Original scientific paper

Cultural Homogeneization and Diversity

Ivan Cifrić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Croatia

Abstract

There are diverse cultures in the world – cultural diversity, as well as the tendency of eradication of cultural diversity – cultural entropy. At the same time, the domination of modern (Western) culture – the culture of homogenization – is increasing. Cultural explosion was preceded by the Neolithic revolution, after which cultural implosion followed the industrial revolution.
Two theses are questioned in this paper: that cultural diversity is a value to humanity, and that homogenization of culture is an inevitable tendency in the cultural evolution of Homo sapiens. The main thesis of this paper is that there are two parallel processes of homogenization in post/ modernity: biotic homogenization and cultural homogenization.
We can empirically recognize both tendencies in the process of globalization. It is paradox that cultural diversity and biological diversity are protected while homogenization of culture and biotic homogenization are criticized, while at the same time, the global tendency of cultural implosion is continuing.
The results of an empirical research of opinions about cultural diversity perspectives in the world will be presented as the empirical foundation of the mentioned discourse. The topic of the research is the validation of cultural diversity, especially traditional and modern cultures. It was conducted on three groups of subjects: students of art, humanistic sciences and technical sciences. The results are analyzed regarding the fields of study, religiousness, political orientations and gender of the students.

Keywords

Culture; homogeneization; diversity; globalization; post/modernity

Hrčak ID:

30802

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/30802

Publication date:

23.7.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian french german

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