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JA6. Culture and Globalization

Statement

  1. What are the most important cultural aspects of your country (name your country)? Think about typical food, language, traditions, music, art, dance or cinema.
  2. How has your country’s culture changed due to globalization? Be sure to describe some parallels between these changes and the American cultural influence spreading globally.

Answer

Introduction

Culture is the collective outcome of the minds of individuals, groups, and societies; it is the shared values, norms, customs, music, art, and traditions that distinguish one group from another. Globalization is the process that depicts the flow of people, financial resources, goods, and information between two places that are geographically or culturally distant (Hassi & Storti, 2012).

The text will discuss the Syrian culture; it will start by discussing the literature around the interaction between globalization and culture, then it will discuss the aspects of Syrian culture, and finally, it will discuss the effects of globalization on Syrian culture.

Interactions between Culture and Globalization

Globalization increased dramatically in the last few decades due to technological advancement, and with it, the interactions between cultures increased. Hassi and Storti (2012) such interaction can lead to one or more of three scenarios: heterogenization, homogenization, and hybridization.

Heterogenization refers to the diversity within a community; that is, different cultures do not mix except on the surface and multiple distinct subcultures emerge. Homogenization, on the other hand, refers to the creation of a global culture where all cultures become the same. Hybridization is a blend of heterogenization and homogenization, where cultures mix and adapt to each other; that is, a culture borrows from cultures that it interacts with.

Aspects of Syrian Culture

The Syrian culture is conservative in nature; with the family being at the center; family does not mean the immediate family but it may expand to include more from the bloodline, up to the tribes in some parts of the country. Respecting the elderly and social hierarchy where all decisions are made by the eldest and younger generations are expected to consider their consultation.

Diversity is another key in the Syrian culture, with many religions, races, languages, and thought schools coexisted together for thousands of years that blended to create a unique culture that is somewhat close to nearby cultures but still distinct. The official language is Arabic, but many other languages are spoken in the country such as Kurdish, Armenian, and Turkish; although on a smaller scale (Irvine et al., 2024).

Syrian cuisine mixes Mediterranean and Turkish along with its original Levantine dishes; Most of the famous dishes such as Kibbeh, Hummus, and Shawarma are shared with many cuisines in the region. Art is selective in the culture; that is, there are some famous arts such as poetry and acting; and other less important arts such as painting and sculpture; the last century saw the rise of several great poets such as Nizar Qabbani and Adonis.

Music is a big part of the culture, but it is produced at a scale that makes it noticeable elsewhere; traditional music is still the most popular with every region having a theme of music that is played at weddings and other celebrations; Mujwiz in the south, Dabke in the west, and Qudud Halabiya in the north.

Effects of Globalization on Syrian Culture

Syria is one of the few countries that is closed to the world due to the authoritarian regime and lack of democracy and human rights. All of this led to the disinterest of the world to trade with the country and thus the isolation from other cultures. The elements of the global culture such as Americanization, McDonaldization, and other widely spread brands, music, and movies are not popular in Syria to the point they are almost non-existent.

With the internet and social media, Syrian youth started to interact with the global culture; American movies, music, and fashion are consumed on a narrow scale among millennials; however, global culture did not mix well with the Syrian culture; you are still expected to wear, speak, and act traditionally in public or when acting with older generations.

The limited interaction between Syrian and global culture took the heterogenization scenario; people who adopted the global culture live in a bubble separated from the rest of the society where traditional culture is still dominant. Youth who adopt the individualistic nature of the global culture are usually rejected by their families and communities.

Conclusion

For centuries, the national, historical, and economic barriers have limited the interaction between cultures. However, with the advancement of technology and the emergence of the globalized world, the interaction between cultures has increased, but such interaction still remains under-researched.

The Syrian culture is a unique blend of many cultures that coexisted for thousands of years; the culture is conservative and family-oriented. Globalization has minimal effects on the Syrian culture as the country is closed due to dictatorship and lack of democracy. The limited interaction between the Syrian and global cultures took the heterogenization scenario.

Word Count: 776.

References

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