Are Global Cities Westernizing or Homogenizing Culture in Cities - Research Paper Example

Global Cities The world around us is growing increasingly global and interconnected. It isno longer a stretch for one individual in one city to have multiple acquaintances, both personal and professional, in various cities around the globe. At the same time, there is a growing concern that the growing mega cities of the world are having such an impact on culture that society is gradually becoming more and more homogenous with each passing generation. This can be seen, for example, in the portrayal of Western society and the globalisation of the world community as seen through the eyes of the media. Al Jazeera News, BBD Arabia, and CNN Arabic are examples of media outlets that have propped up in recent years to portray an increasingly homogenous society. In addition, there are numerous restaurant franchises that used to be centrally located in only a few countries that have now gone truly global. Consider how McDonalds has morphed into the creation of a McArabia sandwich, and the reality that Kentucky Fried Chicken is now truly a global icon that can be seen in nearly any major city the globe over. Finally, clothing is representative of a global fashion industry that transcends geographical boundaries. Whereas much of the Middle East and the Arab world used to have their own form of traditional dress that transcended generations, Western clothing brands gradually crept into the landscape to the point that young people in cities such as Doha, Dubai and Istanbul do not look dissimilar from youth in any other major world city. The reality is that a judgement cannot yet be made whether or not this homogenisation of culture is positive or negative, but the study of how this cultural shift is affecting traditional and historical values is a worthwhile endeavour indeed. Background The cities of New York, London, and Paris have long been truly heterogenous communities made of many different cultures, religions, and belief systems. Long considered to be cities that embrace the immigrant, ways of life were as varied as the landscape. Over time, however, even these three mega cities have developed a culture that is predicated largely on Western ideals and modern beliefs. It is now increasingly apparent that this same idealism is creeping into other regions of the world, particularly the Arab world. This is interesting, as Arabia is largely considered to be the most traditional and long standing culture in the world today. Religious beliefs are of paramount importance to the people of this region, and this is reflective in the media that the people has access to, the restaurants and business establishments that they frequent, and the clothes that they wear1. As such, this report will detail how the global cities of New York, London, and Paris have impacted the Arab cities of Doha, Dubai, and Istanbul in recent decades. Hypothesis The hypothesis is that the urban cities of the West are gradually impacting the traditional culture of major cities in the Arab world to the point that truly global cities are becoming more homogenised as the years go by. Methodology Social science research is a continuous process, whereby concepts and beliefs are changing on a frequent basis. There are certainly a plethora of questions still to be answered, while new information and data is available to draft informed and reliable conclusions. Within the area of cultural studies, there is a need to determine the effects of one culture on another in an increasingly global and interconnected world. These findings will have great relevance to professionals in nearly any field, but particularly so for sociologists and anthropologists, as the findings will help them to better determine the impact of shifting culture on traditional beliefs and the very social fabric on a city (Neuman, 2006). Owing to these truths, it is critical that researchers ensure that their work contributes to an overall better understanding of the lifestyle changes that are taking place in the Arab world as a result of Western influence. This is not always possible to do via anthropological means due to the time and expense involved in such a study. As such, a systematic review is well posed to answer these important questions, in an effort to prove or disprove the hypothesis forming the basis for this project. Systematic reviews provide a mechanism by which previously completed research can be analysed to notice any trends in the area of cultural studies and to determine how, over time, the major cities in the Arab world are increasingly become homogenous with Western urban centres. In conducting research of this nature, it is important to establish a sense of urgency in responding to the research question. This is due to the reality that culture today is shifting at a rapid pace. In order to determine the changes that are occurring in cities such as Doha, Dubai, and Istanbul, it is therefore important to work quickly to determine certain benchmarks by which such changes can be observed. Through the conduction of a systematic review, an increased understand of the cultural phenomenon occurring around the world today can become observable to the larger population that is interested in learning how shifting cultural values are impact our way of life today. Data Collection A total of 9 different scholarly research articles were analysed to cover the scope of this systematic review. This enabled the researcher to determine certain common themes relation to the homogenisation of Western and Arab cities and how this increasingly globalisation is currently impacting life around the world. This review allowed for certain conclusions to be drawn, relative to the research question, that allowed for the formation of a plausible and reliable inference that the hypothesis is correct. Each of the articles reviewed point to a trend that Arab cities are largely embracing Western ideals and ways of life, and that this is perpetuated by the growing influence of global media, business, and fashion. No judgement is made as to whether or not this development is positive or negative, as that will need to be the focus of future research based endeavours. Analysis The consideration of how Western culture is impacting the major cities of the Arab world is not new, but the evidence of the matter is rapidly coming to the forefront of any discussion. To be sure, there are not really any statistics or empirical