Theme 3: Culture and Community

Culture

A way of life, customs and beliefs of people in a particular conuntry.

Culture can be broken down into individual component parts, such as the clothing people wear
or their language. Each component is called a cultural trait. These are some cultural traits:

Language
Food
Clothing
Religion
Traditions

Globalisation

Is a term used to describe the increasing connectedness and interdependence of world cultures
and economies.

Economic Globalisation

Growing economic integration and interdependence of economies through intensified cross-

border movement of goods, services, technologies and capital.
Characteristics:
- Trade and business are more international than ever, with countries relying on imports and
exports.
- Multinational corporations (like Apple, McDonald's, and Nike) operate in many countries.
- Some argue that globalization boosts economies, while others say it increases inequality.

The KOF index

This is measured by looking the spread of ideas, images and people

Personal contact - international telephone calls/ media usage and tourism figures
Information flows - internet users per 1000 people and % of GDP of newspapers
Cultural proximity - eg # of mcdonalds and ikeas or numbers of languages
Numbers of imported and exported books
% of households with TV

Relative poverty

When households receive 50% less income than average median incomes

Americanisation

The imposition and adoption of US cultural traits and values at a global scale

Global Culture

A shared sense of belonging at the planetary scale that is demonstrated through common ways
of communicating, consuming media and food, dressing or beaving (including shared social
norms such as a commitment to upholding human right)

The KOF Index - Social/Cultural Factors

Personal contact - international telephone calls / media usage and tourism figures
Information flows: internet users per 1000 people and % GDP of Newspapers
Cultural Proximity: eg # of McDonalds and IKEAs / Number of languages spoken
Numbers of imported and exported books
% of households with TV

TCK

1. Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a term coined by US sociologist Ruth Hill Useem in the 1950s to
describe children who spend their formative years living in cultures different from their parents'
homeland.
2. TCKs exist in a kind of "third culture" that is a blend of their parents' culture and the cultures
they've lived in, which creates a distinctive worldview and personal identity
Westernisation

The imposition and adoption of a combination of European and North American cultural traits
and values at a global scale.

Relative poverty

A person's income is too low to maintain the average standard of living in their society.

Ethnicity

The shared identity of an ethnic group, which may be based on common ancestral roots or
cultural characteristics such as language, religion, diet or clothing

Forced Diffusion

When a culture arrives and imposes its culture traits (colonisation)

Indirect diffusion

when cultural ideas are spread through a middleman or even another culture. Technology, mass
media, and the internet are both playing a huge role in promoting this type of cultural diffusion.

Cultural diversity

The level of heterogeneity exhibited by a community in terms of ethnicity, religion, language, or

other defining cultural trait.
Cultures that lack diversity instead show homogeneity

Identity

An individual or society's sense of attachment to one or more places

INDIVIDUAL Ecological Footprint

The approximate area of land needed to provide a person with the resources needed to live and
to absorb their waste.

De Facto Globalization

The actual level of globalization based on real-world flows of trade, investment, information,
and people, regardless of policies or formal agreements.

De Jure Globalization

The level of globalization based on formal policies, agreements, and regulations that facilitate
international connections.

Direct diffusion

This occurs when two distinct cultures are very close together Over time, direct contact
between the two leads to an intermingling of the cultures

Global hectare

(gha) is a measurement unit for the ecological footprint of people or activities and the
biocapacity of the earth or its regions. This is a measure of how much we consume in terms of
land area

Cultural Globalisation

The rapid spread n exchange of ideas, attitudes, meaning, and values and cultural products
between different ppl in different places

The four dimensions of food security

availability, access, utilization, stability

Benefits of an ageing population

Social
- Traditional culture will be passed down from older citizens to the younger citizens, so the
nations history is preserved
- More employment opportunities
- Silver tourism
Economic
- Japanese Government saves money as they don't spend money on a high % of young
dependents
- Decrease in unemployment rate
- Silver tourism, old people have more time to pursue interests, benefiting Japan's economy
- Selling money for innovative engineering ideas
Environmental
- Older people are less likely to drive, and therefore will likely use public transport. This will
reduce CO2 emissions

Challenges of an ageing population

Social
- More strain on the healthcare system as older people are more likely to get ill/injured and are
generally more vulnerable
- Government would have to put more time and effort into the elderly which can slow down
develop in other areas
Economic
- Less tax payers which means tax will likely increase
- Less people contributing to the 'Pot of gold' in the country and therefore the GDP will struggle
to increase
- Puts more stress on economic workforce
Environmental
- As there are less people in the workforce, companies may shift towards more machine based
production. This could increase CO2 emissions.

Food Security
means that a household has "access to food of sufficient quantity and quality for a household
member at all times through socially acceptable ways"

Global Ecological Footprint

The impact of human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land
and water required to produce the goods consumed and to assimilate the wastes generated.

Absolute/Extreme poverty

Where a person does not have the minimum amount of income needed to meet the minimum
requirements for one or more basic living needs over an extended period of time.

The World Bank defines absolute/extreme poverty as living on less than $2.15 per day

Political Globalisation

Governments and international organizations (like the United Nations and World Trade
Organization) collaborate on global issues.
Some countries resist globalization to maintain national sovereignty.

Technological Globalisation

The internet, smartphones, and social media connect people worldwide.

News and information spread instantly, making global communication easier.

Environmental Impact of Globalisation

Globalization has both positive and negative effects on the environment.

It increases pollution and deforestation, but also helps spread awareness about climate change.

