Global Citizenship | Cultural change in emerging economies

Welcome to Culture and Community! Understanding Change

Hello future Global Citizens! This chapter can feel really big because it talks about how entire countries change, but don't worry—we're going to break it down.

We are focusing on how emerging economies (countries rapidly growing their wealth, like Brazil, India, or China) experience massive social shifts. When money changes, culture changes! Understanding these processes is vital for recognizing global inequality and identity debates.

What is an Emerging Economy? (A Quick Definition)

An Emerging Economy is a nation that is quickly moving from being a 'developing' country to a 'developed' country. They are seeing huge increases in industry, trade, and income.

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1. Changing Patterns of Wealth and Poverty

(Syllabus Point 9a)

When an economy grows rapidly, the distribution of that new wealth is rarely equal. This leads to complex cultural consequences.

The Growing Gap

The most significant cultural change linked to wealth is the creation of a wider gap between the rich and the poor, even within the same country.

• Urban vs. Rural Divide: Economic growth is often concentrated in major cities (urban centers). People who move to cities for jobs may rapidly increase their income, leading to a new, wealthy middle class.
• Left Behind: Those who remain in rural or remote areas may not benefit from the growth, or their traditional livelihoods (like farming) may become less profitable. This creates social tension.

The Rise of the Middle Class

The most defining feature of cultural change in emerging economies is the explosion of a new Middle Class.

• This group now has disposable income (money left over after paying for basic necessities like food and housing).
• This disposable income is the engine for the next cultural shift: consumption.

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2. Cultural Shifts Linked to Increased Consumption

(Syllabus Point 9b)

As income rises, people don't just buy essentials; they start buying things that define their status, identity, and lifestyle. This creates a shift towards a Consumer Culture.

A. Changes in Food Consumption

One of the most immediate cultural changes is what people eat.

• Shift from Staples: Traditional diets, often based on local grains (like rice or corn), vegetables, and seasonal produce, start to change.
• Increased Consumption of Western Foods: People consume more processed foods, meat, sugar, and dairy products (seen as symbols of wealth or a 'modern' lifestyle).
• Example: The widespread opening of fast-food chains like KFC or McDonald’s in countries like China or Vietnam caters directly to this new middle class.
• Cultural Impact: While offering variety, this shift can lead to health issues (like obesity or malnutrition due to poor diet) and puts pressure on local agricultural systems.

B. Changes in Media and Technology Consumption

Access to global media means local cultures are interacting directly with international trends.

• Global Entertainment: Services like Netflix, YouTube, and international music labels become widely accessible via smartphones and improved broadband.
• Adopting Global Fashion and Trends: Younger generations often adopt fashion, music, and language from the USA or South Korea (K-Pop), blending it with their own national style.
• Did you know? This easy access to global media helps standardize cultural expectations around the world—meaning a teenager in Rio de Janeiro might watch the same TV shows as a teenager in Seoul.

C. Increased Demand for Consumer Goods

The acquisition of specific goods becomes central to identity.

• Status Symbols: Items like smartphones, branded clothing, and cars are highly desired. Owning these goods signals success and modernity.
• Cultural Impact: This drives urbanization and industrialization, providing jobs, but also creating social pressure to 'keep up' with consumer trends.

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3. Issues Associated with Cultural Changes

(Syllabus Point 9c)

Cultural change brings amazing opportunities but also significant challenges related to identity, tradition, and the environment. We must look at both the positives and the negatives.

A. New Identities and Freedoms (The Positive Outcomes)

Economic development often brings social liberalization and new opportunities for personal expression.

When societies become more modern, people often gain:

1. Gender Equality: Women gain more educational and employment opportunities, leading to greater financial independence and freedom from strict traditional roles.
2. Individual Choice: Young people have more choice over their careers, partners, and lifestyles, rather than being strictly dictated by family or community elders.
3. New Identities: Citizens develop multiple identities—they might be a person from a specific tribe, a citizen of their nation, and a 'global citizen' who participates in online culture.

B. The Loss of Tradition (The Cultural Cost)

Rapid modernization can threaten local heritage, leading to sadness or resentment (which is often why resistance to global culture occurs).

• Language Decline: Younger generations may prioritize learning globally useful languages (like English or Chinese) over their local dialects, causing tradition and oral history to be lost.
• Weakening Community Bonds: Traditional practices (like extended family living or village festivals) may fade as people move to cities and adopt individualized, faster-paced lifestyles.
• Skills and Crafts: Handmade goods and traditional crafts may be replaced by cheaper, mass-produced factory goods, causing traditional skills to disappear.

C. Pressure on the Environment

Increased consumption puts huge stress on the planet, especially in large emerging economies.

1. Increased Pollution: More factories, cars, and energy use lead to greater air and water pollution in rapidly industrializing areas.
2. Resource Depletion: The demand for consumer goods requires more raw materials, putting pressure on resources like timber, water, and minerals.
3. Waste Management: The shift towards packaged foods and disposable goods creates massive challenges for waste and recycling infrastructure, which often cannot keep up with the rate of consumption.