- Identify at least two separate examples of native non-Western cultures that have been impacted by globalization.
Two separate examples of native non Western cultures that have been impacted by western globalization are one religious practice of Amerindians in West Indies after Columbus discovered the new world and attempts at Christianizing the Indians were made. Another example is the American Indians and their health care practices, which were emerced into American health care system (Hoxie, 1996).
- Describe in detail what the circumstances were within each of these cultures both prior to the transformative event and after it.
Christopher Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, when he and his crew landed in Hispaniola. There they met the Caribs and Arawaks who were described as very friendly and polite people. By his second voyage after returning from Spain Columbus realized the wealth of the Indies and decided to exploit the land. The native religious practices of the Caribs and Arawaks embodied worshiping Zemis (Gods). The Indians designed carvings of their Gods who were worshiped for enhancing spiritual and social wellbeing (prosperity). Worship entailed drinking alcohol along with skin piercing during the rituals (Irving, 2010).
After the advent of westerners Columbus soon realized that European colonists were not suitable for the intense agricultural undertaking the Indies required. Consequently, an agreement was made with the King and Queen of Spain through the encomienda system to use the Indians for labor in the fields, but they must be Christianized as part of the coercion process to facilitate submission to the new culture, Ultimately the Caribs and Arawaks lost their traditional religious culture to perceived better principles embodied in Christianity (Rogozinski, 2000).
The American Indians’ territories were invaded by the founding fathers who sought to use their land for agricultural purposes to build revenue enriching United States of America. Traditionally they were described as living in hunter- gatherer societies, which meant that they had to become civilized/globalized to function in modern society. Hence, for Native American Indians the focus was on removing health traditions replacing them with practices considered modern in attempts to civilize and globalize these communities (King, 2010).
Remnants of this population are known as the Alaska Indians. They occupy a smallest portion of land within the United States of America geographic territory. Their Medical culture consisted of herbal medicine and spiritual practices as much traditional culture now considered primitive. Globalization invasion of their health care practices forced them to accept vaccinations and regular doctors’ visits, which still do not accept. Health care cost being a high as it is in United States of America in the twenty-first has deterred this group from accessing these services forced on them (King, 2010).
B. Analyze one of the examples from part A. Be sure to discuss the following questions:
1. What caused the influence?
Native American demise and destruction of culture within a territory owned by them for centuries was a design of the Europeans come to be known as the Founding fathers. They wanted to inhabit and control all 52 states within this territory. Importantly, these immigrant Europeans’ culture and interest in context of the founding fathers conflicted with those of Native American tribes. The mightier force won. After bloody wars Native Americans were for driven off their land and isolated within territories Europeans felt they could occupy. Along with these ruthless subjugation strategies Native Americans were forced to take medicine, being classified as infectious (King, 2010).
Currently, Native Americans do not trust the American health care system. They contend that it is designed to extinguish the remaining tribes which are still alive. Consequently, despite measures/laws instituted under the guise of preserving or protecting the species so far there has been immense failure in convincing Native Americans that they are loved and respective by the political administration and health care system (King, 2010).
- Was it direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional, and positive or negative?
Clearly the interventions had a direct impact on this society. Native Americans had to escape from their reservations into safety and hid from American/European invasions. Many of them were shot in cold blooded murder when they resisted giving up their land. History describes the American Revolution as a bloody battle. The battled was focused on forcing Native Americans off their land murdering them if they did not move. When considering these inhumane events culture destruction could be evaluated as intentional and very negative for the Native Indians. However, it was positive for American Founding fathers, who subsequently declared American independence. Today attempts are made to reconcile difference with Native Americans very little success (King, 2010).
- What was the native, non-Western society’s response to the influence?
Obvious responses are that Native American Indians do not communicate with the social structure. Health care is not accepted by Native American Indians because they do not trust American policies based on experiences with the American Revolution. They use doctors trained in herbal medicines and live isolated on a reservation outside of Alaska (King, 2010).
References
Hoxie, E. (1996). Encyclopedia of North American Indians. Houghton Mifflin press
Irving, R (2010). The Tainos. Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus.
Houghton Mufflin. Press.
King, R. (2010). People on the Move: An Atlas of Migration. Berkeley, Los Angeles:
Rogozinski, J. (2000). A Brief History of the Caribbean. London: Penguin.
