Cultural Defence and Cultural Transition

What is Religion as a Cultural Defence?

• Globalisation can be seen to have increased secularisation by some sociologists

• Migration and spread of global cultures have been cited as reasons for secularisation

• However, the process of globalisation can increase religiosity

• Bruce argues that religious belief has been maintained in some areas

• Cultural defence - protection against external influences on culture and identity

• Cultural transition - providing a form of integration for migrants

Steve Bruce:

• Cultural Defence: Religion provides a focal point for national identity

• Cultural Transition: Religion provides a sense of community for immigrants

Cultural Defence:

• Spread of capitalism throughout the world has led to the imposition of Western values - cultural imperialism

• Resistance to these values is demonstrated through renewal of faith as a reaction to changing norms and values

• The growth of fundamentalism as globalisation increased

Cultural Transition:

• The movement to the West is a characteristic of globalisation

• Religious communities help individuals to settle in new home

• Sense of identity and community for migrants to Western nations

Evaluation:

• Growth of non-Christian religions in the UK as globalisation increased

• The rise of Catholicism in Poland before the fall of communism and its decline thereafter

• Rise of fundamentalism in areas affected by rapid investment of TNCs - e.g. Iran, Iraq