CULTURAL CHANGE and CULTURAL CHANGE and GLOBALIZATION:GLOBALIZATION:

• Cultures are always changing. Cultures are always changing. Because cultures consist of Because cultures consist of learned patterns of behavior and learned patterns of behavior and belief, cultural traits can be belief, cultural traits can be unlearned and learned anew as unlearned and learned anew as human needs change.human needs change.

• Discovery and invention have Discovery and invention have been primary sources of culture been primary sources of culture change. Yet only when a society change. Yet only when a society accepts an invention or accepts an invention or discovery and uses it regularly discovery and uses it regularly can culture change be said to can culture change be said to have occurred.have occurred.

• Some inventions are probably Some inventions are probably the result of dozens of tiny, the result of dozens of tiny, perhaps accidental, initiatives perhaps accidental, initiatives over a period of many years.over a period of many years.

• Other inventions are consciously Other inventions are consciously intended. Yet why some people intended. Yet why some people are more innovative than others are more innovative than others is not really understood. A is not really understood. A margin for risk? Or nothing else margin for risk? Or nothing else to lose?to lose?

• Diffusion is the process by which Diffusion is the process by which cultural elements are borrowed cultural elements are borrowed from another society and from another society and incorporated into the culture of incorporated into the culture of the recipient group.the recipient group.

• There are three basic patterns of There are three basic patterns of diffusion.diffusion.

• diffusion by direct contact in diffusion by direct contact in which elements of a culture are which elements of a culture are first taken up by neighboring first taken up by neighboring societies and then gradually societies and then gradually spread farther and farther spread farther and farther afieldafield

• diffusion by intermediate diffusion by intermediate contact, in which third parties , contact, in which third parties , frequently traders, carry a frequently traders, carry a cultural trait from the cultural trait from the originating society to another originating society to another groupgroup

• stimulus diffusion in which stimulus diffusion in which knowledge of a trait belonging knowledge of a trait belonging to another culture stimulates to another culture stimulates the invention or development of the invention or development of a local equivalenta local equivalent

• Diffusion is a selective not Diffusion is a selective not automatic process. A society automatic process. A society accepting a foreign cultural trait accepting a foreign cultural trait is likely to adapt it in a way that is likely to adapt it in a way that effectively harmonizes it with effectively harmonizes it with the society’s own traditions.the society’s own traditions.

• When a group or a society is in When a group or a society is in contact with a more powerful contact with a more powerful society, the weaker group is society, the weaker group is often obligated to acquire often obligated to acquire cultural elements from the cultural elements from the dominant group.dominant group.

• Acculturation is a process of Acculturation is a process of extensive borrowing in the extensive borrowing in the context of superordinate—context of superordinate—subordinate relations between subordinate relations between societies.societies.

• Acculturation in contrast to Acculturation in contrast to diffusion comes about as a result diffusion comes about as a result of some sort of external of some sort of external pressure.pressure.

• Revolution is the most dramatic Revolution is the most dramatic and perhaps rapid way a culture and perhaps rapid way a culture can change.can change.

• Usually revolutions indicate a Usually revolutions indicate a violent replacement of a violent replacement of a society’s rulers.society’s rulers.

• Rebellions occur customarily in Rebellions occur customarily in state societies where there is a state societies where there is a ruling elite.ruling elite.

• Not all peoples who are Not all peoples who are suppressed, conquered or suppressed, conquered or colonized eventually rebel or colonized eventually rebel or successfully revolt against successfully revolt against established authority.established authority.

• Many cultural changes in the Many cultural changes in the modern world have been modern world have been generated, directly or indirectly, generated, directly or indirectly, by the dominance and expansion by the dominance and expansion of Western societies.of Western societies.

• Commercial exchange is a Commercial exchange is a fundamental change for many fundamental change for many cultures that have had other cultures that have had other modes of exchange or kinds of modes of exchange or kinds of economies.economies.

• Some examples:Some examples:

• 1. increased migration for 1. increased migration for economic necessity or better economic necessity or better opportuntiesopportunties

• 2. self-sufficient economies change 2. self-sufficient economies change to trade or cash croppingto trade or cash cropping

• The growing influence of The growing influence of Western societies has also led to Western societies has also led to religious change in many parts religious change in many parts of the world.of the world.

• In many societies such change In many societies such change has been brought about has been brought about intentionally through the efforts intentionally through the efforts of missionaries.of missionaries.

• Ethnogenesis is the process by Ethnogenesis is the process by which new cultures are created.which new cultures are created.

• Globalization is the spread of Globalization is the spread of cultural features around the cultural features around the world.world.

• Globalization is minimizing Globalization is minimizing cultural diversity but not cultural diversity but not eliminating it.eliminating it.