Throughout history, various civilizations have considered themselves the centre of the world, viewing their culture as the highest form of civilization and seeing others as barbaric. Their goal was often to “civilize” these others by imposing their values. This pattern continues today, particularly in Western societies and the Anglosphere, which see themselves as the originators and protectors of certain ideals, such as Enlightenment, European, or Western values. These values are often viewed as the peak of human achievement, with those who do not follow them seen as inferior. The justification for this view can lead to efforts to pressure or force other cultures into adopting these values, allowing continued economic control under the notion of cultural superiority.
Cultural conquest include:
Hollywood’s Global Reach: Hollywood’s influence spreads worldwide, affecting fashion, behaviour, and societal norms through its movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity culture.
The Spread of Fast Food: Global fast-food chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks reshape global eating habits, often pushing aside traditional foods and local businesses.
Language Dominance: English, promoted by the global influence of the UK and the USA, has become a dominant language in many countries, sidelining local languages, especially in professional and educational contexts.
Fashion Trends: Western fashion brands and styles dominate global markets, sometimes overshadowing local textile traditions and clothing practices.
Technology and Social Media: Innovations from Silicon Valley, including social media platforms, are used globally, shaping consumer habits, thoughts, and preferences, often promoting Western-centric content that drowns out local perspectives.
Western Education Systems: Many schools, colleges and universities worldwide follow curricula modelled after Western or European systems, placing less emphasis on local educational methods and potentially diminishing indigenous knowledge.
From our corner of the world in Naga society we can see evidence of each of these forms of cultural conquest. Cultural conquest is a type of domination where a powerful culture imposes its values, practices, or way of life on another society, often by changing or replacing parts of the local culture. It occurs when the culture of a supreme group spreads and begins to overshadow or replace the cultural norms of other regions or countries. This form of cultural dominance often results from economic, technological, or linguistic forces.
The concept of the “global village” has made the world more connected through media and electronic communication, making it easier to share information and interact globally. However, cultural conquest can have negative effects, eroding local cultures and values as dominant cultures take control. This can lead to a more homogeneous world culture, diluting the diversity and richness of individual cultural identities.
~ Thsachoba TS