Modernization and Indigenous Cultures Essay

IntroductionModernization is the process of moving from domain and agricultural parliamentary procedure to an industrial society and it mainly deals with societies after the industrial Revolution of the mid-18th century. Some key features of modernisation would be large, formal organizations and family of labor based on specialization of skills and abilities. There is to a greater extent(prenominal) run into oer environmental resources such as oil, water, land, and animals. There is excessively a distinct improvement in the quality of life during this time. Because of a high(prenominal) per capita income individualists be able to buy more goods and services, move over more unskil direct time, and eat better housing and health care. Modernization force out come both positive and negative effects on society and piece of ass oft bring about controversy. In this paper I get out aspect at examples of how modernisation has walk outed subtletys and traditions around the ground.TheoriesBefore we aspect at the effects of modernisation on different cultures we will look at a few specific theories concerning how modernization affects society and residential district. The German sociologist Ferdinand Tnnies (1855-1937) formed devil theories concerning modernization which he called _Gemeinschaft_ and _Gesellschaft_. Ferdinand Tnnies viewed modernization as the progressive loss of human community _Gemeinschaft_. He in addition believed the Industrial Revolution weakened the social bond of families and communities by accentuation the impersonal business attributes alike money, efficiency, and self-interest _Gesellschaft_. Tnnies belief was that modernization turns societies inside out so that individuals are essentially separated in spite of uniting factors (Macionis, 2006, page 457).Peter Berger, whose movement was greatly influenced by Ferdinand Tnnies, identified four major characteristics of modernization the decline of small, traditionalis tic communities, the expansion of personal choice, increased social diversity, future oriented and higher focus on time. As we look at societies and cultures around the world we will see how these four characteristics play a large ramify in explaining the effects of modernization on each. There are former(a) aspects of modernization that are not quite as appropriate for explaining the affects on indigenous cultures but should still be discussed.Other theorists such as Emile Durkeim, whose view of modernity differed from Tnniess in a more optimistic manner. He viewed modernization as a change from community based bonds to a community based on economic priorities function of labor. There was Max Weber, who thought that modern societies valued efficiency over tradition thitherfore, modern people will adjust to anything that will kick them to attain their objective. Weber felt that for modern people, truth is the consequent of thinking(prenominal) calculation. Then we obtain Karl Marx, who analyzed modernization as the ascendancy of industrial capitalism. He anticipated a socialist revolution that would farting to an democratic society. The problem with Marxs theories is that he had an idealistic view of how the world would work, and underestimated the say-so of bureaucracy in shaping modern societies (Macionis, 2006).Cultures and traditionsTraditional culture, in a broad sense, is human activity such as religion, philosophy, moral standards, laws, society, history, and dodge that give been learned and passed on in a community or group over a long period of time. Whether a society can survive modernization without losing its identity is the question that is debated by many an(prenominal) people. In Asian countries such as lacquer, Modernization has often been upset with Westernization. This is partly due to the fact that the concept originated during the Industrial Revolution in England.It is also due to the fact that accept modernization often mean t accepting a Western culture and its resulting counsel of life. Many feel that japan is a great example of how a thoroughly modern direction of life can exist in a non-western society. Others argue that Japan has become distinctly more western as a result of its modernization. The main thing to understand about Japan is that it has always been on the periphery of culturally developed countries such as China, and has become given over to accepting foreign developed cultures. The fact is that Japanese people have always had a great interest and curiosity in merchandise things, including religion and science. This is why Japan never felt a cockeyed resistance against the introduction of Western culture.Effects on FamilyThere was a United Nations education conducted in the mid-80s that examined the effects of modernization, urbanization, and industrialization on the family structure. Part of the findings were focused on developing countries where wide-spread poverty was forcing f amilies to migrate to heavenss where work could be found mainly large cities. Technology and development have both positive and negative effects on family. It is true that in that respect is usually an improvement in living conditions especially in the area of health care, income, living conditions, and education. On the other hand it can lead families into an impoverished life, loss of social identity and traditions, and an effort to ever modify innovation with no regard for the effects on family life.Most would oblige that the positive or negative effects of modernization on the family are not intentional, but a product of growing race and ever-advancing technology. It can be said that few activities resulting from modernization have been geared explicitly towards families whether to bowdlerize the negative effects or improving their well-being. There have been many changes in family structure due to modernization. Along with the change in roles and responsibilities within th e family are changes in determine. This includes a greater pressure to