Question

The definition of development reflects the notion that Westernisation is the only worthwhile and desirable direction development should take

Answer 1

In economic terms, development has been understood as achieving sustainable rates of growth of income pa capita to enable the nation to expand its output faster than the population.This definition fails to take into consideration problems of poverty, discrimination, unemployment and income distribution; the assumption being that increased output or economic growth would deal with these issues. In sociological terms, the term ‘development’ is used ( often by Western sociologists) to mean industrialization, economic growth and the living standards associated with prosperity, such as increased life expectancy, health-care, free education, etc. Those countries that have not yet achieved these objectives are said to be ‘undeveloped’ and are often termed ‘less developed countries’ (LDCs).

This definition of development is both loaded and ethnocentric – it reflects the view that Westernisation is the only worthwhile and desirable direction development should take. Not all sociologists agree with this definition of development. For example, some regard liberation from oppression as more important to progress than industrialisation. Others regard industrial development as a problem if it means increasing social and economic divisions within a country.

Westernization has been an increasing influence on the world community for several decades now. It includes adopting the western culture over one’s culture. This may penetrate all spheres of life such as food, music, law, political structure etc. Many people have equated westernization to modernization.

Blind adoption of western systems and practices can have dangerous impact on the social and political systems of the country. As can be seen, India is struggling with providing health care, the world with high environment damage. The world needs to modernize based on sound science and not based on western values only. Even in India, we are adopting western value systems. Kerala had recently imposed Fat tax on some food items to change food habits to healthy ones. We are grappling with the problems like breaking joint family system, individualism and consumerism.

India needs to modernize itself and westernize the country. Our social and political systems have evolved over centuries since Vedic times. We are a country with much higher diversity than western world in terms of religion, culture, language and ethnicity. Western world does not have such diversity and thus their systems are different and may not applicable in Indian scenario.