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Alvina Parvez: Modernization Is Not Westernization




Westernization has managed to penetrate through various cultural spheres, worldwide

and its influence can be felt to a great extent. However, it has been observed that people

tend to use the terms modernization and westernization synonymously, which actually

differ greatly. Modernization refers to a progress from a ‘traditional’ society to a ‘modern’

one, and is based on scientific approaches. On the other hand, westernization refers to

the adoption of the culture and practices of western Europe. The fundamental difference

between modernization and westernization is that the former is indispensable but the

latter is not. Modernization is required to keep up with the rapidly progressing world of

the 21st century but westernization assists only in a negligible manner. Additionally, the

essence of modernization must also be present at a personal level. Modernization can

only occur when people modernize their thoughts, beliefs and way of living etc. In

contrast, westernization is primarily about external actions and manifestations.


The concerning issue regarding this is that majority of people perceive westernization as

modernization itself. They feel that through adopting western traditions, they will be able

to modernize their society. It must be noted that the flourishing of a civilization takes

place with the advancement of science and technology. Westernization has little to

nothing to do with modernization. Japan serves as an excellent example of this. Japan

retains the richness of its culture despite westernization. At the same time, Japan has

advanced greatly in the field of science and technology and today, it is a highly developed

nation. But we must also keep in mind that Japan made several attempts to westernize

itself and introduced great reforms to do so. From this, we can easily observe that most

nations were not spared from westernization.


Additionally, it must also be understood that the road to modernization does not entail

dressing a certain way or holding certain beliefs. It is exceedingly upsetting to observe

people who still believe that if they speak English and follow English etiquette, they will

become more civilized and modernized. Such perceptions were very common amongst

the citizens of countries colonized or imperialized by Europeans. Since the Industrial

Revolution began from Britain, and progressed through Europe and the US first, people

began to admire western culture. They assumed that if they followed western culture

and traditions, they would be able to industrialize and modernize their society. Owing to

this, Indians too, began to lose pride in their own culture. Therefore, during the Indian

Independence movement, any sort of industrial goods or traditions were boycotted. This

was not solely due to their British roots but also because any sort of industrialization or

modernization was seen as westernization. Despite that, Independent India never

entirely gave up on western ideas. The effects of the British colonization are visible even

today. Indians still wrongly believe that modernization is equivalent to westernization.

The notion that westernization is vital for modernization has proved to be immensely

detrimental. This idea has led to the unnecessary adoption of western practices and

values. As a result, it has begun to demeaning or even wiping out Indian customs and

sentiments. Hence, if we wish to preserve our culture, we must erase this notion from

our heads entirely and once more embrace the glory of our own way of living.



About the Author:


Alvina Parvez is an immensely motivated and dedicated student with an unmatched inclination towards efficient work. She has attained several accolades for her writing and extra-curricular endeavors. Alvina has also consistently scored top grades in all her academic years. She is keen to learn from new experiences and utilize her potential in different ways.

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