consume the values, culture, or viewpoints of the ascendent group. The emphasis on individualism is belike pre-eminent among the values of developed societies. (Development and the family, 1985)There is a very large pressure on families and small communities to integrate into the paramount culture. Although there has been a long-term turn on away from the extended family towards the nuclear family, the extended family is still regarded in close to instances (among rural-urban migrants, for one) as a way to continue social and cultural traditions age suiting to new circumstances and behaviors (Development and the family, 1985). It is inevitable that there will be clashes among the dominant culture and that of family values.Industrialization and UrbanizationThere are two key aspects of modernization in which we need to explore Industrialization and Urbanization. both(prenominal) can be looked at as a byp roduct of modernization and have related affects on a societys culture and traditions. The effects of industrialization on a family, as with modernization, is influenced by the maintain they must travel to acclimate themselves to the new way of life. Some of the pressures that a traditional family structure might face include work schedules that reduce the time a family spends together, less family production as a unit, and a diminished societal network due to migratory labor.In the U.N study mentioned above, urbanization is listed as the third major aspect of development impacting on family functioning, particularly the rapid growth of rural-to-urban migration (Development and the family, 1985). Some of the negative aspects of urbanization on family life would includedecreased communication between family members, separation of family members and neglect of communal support for urban migrants, more single-parent households and postponement of child-bearing. All of these factors a ffect how communities and families develop, and how their culture and traditional values are passed on.There are also areas like Sao Paulo in conspiracy America where modernization has caused substantial population growth over the last 100 years. In the case of Sao Paulo, widespread coffee cultivation created sudden prosperity to a region that was fairly isolated. Then there was another population surge as manufacturing was naturalised in the area. By the middle of the 20th century Sao Paulo became the chief manufacturing essence of Brazil. The problem with that much growth in a generally poor people country is the mass influx of people. With over-crowded cities come crime, air and noise pollution, commerce congestions, and most importantly a labor force that seriously outnumbers the acquirable jobs (Cohen, 2004).Many individuals from outlying areas will continue to travel to this city in hopes of a better life, and most will end in go on poverty. Its possible that many will end up in areas like Prestes Maia. The largest squat in Latin America, some 258 families, nearly 2,000 people, have crammed into this disused textile factory. Its 20 storys provide entertain for some of the poorest people in arguably the most unequal lay out on earth (Study in contrast, 2007). There is no longer a sense of community in large cities like this. How can there be a local support network when each individual is busy looking after themselves.ConclusionMost people would probably say that globalization and modernization rarely cares for societies and culture, but that statement is not completely accurate. Cultures do not always have to modify themselves and adapt to the global changes that are being imposed upon them. There have been cases, like the Kayapo in Brazil, where natives used modern technology to help fight the aggression of developers. In the case of the Kayapo people, they used videocameras to film treaty negotiations and thus used them against the governme nt when they tried to go back on their word. This seems to be the exception rather then the rule.In most cases though, the reality is that dominant cultures do overwhelm smaller indigenous cultures. Small communities and societies are often torn apart by the pull of large urban areas. Because of modernization there has been an increase in personal choice. With industrialization come more opportunities for an individual to choose there future. People no longer had to interference on the farm to ensure that the family would produce enough to survive. This also led to the decline of small traditional communities. Individuals and families would travel to where the opportunities were. The problem is that those that are left(p) behind feel abandoned by those who migrate to the cities. This fact only creates a cultural division between indigenous peoples.Central and South America are a classic example of how a dominant culture can completely decimate that of the indigenous people. The P ortuguese and Spanish left a lasting impression on the indigenous way of life. That influence reached new heights during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and nineteenth century. Not only were the Europeans extracting recourses from the area, they were also introducing new ways of thinking, new technologies, and a new type of economy. It would be almost impossible for a lesser developed people to compete against the dominant culture of a technologically advanced society.ReferencesCohen, B. (2004). Urban Growth in Developing Countries A Review. _World__Development_, _32_, Retrieved work 06, 2008, fromhttp//www7.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/Cities_Transformed_World_Development_Article.pdfDevelopment and the family. (May 1985). _UN Chronicle_, 22, p.xix(2). Retrieved March 17,2008, from General OneFile via Galehttp//find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPSMacionis, J. J. (2006). Society The basics (8th ed.). Upper rouse River, NJ PearsonPrenticeHall.Study in contrast. (2007, Ma rch 14). The Statesman,1. Retrieved March 6, 2008, fromProQuest Newsstand database. (Document ID 1232854241).