GLOBALIZATION AND MODERNIZATION

Introduction

Globalization is the integration of nations and people economically, politically and culturally into the larger community. Contemporary globalization has been fueled by the increase in advancement of technology, more specifically in communication and transportation. The influences of developed nations to the non-development country /society either directly or indirectly like opening office in the non-development countries or use of mediums like television has necessitated globalization. Therefore, globalization has been used as an opportunity by the western nations to influence the cultural practices of non-western culture. Some of these influences might be positive as well as negative.

Examples of the native non-western cultures that have been impacted by globalization are the fashions or kind of dressing and second is the change in music, arts, dance and belief system. Before the effects of globalization, India consumerism in relation to their fashion or dressing was indigenous. Globalization has affected its traditional dressing style displacing it with the western dresses especially among the urban dwellers. The shift has been brought about through the soap television, films that set the patterns of behavior and the Indian MTV (Shobaa, 2006, p.6). The indigenous cultures of Ghana such as the dance, music and their arts have been affected by the western music and culture proliferated through Television and the films, books and even in the goods supplied to them. Therefore, the aftermath of this globalization has resulted to a shift and change of behaviors among non-western cultures in terms of dressing, dance, music and art.

In India, the code of dressing is shifting among the urban populations towards that of western cultures. The shift has been brought about by globalization. Technology and the open channels of communication and trade in the society across the globe have necessitated these changes. The main medium in which these western influences are transmitted to the Indian urban dwellers is through the televisions and films. The content that is aired on the televisions in India is imported from western cultures and therefore, these cultures entrench in the people psychology and mind hence becoming part of them. This was an indirect influence since its medium of transfer is through television. People unconsciously find themselves behaving and dressing like the actor and the actresses as portrayed in the contents aired on the television and films. In this case, the move by the western nations is to some extend intentional and to some extend unintentional. This is because; the media institutions are influenced to air certain programs upon payments hence leading to the public influence. Likewise, this globalization has led to Ghana adopting to western cultures in terms of their music, and even language accents. People emulate the English language accents’ and even change their mode of lifestyles in terms of the foods they consume.

On the other hand, it might be unintentional because, the contents that is a produced by the western country is appealing to the people from non-western cultures who accept it as superior and despise their own cultures as inferior. The effects in the dressing code among Indians is negative since it contributed to the erosion of the indigenous cultures hence hampering the belief systems which is important in enhancing cohesion among the people and the country. The native non-western (India) response to these influences is progressive and gaining momentum among the people, more so the urban dwellers that are heavily exposed to these foreign media contents and films (Dharm, 2008, p. 305). The rural dwellers are limited in terms of access and exposure to the films and media contents from abroad hence experience minimum influence. Likewise, in Ghana, the influence is unintentional as people find themselves adapting to the western cultures through the content they see on the media. For instance, the western music has engrossed most of them making them prefer the western music and dances in expense of their traditional cultures and artifacts. Before the impacts of globalization, Ghana has a well-defined traditions and culture that formed part of their day-to-day socialization. They had traditional dances and music that defined their culture. However, when globalization set in through mass media these values, cultures and traditions changed with people turning to the western cultures in perception that they are superior to their own which are perceived to be inferior. Regardless of these shift, the stakeholders and government in Ghana has tried to curb extinction of the country values from total extinction. For instance, people are encouraged to embrace their cultures, dances and music as a sign of identity and several policies and measures have been put in place to ensure that globalization is approached positively and sparingly (Dharm, 2008, p. 308).

Globalization and or modernization, has brought with it impacts in the society both positive and negative. Many cultures of different nations have been colonized and overridden by the western influences. Technology advancement in terms of trade and communication has facilitated these influences. Therefore, it is imperative for the society be conscious to their actions and decisions in this globalization era to avoid the influence of foreign cultures that may lead to the erosion of their own cultures and beliefs.

References

Dharm P. S. (2008). Globalization and indigenous cultures: Homogenization or differentiation? International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32(4): 305-317.

Shobaa, P. (2006). Globalization and impacts of families: 4^th Viennese conference on mediation, Vienna: Australia.