How the East Has Created Opportunity In Adversity for Uniting And Reinforcing Its Community - Research Paper Example

HOW THE EAST HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY FOR UNITING AND REINFORCING ITS COMMUNITY Introduction One phenomenon that met the coming of the 21st century and for that matter the 3rd millennium was the talk of globalization. Through globalization, the world is now what we refer to as a global village, meaning that the world has become one in the way and manner in which there is exchange of information and movement of technical expertise and ideas across national borders (Zhang, 2013). Today, there is ability for a person to sit in Africa and shop in China through the power of the internet. This was however not the case some years back when the movement of goods and services were regulated with so much restrictions that made cross border movement unpleasant (Dowdy and Trood 57). One key effect that researchers have noted as having an express impact on globalization is the transfer of cultures across borders (Leffer 132). For example through mediums such as social media, broadcast television and the physical movement of people, there is that common transfer of cultural variables of different parts of the world into other cultures. Key among such transfer of cultures is the transmission of Western culture on the way of life of the East, particularly China and India. As the debate on the need for the East to have its own cultural identity protected, this paper looks critically at ways in which the East has currently created opportunity in adversity for uniting and reinforcing its community through the preservation of its indigenous cultures. The prevailing situation For some time now, writers such as Wang and Zhang have lamented the rate at which Western culture is having rapid influence on the Eastern community through the influx of lifestyles and traditions that were previously not part of life in the East. Some of the key areas of the Eastern community that have for some time suffered a takeover include in the areas of music, language, media practice, and general manners (Prakash 35). Using China as a case study, reference can be made of how it has now become a common practice in modern China to see schools take up and learn Western music as part of their integrated curriculum. What is more, reports have been made of the total abandoning of the indigenous Chinese music, which was otherwise expected to serve as the dynamic community identity of the people of China (Nicholls, 2013). In other countries of the East, there are prevailing influences of foreifn language in the core educational curriculum of their schools where native languages that used to be the lingua franca and medium of instruction no longer exit (Hyer, 43). There is also a prevailing situation characterized by total neglect for the core Eastern culture of manners and courtesy that was rooted in the type of family system that was practiced before (Zhang, 2013). In such countries, the nuclear family system has taken the place of extended family system and thus led to an individualistic society being created. Effect of Western influence on the East With multiple cases and instances of the overflow of Western culture in the East, particularly in areas of music studies in schools, debate has gone on as to what the possible effects and repercussions of the phenomenon could be for the East. In the opinion of some commentators, the effect has actually started already and is negative effects. Leffer (98) has for example stated that the East has currently lost its cultural identity, which could be nurtured into a very important economic competitive advantage for the region (Prakash 35). Indeed, there is sufficient evidence to back this claim, even though counter arguments exists. A typical evidence of this is the fact that when the East is able to consolidate its community through the preservation of its cultural entities, it would be in a position to brand most of its products and services as peculiar brands, that would have had trade patronage for the fact that it was unique to the East. A typical example of this is Africa, where cultural heritages have been transformed into economic productivity such as African wax prints, African arts, African literature, African music, and so on (Nicholls, 2013). in an opposite school of thought, Shenon has said that fusing Western community lifestyle with Eastern community lifestyle makes it easier for countries in the East, particularly China and India to have a socialized economic advantage, which ensures that people from the West are able to easily mingle with the East to make trade prospects flourishing (11). Consolidated efforts in reinforcing community There is enough evidence to the effect that countries in the Eastern world have come to accept the fact that the influences of Western culture in their community is having a telling effect on their social identity (Dowdy and Trood 65). To this end, there have been a number of consolidated efforts that have been taken to ensure that there is the creation of opportunities to preserve the Eastern identity. Because the Eastern world is dominated by Asian countries, most of the adversity for uniting and reinforcing their communities are rooted in Asian based associations and organizations. Through various interventions and programs, these groups have taken initiatives that are aimed at taking over the Eastern cultural heritage that was otherwise the symbolic representation of the people of the East but is no more. One of the frequently used mechanisms in their efforts to reinforcing the community is by advocating for the reformation of the educational curriculum of the East to reflect more of Eastern principles and cultures. The modus operandi of the groups has been to inculcate young people with the values and principles of their community so that as these young ones grow, they would appreciate the need to continue to be the pillar of defense of the values of the community (Shenon 11). Indeed, there has been other form of opportunities that the East has created in adversity for uniting and reinforcing its community. One of these is by coming out with a number of groups, organizations and agencies that gather the collective community identities of the larger East into a common forum or platform, where there can be a larger representation of the ideas and ideals of the East. This move has been praised as an important opportunity for uniting and reinforcing the Eastern community because it gives the East a stronger bargaining power and competitive urge when it comes to the exhibition of cultural heritage and social integration. For the sake of unity and as a way of getting a common voice for the defense of the community heritage of the East, these groups have been formed with elements from different Eastern settings, with most of them being dominated by countries in Asia as a continent. Examples of such associations and groups can be identified as Asian cultural association (ACA), Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion (FACP), Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), and South Asian Cultural Organization Saco (Saco) (Shenon 11). The focus of the groups have been to bring to the larger world, the previous value of the Eastern community and the qualities that the community has to offer (Khazaryan, 2013) Conclusion This paper has been a very useful academic exercise in identifying the state of the East in terms of the preservation of the values of its community, as rooted in the exhibition of Eastern culture. Generally, it has been realized that globalization has taken a very bad side of the East, whereby it has brought about a penetrated urge for cultures of non-Eastern origins to take dominion of the Eastern community. It can be concluded that as much as globalization and trans-cultural existence may have its own advantages and merits, these advantages can never be compared to the benefits that the East derives by holding on to its own cultural heritage, values and principles. The benefits are actually estimated to be diverse and take all forms of Eastern civilization including political importance, economic importance, social importance and environmental importance (Wang, 2013). It is not surprising therefore that various advocacy groups have showed up in a bid to help in the promotion and reinforcement of the East as a community. Cited Works Dowdy, Willaim L. and Trood, Robert B. The Indian Ocean, Perspectives on a Strategic Arena, New Delhi: Himalayan Books. 2007. Print. Hyer, Ernest, "The South China Sea Disputes: Implications of China's Earlier Territorial Settlements" Pacific Affairs 6.2 (September 2004): 43. Print. Khazaryan, Michelle. “Middle Eastern Artist shows different side of Electronic Dance Music.” Daily Trojan. 23 October 2013. Web. 7 Nov 2013. Leffer, Matilda, "Chinese Economic Reform and Security Policy, the South China Sea Convention" Survival 37.2, 2005. Print. 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