Globalisation leads to cultural hybridity

Globalisation refers to the increasing interconnectedness of place; the world is becoming a global village. What happens in Middle East will have direct impacts on Singapore and other parts of world. The cultural referents used to construct our identities become less and less rotted in any one culture or nation alone, i.e. Identity, how we see ourselves, is affected by cultural influence of other places, that element may be part of our cultural components. Identity, under the impact of globalization is rather de-territorialized.

Formation of identities under globalization is influenced by:
1. The spread of global capitalism and consumerism
2. The advancements in technologies especially in communication and transportation.
3. The increasing migration, whereby individuals from different cultures some to interact more.

The cultural framework that shapes identities, under globalization therefore, is multiple. National boundaries of culture become blue.

Migrants often combine elements from different culture in order to construct culturally hybrid identities. The reasons behinds are complicated, but often, are out of necessity of being ethnical minority. They have to employ deliberate strategies to adopt other cultural environment, increasing their cultural capital in gain social acceptance and economic powers.

There are basic four types of cultural contact:

Assimilating: to adopt another culture. However, the total assimilation is rare and it may take many generations.

Differentiating: to asset one’s differences in relation to the other culture.
For example, Jian diamond traders HongKong, the unique professional and religious demand lead Jian diamond traders differentiating themselves.

Alternating: to use elements from both cultures by switching between them according to the situation.
e.g. Chinese migrants in Western countries celebrate Christmas, and celebrate Chinese New Year too.
e.g. Parsi traders, in relation to the British for business opportunity, switching back to Indian identity when facing limited mate selection.

Hybridizing: to combine elements from one culture with those of another to develop new cultural meaning.
e.g. Sassoon family, Bohra Muslim wear business suit without wool.

Globalization is not one way Westernization, but more likely to be a hybrid culture. Consumption on some culturally perceived western products are always under local context. Eg. McDonald, and movies.