evidence that can support the extent to which Arab culture is being impact by the West, other than to illustrate the number of media reports dealing with Western values, or to count up the number of Western business establishments now operating throughout the region2. Rather, it is necessary to conduct more of a diagnostic analysis of the situation, which this systematic review has enabled the researcher to do. Throughout this process, certain positive and negative aspects of this phenomenon have come to the forefront of supporting the hypothesis. Globalisation today is much larger than just cultural studies and considerations. One must dissect the way in which Western cities are increasingly aligned with the social, economic, and political realities of daily life in Arab cities, such as Doha, Dubai, and Istanbul. Adjustments in these three areas are being made by residents of both Western and Arab cities today to better encapsulate their own culture, while embracing the culture of others. It is the latter that is the focus of this report, and the reason why the hypothesis formed at the outset of this study can be proven. Western culture, long considered to be dominant in terms of politics and economics, has gradually made its influence felt in the rest of the world3. This can be demonstrated in the reality that much of the Western world now embraces some form democratic rule, people of diverse religious beliefs are more readily accepted into mainstream culture, and Western establishments now dot the landscape of most Arab cities. This is creating, slowly over time, a global culture that is becoming increasingly homogeneous and is blurring the line between traditional beliefs and modern progressivism. Results To a great degree, the process of globalisation, and the connectivity exhibited between the Western and Arab worlds today, is creating a feeling amongst the peoples of the global community that cultural barriers should actually be removed. Naturally this has been met with much resistance, particularly in long held Arab cities such as Doha and Istanbul, because the traditional way of life is threatened. It may not be up to collective society to decide this matter, however, as cultural shifts occur in a tidal wave and are often difficult to stunt. As a result, a great deal of scholarly thought supports the opinion that globalisation does contribute to a massive transference of knowledge and education form one culture to another, but the effects overall are largely negative when taking into consideration the impact on traditional belief systems and human civilisation as a whole4. As such, when considering the impact that the Western world is having on Arab cities, conclusions are largely controversial and undecided at this time. It can be said that staunch nationalists within the Arab world consider themselves to be entrusted with the future of traditional beliefs and ways of life throughout the region. As such, these individuals largely condemn the growing globalisation that exists today. These conservative members of the community, and to a large degree the fundamentalists within Arab society, would argue their culture simply cannot adapt to Western ways of life. The two are simply not compatible with one another. If these individuals were to permit larger society to accept Western culture on the whole, then they would be condoning a degradation of their own culture and way of life, and they simply cannot permit that. With the growing influence of media, the Internet revolution, and shifting religious and cultural values, however, these individuals may not have any other choice in the future other than to step aside and find ways to assimilate the two cultures in a way that allows Arabs to hold onto their historical beliefs and traditions, while at the same time embracing the concept of globalisation. As research indicates, the verdict is still out on which path will ultimately be chosen, although all indications are that this homogenisation of culture has already begun and cannot realistically be stopped5. This systematic review reveals that the world now has the technological tools at is disposal that enables cultures to come closer together than at any other point in human history. As a result, many scholars support the idea that many cultures are actually being drained of their traditional identity and are becoming morphed into another and different culture all together. This is the fear of some in the Arab world, and they are fighting against it, yet there is little indication at this time that Arab culture on the surface is really being threatened in terms of suffering an eventual extinction. Nonetheless, the fear persists that Arab culture as we know is being redefined at the whim of Western culture and influence. The structure of culture is largely organic, which is to say that it is predicated on human thinking and intellect. This contributes the various traditions and activities that any one people group exhibits as a process of centuries of geographical and historical history. At this same time, the presence of similar cultures and ways of life can gradually be rewritten in the same way, over time, to the point that one culture is assimilated into another. When this occurs, cultures can be considered to be homogenous, which is exactly what many would argue is taking place in the major cities of the West when compared to the major cities of the Arab world6. There is a prevailing theory in existence today that the economic perspective and lifestyle supported by the West is mono directional in that the wealthy nation states of America, France, and England are exerting great industrial and political influencing on rapidly developing Arab states, such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The influence exerted in these countries is wide felt today, and not all of it is negative. The economic cooperation amongst the major cities of the world has created an economic expansion in various regions the likes of which has never been seen before7. It has provided individuals in both nations with a wider array of choices, from how they get access to news, to the clothes that wear, down to the food they eat the products they buy. This wider array of choices has deepened the respect amongst the peoples of the world and has enabled many to embrace new cultures and unique ways of thinking not accessible before this age of globalisation. While great differences remain, and there is a deepening religious divide in existence today, few can deny that the two cultures are coming closer together as the decades advance. The claim is also made in research that the rapid pace at which economic, technological, social, and political changes are taking place in the world is putting Arab culture in jeopardy at an alarming rate. There is the fear amongst many that one universal culture may eventually reign around the globe, while others view this as a positive development. This speaks directly to the issue of globalisation in the sense that people in the major cities of the world today are increasingly comfortable living in different surroundings and amongst people that have varying perspectives and ways of life. The reality is that the Arab world would likely wish that the roles were reversed and that they had a more prominent role in the shaping of Western culture, but their footprint can equally be seen in the West as well. There are a growing number of Arab families residing in the cities of New York, Paris, and London, and there is little denying that they are impacting the culture of the land as well. Discussion Those who support globalisation, including those in the Arab world that are growing increasingly accepting of the Western influence in global culture, taut the rapid advance of technological information existent in the world that has bought people of all walks of life together in a way never before seen in the context of human civilisation. This can be seen in various devices and applications, such as satellites, Internet, and social media that are allowing people from all over the world to connect instantaneously and on a continuous basis. Proponents of this process point out that Arab culture has largely been able to hold onto its traditional beliefs while still being to simultaneously embrace these new ways of life largely influenced by Western culture8. In essence, the Arab world is largely become acclimated to different beliefs and ways of the life in the West, learning to accept them, while still being able to maintain their own strongly held historical and religious beliefs that form the backbone of Arab culture. This homogenisation of culture is actually being magnified today by various global media outlets, many of which have satellite branches throughout the Arab world. This has given new stories, no matter where they happen, a truly global voice. Someone living in Doha can be just as familiar with what is happening in New York City as they are in their own hometown community. Over time, this has created a sense by which the people of one culture can begin to identify and sympathise with the people of another in a way that was never before possible prior to this modern day media revolution. The perceived technological superiority of the West has given it a truly global reach, and now the Arab world is embracing that same technology as well. Should this continue, and all indications are that it will, young people growing up today will be desensitised to the various cultures of the world, becoming more similar to individuals from various walks of life, thereby contributing to the rapid globalisation that are seeing taking place throughout the planet today9. Conclusion In summary, it is certainly apparent that the world around us is growing increasingly globally interconnected. It is no longer a stretch for one individual in one city to have multiple acquaintances, both personal and professional, in various cities around the globe. At the same time, there is a growing concern that the growing mega cities of the world are having such an impact on culture that society is gradually becoming more and more homogenous with each passing generation. This can be seen, for example, in the portrayal of Western society and the globalisation of the world community as seen through the eyes of the media. Al Jazeera News, BBD Arabia, and CNN Arabic are examples of media outlets that have propped up in recent years to portray an increasingly homogenous society. In addition, there are numerous restaurant franchises that used to be centrally located in only a few countries that have now gone truly global. Consider how McDonalds has morphed in the creation of a McArabia sandwich, and the reality the Kentucky Fried Chicken is now truly a global icon that can be seen in nearly any major city the globe over. Finally, clothing is representative of a global fashion industry that transcends geographical boundaries. Whereas much of the Middle East and the Arab world used to have their own form of traditional dress that transcended generations, Western clothing brands gradually crept into the landscape to the point that young people in cities such as Doha, Dubai and Istanbul do not look dissimilar from youth in any other major world city. The reality is that a judgement cannot yet be made whether or not this homogenisation of culture is positive or negative, but the study of how this cultural shift is affecting traditional and historical values is a worth while endeavour indeed. The hypothesis forming the basis for this study, however, is proven and further research should be conducted to determine the actualised impact that this issue will have on global culture moving forward. Bibliography Ardalan, K. “Globalization and Culture: Four Paradigmatic Views”. International Journal of Social Economics 36 no. 5/6 (2009): 513-534. Choi, Jung-Bong. “Gloalization and Culture”. Journal of Communication Inquiry 26 no. 4 (2012): 446-450. Doku, P. “Identity” Globalization, Culture, and Psychological Functioning”. International Journal of Human Sciences 8 (2011): 294-301. Lambek, Michael. “Religion, Globalization and Culture”. University of Toronto Quarterly 80 no. 2 (2011): 272. Leonard, Sean. “Progress Against the Law: The Key to the Globalization of Culture”. International Journal of Cultural Studies 8 no. 3 (2013): 281-305. Mathew, A. F. “Contextualizing Globalization and Culture”. Society and Management Review 3 no. 1 (2014): vii-xi. Mazzarella, William. “Culture, Globalization, Mediation”. Annual Review of Anthropology 33 (2014): 345-367. Prasad, Anshuman and Prasad, Phuhkala. “Mix, Flux, and Flows: The Globalization of Culture and its Implications for Management and Organizations”. Journal of Global Business Issues 1 no. 2 (2007): 11. Toloyan, K. “Communication and the Globalization of Culture: Beyond Tradition and Borders”. Choice 50 no. 10 (2013): 1762. 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