Westernized part of the world (language, culture, etc.), and so a part of the Western world. Many native (sub)cultures and languages remain in this part of the world however.

• Japan. 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 an unique culture with distinct non-Western traits.

• South Africa.

Westernisation - Personal

A different view on the Western world is not defining it by its territorium, 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 inhabitans of South Africa.

Westernisation - Differences

It would be incorrect to regard the Western world as a monolythic bloc, as there exist many cultural, linguistic, religious, political, and economical differences between Western countries and populations.

Westernisation - Process of Westernization

Westernisation - Colonization 1492-1960s

Main article: Colonialism

From 1492 onward, European imperialism and colonialism spread gradually over the world, colonizing almost every part of the world. During this period a strong influence was exerciced on the indigineous cultures. During this period, many colonies indingenous populations have willingly or have been forced to assimilate certain elements of European culture, like the language of the European motherland or the Christian religion. In many cases the indigenous population was supplanted or marginalized by European (and African) immigrants.

The two World Wars weakened the European powers in such extent that many colonies strived for independence, often inspired by nationalistic movements. A period of decolonization started. At the end of the 1960s, most colonies were autonomous. Those new states often adopted some aspects of Western culture, like for instance the adoption of constitution.

A reaction to Westernisation 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.

Westernisation - Globalization 1960s-now

Westernization is often regarded as a a part of the ongoing process of globalization. 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 Westernisation, including privatisation of hitherto state-controlled industry.

Westernization as globalization is seen by some as progress, as for instance democracy and free trade spread gradually throughout the world. Some people view westernisation however as a disadvantage, as for example 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])

Westernisation - Consequences

Westernisation - America

Due to the European colonization, the American continent has gradually assimilated the European languages. In the U.S.A., Canada, Argentina and Uruguay almost the entire population has been replaced by European (and African) immigrants. In these countries there are thus almost no traces left of other cultures or languages. In countries like Mexico and Peru substantial indigenous populations were incorporated, though there remain some regions of traits of these cultures.

In short, it could be roughly said that on the American continent there are only four important languages: English (U.S.A. and Canada), Spanish (Latin-America except Brazil), Portuguese (Brazil) and French (Quebec, Canada). These languages are European in origin.

Almost whole of the American continent has been christianized, though what type of Christianity is dominant tends to differ.

See also

Westernisation - The West

• American culture
• European culture
• Western culture
• Western civilization
• Group of Eight (G8)
• OECD

Westernisation - Cultural influence

• Americanization is the term used for the influence the United States of America has on other cultures.

• Anglicisation or Anglicization is the process of making something English.

• Europeanisation or Europeanization can either mean the process of transforming a society into a more European society or the process of growth towards an European identity in Europe.
• Francization is the process of giving a French character to something or someone.
• Germanisation is defined as either the spread of the German language and culture, or the adaptation of a word to the German language.
• Hellenization, the spread of Greek culture and language.
• Romanization or Latinization is a system for representing a word or language with the Latin alphabet.
• Romanization, the spread of Roman culture and language.

• Korenization or Korenizatsiya was the early Soviet ethnicity policy.
• Magyarization or Magyarisation refers to spreading the Hungarian language and culture in general.
• Polonization is the assumption or assimilation of the Polish language or another Polish attribute.
• Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attribute by non-Russian communities.
• de-Russification is a process in the post-Soviet countries to overcome the consequences of the Russification.
• Ukrainization was the policy conducted by the Bolshevik party and the Government of the Ukrainian SSR during 1920s and 1930s to increase the presence of Ukrainian.

• Colonization
• Globalization
• Anti-globalization
• Mundialization

• Africanization refers to the modification of names to better reflect an African identity.
• Islamization describes the process of a society's conversion to Islam.
• Arabization transforms an area into one that speaks Arabic and is part of the Arab culture.
• Sinicization is the process in which Chinese culture dominates or influences other cultures.

Westernisation - 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".

• 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.

Categories: Articles to be expanded | Globalization | Neologisms | Cultural assimilation

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Westernisation", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki