The notion of culture has always involved a sense of belonging and involvement - a collective movement of people and/or ideas. It has defined people by their differing ethnicities, religions, foods and traditions. However, has the spread of Globalisation inhibited the cultural flows? Has it diluted the unique cultures of the world through infiltration of outside values, products or beliefs?
As observed in previous posts, Globalisation has broken down the borders of nation-states, weakening the power of governments in the process. We now exist in a society that isn't defined by one specific culture, more a mix or 'melting pot' of ethnicities (Bruekner & Smirnov, 2007) that contribute elements of their specific culture.
While we define those who belong to a certain culture as belonging to a collective or group, we are now seeing a difference in those individuals and the way they belong to their specific cultures. As dictated by Globalisation, it has given rise to what I call the 'Collective Individual', a person who may belong to a certain cultural collective, but retaining individual traits that may not have been previously present in generations gone by. These individual traits may have been absorbed by the ethnic 'melting pot' that is prevalent in that individuals society, a unique mix that separates them from others members of their cultural collective. An interesting concept.
Reference List
Brueckner, J, & Smirnov, O 2007, 'WORKINGS OF THE MELTING POT: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE EVOLUTION OF POPULATION ATTRIBUTES', Journal Of Regional Science, 47, 2, pp. 209-228, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 8 September 2012
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