Westernization
Adopting Western ways
Westernization is the process by which societies adopt Western cultural practices, economic systems, or political institutions—typically those of Europe and North America.
The term appears frequently in historical and sociological discussions: Japan's rapid Westernization in the Meiji era transformed the nation.
It can be used neutrally or critically, depending on whether the speaker views the process as progress or cultural erosion. (Also spelled westernization, especially in British English.)
Adopting US cultural norms
- anglicizationAdapting to English conventions
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- acculturationAdopting another group's customs
- cultural imperialismDominant society imposing its ways
media · Hollywood · fast-food · fashion · consumerism · lifestyle · MTV · McDonald's
Extending dominion over others
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
- exploitationSelfish use of others
missionaries · commonwealth · conquistador · occupation · assimilation · hegemony · orientalism · post-colonialism
Philosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- democracyRule by the people
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
free-market · privatization · constitutionalism · pluralism · feminism · egalitarianism · human rights · rationalism
Transition to factory-based economy
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- secularizationReligion losing social significance
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
- telecommunicationElectronic distance communication
digitization · automation · technology · development · progress · rationalization · bureaucratization · professionalization
Adherence to inherited customs
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- indigenizationAdapting to native practices
authenticity · fundamentalism · localization · hybridization · syncretism · decolonization · cultural preservation · anti-imperialism
Americanization
Adopting US cultural norms
- anglicizationAdapting to English conventions
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- acculturationAdopting another group's customs
cultural imperialism · media · Hollywood · fast-food · fashion · consumerism · lifestyle · MTV · McDonald's · Coca-Cola
imperialism
Extending dominion over others
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
- decolonizationEnding imperial control
exploitation · missionaries · commonwealth · conquistador · occupation · assimilation · hegemony · orientalism · post-colonialism
liberalism
Philosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- democracyRule by the people
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
secularism · free-market · privatization · constitutionalism · pluralism · feminism · egalitarianism · human rights · rationalism · materialism
industrialization
Transition to factory-based economy
- urbanizationPopulation shift toward cities
- secularizationReligion losing social significance
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
telecommunication · digitization · automation · technology · development · progress · rationalization · bureaucratization · professionalization · standardization
traditionalism
Adherence to inherited customs
- nationalismDevotion to one's country
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- backlashStrong negative reaction
indigenization · authenticity · fundamentalism · localization · hybridization · syncretism · decolonization · cultural preservation · anti-imperialism · revivalism
- WestOccident, Europe, North America, United States, Canada
- globalizationglobalization, free trade, global village, global trade, multinationals
- cultural erasurecultural genocide, ethnocide, forced assimilation, cultural erasure, identity loss
- IranIran, Tehran, Isfahan, Persia, Shiraz
- Russian LiteratureTolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Pushkin, Nabokov
- reformsderegulation, privatising, agrarian reform, market reform, regulatory reform
WesternizationArabization
Imposing Arabic culture broadly
Russification · Africanization · Japanization · Islamization · Latinization
Westernizationcultural preservation
Protecting community traditions and artifacts
traditionalism · nativism · indigenization · localization · revivalism