Economic and Political Aspirations

Citizens in emerging economies often see globalization as an opportunity for economic progress
and upward mobility.
Identifying as a global citizen can reflect optimism about global opportunities in education,
employment, and innovation.
Conversely, in wealthier industrialized nations like the U.S., U.K., and Germany, globalization has
been associated with job losses, wage stagnation, and economic inequality, leading to stronger
nationalistic sentiments.

Globalisation and Interconnectedness

Emerging economies, such as China, India, and Nigeria, have seen rapid economic growth and
increased integration into global markets.
With greater access to international trade, travel, and digital communication, people in these
countries feel more connected to the world.
The internet and social media have also exposed individuals to global issues, cultures, and
movements, reinforcing a sense of belonging beyond national borders.

GlobeScan poll

A global public opinion research program of evidence and insights that helps influential
organizations understand their material issues, societal trends, and public expectations.

Eg) The 2016 GlobeScan poll found that, for the first time in 15 years, a majority of people
worldwide identified more as global citizens than as citizens of their own country. This trend
was particularly strong in emerging economies such as Nigeria (73%), China (71%), Peru (70%),
and India (67%), while it was weaker in industrialized nations like Germany (31%), the U.S.
(32%), and the U.K. (34%).

Key findings include:

Younger people (18-34) were more likely to see themselves as global citizens.

The rise of global identification was linked to increasing interconnectedness, globalization, and
concerns over issues like climate change and migration.

Despite economic and political uncertainties, people in developing nations showed stronger
identification with global citizenship compared to wealthier countries.

The study suggested that attitudes toward global identity were shifting, particularly in regions
experiencing rapid change and development.
Political devolution

The transfer of power from a central government to subnational (e.g., state, regional, or local)
authorities

Veganism

Diet excluding all animal products.

How does the growth in the middle class impact on land use?

More land needed, cutting down of forests/expansion onto marginal land

More land is needed for transport infrastructure
Land acquisition in developing countries by transnational companies for food and minerals,
takes land from indigenous populations.
Land use for housing developments - Middle income groups have more money and aspirations
and want to live in their own houses / no longer need to live with their parents and this
increases the demand for housing which is built on land previously covered by trees

Emerging middle class characteristics

Economics: In the past vigorously accumulated capital & wealth. A stable middle class could
provide a massive boost for economies

This may have environmental impacts:

Negative - carbon based fuels will be in greater supply

Positive - environmental pressure for change comes from the middle classes - who may now be
in the majority

Political - Middle classes are believed to support democracy and progressive but moderate
political platforms.

Demographic Middle class families have fewer children which will slow population growth and
eventually lead to populations plateauing or dropping.

But eventually this will lead to an aging population - who will pay for your children’s pensions?
Global pattern

a recurring or widespread phenomenon that exists across the Earth, encompassing various
aspects like climate, development, urbanization, and even biological diversity. These patterns
can be observed in geographic distributions, trends, and inequalities that exist on a global scale.

Body Mass Index

BMI, body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is expressed in units of kg/m²

De Facto Globalization

The actual level of globalization based on real-world flows of trade, investment, information,
and people, regardless of policies or formal agreements.

De Jure Globalization

The level of globalization based on formal policies, agreements, and regulations that facilitate
international connections.

Social Globalization

The increase in day-to-day global communication/interaction due to new technologies in

communication technology. Each person is now connected to many people all over the world.

Political Globalization

the process by which political decisions and actions are becoming increasingly international

Economic Globalization

The spread of trade, transportation, and communication systems around the world in the
interests of promoting worldwide commerce

Ageing society
a global phenomenon characterized by a significant increase in the proportion of older people

Cultural Globalisation

Growing transmission of ideas, ideas, meanings and values around the world.

Fusion of cultures

the blending of different cultural elements to create a hybrid identity or a unique cultural
expression

Americanisation

The Imposition and adoption of US cultural traits and values at a global scale

Direct diffusion

Identity

An individual or society's sense of attachment to one or more places. This may be at the
country, religion, city or village scale. People may feel a sense of belonging to multiple places
due to their family history or because the differing loyalties or attachments that can operate at
the state level (for example, a sense of patriotism or nationalism) and local level (for example,
family 'roots' in a particular neighbourhood or support for a local sports team).

Aging society

one where the number of years people can expect to live after age 65 increases and fertility
rates decline to below replacement level, which is 2.1

Ethnicity
The shared identity of an ethnic group, which may be based on common ancestral roots or
cultural characteristics such as language, religion, diet or clothing.

Cultural diversity

The level of heterogeneity (difference) exhibited by a community in terms of ethnicity, religion,

language or other defining cultural traits. Cultures that lack diversity instead show homogeneity
(sameness)

Obesity

a disease in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially
have negative effects on health. having a body weight index over 30.

Global culture

A shared sense of belonging at the planetary scale that is demonstrated through common ways
of communicating, consuming media and food, dressing or behaving (including shared social
norms such as a commitment to upholding human rights)

Westernisation

The imposition and adoption of a combination of European and North American cultural traits
and values at a global scale

KOF Index

Measures three main dimensions of globalisation: economic, political and social, and nations
are ranked accordingly out of 100. Data is collected on more than 180 countries.

Food security
when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life

What is cultural diffusion?

The term used to describe the spread of cultural ideas from one place to another.

Population growth

the increase in the number of individuals within a population over a specific time period

Food insecurity

the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet
one's basic needs.

hyperglobalisation

The idea that a largely Westernised global culture is emerging as a result of cultural erosion in
different places.

relative poverty

the lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more

absolute/extreme poverty

A person who can not meet their basic needs: food, water, shelter, sanitation, education or
health care.
glocalisation

A term used to describe products or services that are distributed globally but which are
fashioned to appeal to the consumers in a local market.