The debate on the role of culture in country’s economic and social development has been a contentious issue among contemporary critical thinkers and economists. With some supporting the role of culture in global economic development, others do not acknowledge the relationship between culture and economic development. In some societies, cultural beliefs and practices have proved influential in shaping the economic development trend while in other society, culture has limited role in their development. As defined, culture is society practices, norms, beliefs and myths that define members’ activities and the way of interaction.
In Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond attempted to describe some of the core factors that results to the society social, political, and economic development and sustainability (Diamond 7). Diamond who has been identified as one the renowned thinkers of late 1990s, offered detailed analysis and explanation on the Eurasian civilisation and the manner in which culture has less impact on its development. Diamond was a reputable professor in physiology and geography in the University of California. Being a geography professor in one of the world’s reputable academic institution Diamond attempted to explore some of the reasons why Eurasian civilisation conquered other civilisation in the late 20th century. In his book, Guns, Germs, and Steel Diamond disputed the allegations that the Eurasian hegemony was because of inherent genetic superiority, Eurasian morals or Eurasian intellectuals (Diamond 11). In his argument, Diamond failed to link the Eurasian civilisation with cultural believes and practices.
Diamond further claimed that the Eurasian civilisation could largely be attributed to the region attractive environment. In his observation, Diamond confirmed that the region had favourable geographical factors that supported agricultural activities and trade both within the region and between the region and players in other parts of the .world. In addition, diamond linked the existing gap between technology and power among different societies with environmental differences. In the situation where culture beliefs and cultural practices favour technological development, these advantages occur because of geographical influence in the region. In trying to define technological development in a specific society, Diamond defines technological development as the adoption of innovative ideas in a society that results to social and economic development.
According to his intensive and detailed researches and evaluation on the development trend of Eurasian civilisation, Diamond claimed that the manageable population size played a critical in facilitating the development of the region (Diamond 13). Initially, the region development was largely hindered by its huge and unmanageable population. However, after the outbreak of Eurasian disease that did not have cure, the population of the region was significantly reduced. The reduction in the number of population in the region made it easier for the authority to manage the region development. The reduced cost of managing the limited population has led to the construction of many infrastructures that supported imperialism in the region. Based on this argument, it is therefore clear that culture did not have any influence in supporting the region’s economic, social, and political development. Instead, other natural factors such as diseases played a noticeable role in facilitating the region growth and development.
Furthermore, in the book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond asserts that Eurasian civilisation is not a product of ingenuity but a product of necessity and opportunity. The region leaders and other critical players did not rely on the region culture to facilitate their development but they used emerging opportunity to support their economic and social development (Diamond 54). This can be explained by the manner in which the region leaders took the advantage of reduced population to develop both economic infrastructures and social infrastructures. The authority also educated the public on the importance of having small and manageable families as opposed to huge families as proposed by their cultural myths and beliefs.
In his book, Diamond also claimed that civilisation especially in modern society is not a creation of superior intelligence but it is a result of chain growth and development. In the case of Eurasian civilisation, reduction in the number of the region population led to the development of economic infrastructures. The development of infrastructures on the other hand led to imperialism that resulted to its current economic progress. In defending the role of geographical factors in supporting Eurasian civilisation, Diamond claimed that environmental traits, favourable climatic conditions, and other geographic features are some of the factors that resulted into the regional agricultural development (Diamond 204). Contrary to the region culture that did not favour agricultural activities, favourable environment factors were critical in defining the region agricultural development trend.
Furthermore, Diamond claimed that stable agricultural activities in the region ultimately led to immunity to some of the health challenges that threatened agricultural activities in the region. Following agricultural stability, the regional agricultural produce attracted huge number of investors who were interests in investing in the region thus increasing the region economic progress and development.
It is apparent that the movement from outdated cultural practices played a critical role in facilitating the Eurasian civilisation. The movement from the culturally acceptable nomadic, hunting, and gathering way of life into modern profitable agrarian was useful in supporting the region agricultural development. Some of the factors that supported the movement of agriculture in the region from nomadic way of life to modern agrarian included the availability of protein vegetable that could be stored for a long period of time, a favourable environmental condition that favoured storage of food products, and availability of animals that could be domesticated. A good number of the newly introduced animals also had the capability of surviving in different environmental conditions.
Moreover, contrary to traditional means of pest control mechanism, the new system led to significant reduction in pest and insects in crop production that resulted to food surpluses. The production of surplus food in the region helped people to specialise in specific trade that met their areas of interests. The combination of specialisation and infrastructural development resulted to the accumulation of technological and social innovations in the region. Increase in food production on the other hand led to population increase that resulted to the emergence of a ruling class that supported bureaucracy. The development of bureaucracy led to the introduction and execution of the Eurasian state.
In reference to the concepts learned in the class and the arguments raised by Diamond in his book, it is clear that although culture has a role in enhancing state and regional development, other factors has critical role in shaping regional economic and social growth. As stated by Diamond in his writing, instead of supporting regional development, some cultural practices detrimentally affected the Eurasian civilisation. The introduction of new ideas and geographical factors were therefore some of the key players that led to the emergence and development of Eurasian civilisation. Therefore, the understandings of some of the factors that result to economic and social development are incredibly useful in supporting regional and state development.
Work Cited
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. Print
