Culture, orruption and Development - Essay Example

Culture, Сorruption and ВevelopmentCulture plays a vital role in our daily lives. Culture can be defined as a system that incorporates various ways or patterns of performing any act, leading a life or behaving in a certain manner (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). Culture can also be defined as a shared set of values identified by all members of the society (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). Every culture has some patterns and believes and people tend to be different with their respective cultures (White 1949).

Culture is created by means of people of a particular society. It is also said that culture plays a part in the development of a society or an individual (White 1949). Culture can be judged by means of religion, lifestyle, literature, music, foods, arts and architecture, language, fashions, behaviors, rituals and symbols employed by individuals of a society (Tyler 1974). The culture is shifted from generation to the other generation and keeps on changing (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). The topic, which interests me the most, is the association of culture to the development of society and individuals of a society.

Culture is an important part of our lives, which is responsible for shaping our personalities (Dabaghian 1970). It enables us to develop into the individuals as we are. People from different cultures are different because of the different social values that are there because of culture (Tyler 1974). With the help of culture, the development in a society can be judged. With the passage of time, the culture of a society goes through various transactions that are the outcome of change in cultural values because of many reasons (Dabaghian 1970).

The reasons that can bring in a change in a culture are invasion of a country, impact of global linkage, colonialism and many others (Dabaghian 1970). The change is not necessarily good. The change brought by the intrusion of another culture keeps the ability to annihilate the cultural values of a particular culture or one culture can be amalgamated in another culture and can come out in form of a new culture (Agbaje 1996).While helping a nation in order to develop in terms of technology and advancement, it must be assured that the cultural values of a society are not corrupted because of the technologies (Agbaje 1996).

The culture should be retained as such in order to be different or unique. If we take the example of language, language of a country is the identification of that country such as English is the identification of English culture, French of French culture, Spanish of Spanish culture and so on. The language of a country should not be corrupted by foreign languages and the leaders of a nation should take essential steps in order to ensure that the language of a country is not damaged because of a foreign intrusion.

Therefore, I want to do some research in culture related development of a society because I consider that I have a profound liking for the role of culture on development. Culture is webbed with our lives and its participation in the development of our personalities cannot be negated. Works CitedAgbaje, A. Culture, corruption and development. Voices from Africa, 1996: 41-51. Dabaghian, J. Mirror of Man: Readings in Sociology and Literature. Canada: Little, Brown and Company Limited, 1970. Tylor, E.B. Primitive culture: researches into the development of mythology, philosophy, religion, art, and custom.

New York: Gordon Press, 1974. White, L. The Science of Culture: A study of man and civilization. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949. Kroeber, A. L. and Kluckhohn, C. Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. Cambridge, MA: Peabody Museum, 1952.