Globalisation

Question 1

How have religious ideas contributed globally ?

Answer 1

1. role of hinduism in modernising Indian Socio-economics
2. The role of post-confucian values in creating the East Asian Tiger communities
3. the role of Pentecostalism in instilling a Protestant work ethic into Latin American culture

Question 2

The role of Hinduism in modernising Indian socio-economics

Answer 2

• Nanda (researched the impact of Hinduism in economic development)
• 20th Century saw the MC excelling in certain professional roles eg IT and Pharmaceuticals
• Unlike in secularisation theorists, the more prosperous Indians became, the more religious they were
• 2007 : found that MC Indians were more likely to express having a strong sense of religion than uneducated rural Indians
• MC remained devoutly religious because Hinduism adapted to keep up with modern beliefs
• Traditional taught = frugality and spirituality
• Contemporary = wealth and prosperity is a manifestation of divinity
• Gurus began to teach Hindus that they could spiritually balance themselves by spending fortunes on extravagant celebrations eg religious festivals
• Growing sense of pride has lead to Hindu ultra-nationalism eg seen as superior

Question 3

Role of post-confucianism in creating the East Asian Tiger economies

Answer 3

• Redding
• Mid 20th century Confucianism began to adjust its world view (China, Taiwan and South Korea) away from spirituality
• It became acceptable to pursue a hard work ethic and discipline as long as it led to self-improvement and further education
• Thought to be responsible for East Asian Tiger economies to grow in the latter half of the 20th century
• As EU deindustrialised, East Asian countries stepped up to fill the productivity gaps eg manufacturing clothes
• This has led to increased prosperity in countries like China who are now a significant nation in the global economic field

Question 4

The role of Pentecostalism in instilling a protestant work ethic into Latin American culture

Answer 4

• Berger (Latin America)
• Looks at home a person’s religious choices can make a difference in terms of success
• Traditionally many LA practiced Catholicism which encourages people to dedicate time to prayer and salvation
• 20th Century Pentecostalist missionaries from USA and EU began to travel and persuade people to convert
• Values wanted to spread = discipline and hard work
• Message was embraced and many people turned their backs on Catholicism
• Where Pentecostalism thrives, people are more likely to be economically successful

Question 5

Evaluation of the link between religion and economic development

Answer 5

• Religion and globalisation are closely linked
• Religion may not be the main factor in social change eg Britain had ties with India
• It varies based on the resources available to nations

Question 6

How has religion responded to globalisation ?

Answer 6

1. Globalisation has triggered a rise in religious fundamentalism
2. Religion has triggered many religious-based conflicts
3. Globalisation drives people to use religion as a form of cultural defence

Question 7

Globalisation has triggered a rise in fundamentalism

Answer 7

• Giddens
• Traditionalists who want to revert back to the very basic teachings of their faith
• Key characteristics of religious fundamentalists :
  1. Interpret sacred texts literally including politics and family
  2. us and them mentality where they look down on people not in their group
  3. Embrace the use of technology eg ISIS recruit on social media
  4. Tend to be Patriarchal in nature eg Christian New Right attack women accessing abortions
  5. tend to be conspiracy theorists who question everything about society

Question 8

Three reasons why religious fundamentalism is increasing in our ever globalised world

Answer 8

1. Fundamentalists dislike modernity as they feel threatened by modern ideas and feel the need to protect themselves, LGBT and family diversity is seen as an insult to their practices so they feel the need to lash out
2. Reaction to cosmopolitanism (forward thinking people who are tolerant who respect people’s right to be individuals), they are reflexive (constantly evaluate the world around them and fundamentalists adopt a resistance identity in which they fight back against it
3. religious fundamentalism is more common in monotheistic religions which are globally dominant as monotheistic religions are less tolerant and based around the authority of an all powerful, male god

Question 9

Criticisms of why religious fundamentalism is a product of modernity

Answer 9

1. Fundamentalists like ISIS effect everyone not just modern societies + most extremists are based in developing countries ]
2. Some fundamentalists embrace postmodern life eg technology and transport links + most mainstream religions reject Cosmopolitan ways of thinking
3. Although Christianity and Islam are monotheistic, there are internal divisions

Question 10

Globalisation has triggered many religious based conflicts

Answer 10

• Huntington : clash of civilisations theory
• heightened tensions between religious and cultural groups
• Civilisations includes peoples and countries who have a shared culture (eg Western civilisation is NZ, USA, EU etc) as they share values
• It causes incompatible nations to collide eg Western and Islamic civilisation (West is more developed as it has globally dominated but it is under threat from islam which has a barbaric character and the West has to fight against it)
• Islamic terrorism is deigned to destabilise the west in the hopes it can be dominant

Question 11

Evaluation pf globalisation has brought about a clash of civilisations between the West and Islam

Answer 11

• Religion isn’t always the cause of conflict between religions eg it can be culture
• It can be argued this is discriminatory against Islam

Question 12

Evaluation of globalisation drives people to use religion as a form of cultural defence

Answer 12

• Some raise concerns about the dominance of the Catholic Church in Poland eg it stifles the rights of women with lack of abortion
• Cultural defence process does more harm than good eg Iran has had long term tensions with the West

Question 13

Globalisation drives people to use religion as a form of cultural defence

Answer 13

• Bruce (religion serves to protect other aspects of culture from external threats)
• It was used in Poland after WW2 (placed under communist soviet rule) where Poland suffered poverty for 40 years, 1980s an ally between the Catholic church and trade movements was formed (funding provided etc) which then contributed to the fall of communism in Poland
• pre-1950 Iran had a traditional islamic way of life but in 1950s it was overthrown for a Pro-capitalist government which banned Islamic practice (eg dress) but in 1979, a religious cleric led and uprising and the Shah was overthrown and replaced (islamic traditions were restored)