Impact of Globalisation on Indian Society

Impact of Globalisation on Indian Society

"A Nation's Culture resides in the heart and soul of its people"

Mahatma Gandhi

★  Impact on Culture

• Homogenisation of the Culture
• Hybridisation of the Culture
• Revival of Local Culture

★  Impact on Structure

• Impact of globalisation on different sections of the society
• Impact on the status of women
• Impact on the Old age people
• Impact on the Youths
• Impact of globalisation on different institutions of the society
• Impact on Family
• Impact on Marriage
• Impact on Caste System
• Impact on Religion

Impact of Globalisation on Culture

1. Homogenization of the Culture
2. Hybridization of the Culture
3. Revival of Local Culture

Homogenisation of the Culture - Homogenization of culture refers to the creation of uniform culture as a result of globalisation. It also includes blind emulation of the outside culture, i.e., Westernisation, Americanisation, etc.

For example - Mc Donaldization of food, E-commerce, Obsession with English Language, Multiplex theatre, Consumerism, Disintegration of Joint family, Live-in relationship, etc.

Hybridisation of the Culture - It refers to the mixing of culture (Local + Global), i.e., Glocalisation (Glocalization).

For example - Dubbing of international movies in regional languages, Hinglish, Fusion of different dance forms (Indians with western style of dance), Remix music, Nuclear Families with extended ties, Celebration of international festivals & days like New Year Celebration, Hallowing, etc.

Revival of Local Culture -  It refers to the revival and popularisation of local culture at the global level.

For example - International Yoga day, Revival of Aayush, Religious revivalism, Growing demand of Indian fashion items like Chikankari, Bandhni, etc. in global market, etc.

Government's Vocal for Local and Make in India Schemes are related to revival of local culture.

PYQs 

Globalisation is perceived to be a form of homogenisation. However, Cultural specificities have got strengthened in the process of globalisation. Discuss it by giving examples.

• Introduction: Definition of Globalisation
• Linking Para: It is a general perception that globalisation → uniform culture, i.e., Homogenisation
• Body: Manifestation of Homogenisation with examples
• Counter Argument - It is just one side assumption because along with homogenisation there are certain cultural specificities which are getting strengthened by Hybridisation and Revival of Local Culture (give examples of both)
• Conclusion

Question for practice 

Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer with proper examples.

What appears to be globalisation at macro level is glocalisation at micro level. Discuss

Globalisation - Globalisation is defined as a process in which people and countries get integrated economically, socially and culturally through trade, labour, mass media, travel and cultural exchanges.

Globalisation at Macro Level, i.e., on Pan India level

• It appears to be Homogenisation
• For Example - Mc Donaldisation

But, Globalisation at Micro Level, i.e., on Local level 

• Global Products are modified as per the local needs, i.e., It appears to be Glocalisation. 
• For example - Veg Burger at Mc Donald
• Also, at micro level, local products are also modified as per the global needs (or some without modification), i.e., it appears to be revival of local culture.
• For example - Study of Sanskrit in various international universities, dubbing of hindi movies in international languages, etc.

Impact of Globalisation on the Religion 

1. Secularisation of religion
2. Growing incidences of fundamentalism
3. Proliferation of godmen and growth of sects and cults conversion.

Secularisation of religion - Secularisation of religion is characterised by the following -

• Privatisation of religion.
• Differentiation of religion.
• And the decline of social significance of religion.

It can be seen as the Homogenisation and Hybridisation of the Religion.

For example - Culture of gift giving during festivals, Celebrating all festivals irrespective of religion, caste, race, culture, etc.

Growing incidences of Fundamentalism 

• Globalisation led to the rise of fundamentalism and religious intolerance.
• It can also lead to communal violence because of the faster spread/dissemination of communal overtone speeches (on social media).

Questions for practice 

Discuss to what extent Globalsiation has led to Secularisation of the Indian Society.

Impact of globalisation on Marriages 

1. Changing nature/form of Marriages (i.e., Arrange Marriage → Love Marriage → Confluent Marriage, where partners are chosen after a long deliberation and both partners help each other in their growth).
2. Changing purpose of the marriage (i.e., Earlier marriage were done mainly for progeny, i.e., for child but now the marriage is considered as a companionship).
3. Age and the time of marriage also changed (Mean age of girl of marriage at the time of marriage has increased, currently at 22.3 years because of the opportunities provided by globalisation to girls).
4. Decline in the religious significance of the marriage (earlier marriage is considered a sacred institution but not it is more perceived as the companionship).
5. Emerging concepts of Court Marriages.
6. Consumerist (show off trend) nature of the Marriage emerged.
7. Dissolution of marriage is no longer considered a taboo.
8. Desirability and universibility of the marriage declined due to the emergence of new form of families such as Single parents family, Homosexual families, etc.
9. New means of technology/media replaced the old traditional method of spouse selection (for example - Earlier spouse selection is done by family elders and priest but now this has been taken by modern technology like Matrimonial websites).
10. Emergence of alternatives of Marriage such as live-in relationship.
11. Corruption of moral values (which might lead to extra marital relations, wife swamping, etc.)

Questions for practice 

To what extent globalisation has altered the institution of marriage in the context of Indian Society.

Impact of Globalisation on the Youths 

1. Changes in Life Style - over reliance on technology, sedentary life style, junk food culture, life style disease, etc.
2. Education - Youths stand to benefit with increased awareness and accessibility to education and literacy. However, it is biased against rural youths (due to obsession with English language).
3. Employment - The opportunities are created for urban youths through skilled and well paying jobs. However, it has not been much favourable for rural youths.
4. Youths have become more secular with respect to marriage, accommodation, commensality, etc.
5. With the breakdown of the joint family, it led to the isolation of youths which might result into deviant behaviour committed by the youths.
• Breakdown of the Joint Family → Lack of Social Support system during the crises → negatively impacted the mental health of the youths → chances of deviant behaviour like suicide, drug abuse, crime, etc increases.
6. Obsession with success without caring about the means (legitimate or illegitimate)
• Breakdown of Joint Family → Lack of agency of social control → Moral corruption of the values → imbalance nature of society (i.e., obsession with success with material goals) → might result into adoption of illegitimate means → increase in crimes.
7. Emergence of 'Yuppies' among the youths.
• Upward mobile professional class who is only concerned with their own issues, i.e., self centered and not concerned with the larger socio-economic problems of the society.

Impact of Globalisation on the Education 

1. The use of technology in education has addressed the problems of 4A's (Accessibility, Availability, Affordability and Awareness).
2. It has led to the emergence of secular education and exoteric nature of the education, i.e., accessible to all irrespective of caste, religion, race, etc.
3. Globalisation has created competition which is needed for positive revivalism on education system in India.
4. Globalisation has widened the ambit of education system with respect to content, infrastructure, extra curriculum activities, etc.

1. However, it has led to the glorification of western education model and undermining of the local traditional knowledge.
2. It led to increase pressure on the student due to the race for survival of the fittest.
3. It also led to the social exclusion due to privatization of education, obsession with English, etc.

Social Exclusion - Due to the preference of English language, privatisation of education, online education system, competitive screening, etc. have led to the boycott to have not's.

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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