Westernization

About: Westernization is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1154 publications have been published within this topic receiving 15791 citations. The topic is also known as: occidentalization.

Central and Eastern European Sociology in the Post-Communist Era (1)

Abstract: Introduction: The History of Sociology in Central and Eastern Europe For a little more than a decade now, from the very beginning of the post-Communist era in Europe, we have been systematically investigating the transformations of sociology in Central and Eastern Europe. Our own approach has been a combination of the "emic" and "etic," insider's and outsider's observations. In the early 1990s, we began a research project on the history of sociology of the region from when the so-called "Khrushchev's thaw" started, 1956, to the beginnings of the post-1988 transformations. The results were published in the US (Keen and Mucha, eds., 1994), and in Poland (Mucha and Keen, eds., 1995). One of the "failures" of sociology of the region prior to the transformation is considered to be that it did not anticipate the collapse of the Communist system. One should bear in mind, however, the fact that political restrictions on the topics addressed and on the publication of findings were very strong (not everywhere and not always to the same extent). However, it is perhaps more interesting that the free Western political sciences and sociology did not anticipate this collapse. Two reservations seem to be necessary at this point. On the one hand, we are not dealing with comparisons between Western and Eastern European sociology, then and now, in this article. On the other hand, we are not of the opinion that sociology, and particularly macro-sociology is a "natural science" which could predict the future events. We know that only some trends can be extrapolated. What we mean by the "failure" to anticipate transformations is that the sociology of 1956-1989 was not able to recognize the tensions within the European Communist societies and their potential for radical social change. Many structural and often dramatic changes took place during this period. Some political units ceased to exist, i.e., the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, the "old" Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union. New nation-states emerged out of ruins of old ones, and even now the nation-building processes are not necessarily completed in the region. The futures of Bosnia Hercegovina, the "new" Yugoslavia (with Montenegro's aspiration to build the sovereign state, Serbia's Kosovo's being practically a UN protectorate), of Albania, Macedonia, and even of the Ukraine (with her strong divide between the Russian-speaking eastern part and the Ukrainian speaking western part) are not clear. Other dramatic changes have occurred within individual Eastern and Central European nations. Rapid and often superficial political liberalization and democratization, economic transformation in the direction of an increasing role of market mechanisms and free competition, as well as their consequences such as very high unemployment, the growing visibility of poverty; rapid Westernization (and particularly Americanization) of the popular culture, and a reappearance of ethnic tensions and overt ethnic conflicts, are only a few examples of what has emerged. One should also recognize changes resulting from the world's transformations: cultural and economic globalization with its positive and negative aspects, the Internet and the communication "revolution," and most recently the war against terrorism with all its ramifications, including new answers to the old dilemma "security versus freedom" and redefinition of some ethnic groups' struggle for sovereignty. Sociology in Central and Eastern Europe since 1989 In the year of 2000, we began a second project to investigate the achievements and failures of sociology in Central and Eastern Europe during the decade that has passed since the transformation (see; Mucha and Keen, eds., in print). In the new project, we asked our collaborators from sixteen countries of East-Central Europe to address the following questions: (1) was a "de-Communization" of sociology (for instance, liquidation of some sociological institutions identified with the "old system"; negative attitudes of the new sociological elites to the "old," Communist Party linked scholars; research problems which ceased to be central due to the systemic transformation; Marxism and its role as a theoretical-methodological orientation) an important issue in the internal politics of sociology? …

The Generals' Discontent:

Abstract: I N DECEMBER 1999, THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO TURKEY'S EVENTUAL membership. But Turkey's powerful generals, who favor nearly all possible alliances with the West, are apparently balking at the idea of taking this ultimate step in the process of Turkey's Westernization. The generals-usually known for upholding the principles of Atatiirk and the rapid Westernization process he embarked on in 1923-seem to be turning their faces away from the EU.

The Westernization Process in Ottoman Women's Garments: 18th Century∼20th Century

Abstract: In Ottoman society, which maintained its tradition of clothing without change for a long time, the transformation of its dressing styles occurred via a long and protracted process. Westernization in Ottoman society started in the 17th and 18th Centuries, accompanied by attempts at modernizing and/or westernizing of fabrics, patterns, and colors. Along with the decrees of the administrative reforms, a process of westernization was put into motion. Changes in military costumes were undertaken and these then had an impact on civil costumes and clothing. Westernization in women's attire underwent a slower process compared to that of men. Starting from the 17th Century till the formation of the Republic, women performed a silent but a decisive struggle relating to their concept of clothing. Westernization in a real sense for Turkish women came into practice in the era of the Republic of Turkey, founded by Kemal Ataturk. This study aims to discuss the process of westernization and the corresponding modi...

Political Culture and Development: Some Pervasive Themes in the Study of Indian Politics

Abstract: One of the most common themes in the literature on political development is the assumption of an elite—mass gap based on differing educational, occupational, income and social class backgrounds. The saliency of such differences are presumed to be more important in developing than developed nations because of an overlay of Westernization to be found in the elite sectors and a strong traditional orientation among the masses, particularly the rural masses. Urban dwellers are often thought of as residing in a transitional limbo between the old and the new, between a disintegrating traditional self-identity and an emerging modern one.

SPACE AND MEANING CHANGE IN URBANIZATION AND MODERNIZATION PROCESS: An Urban Park in the First Capital of the Ottoman Empire

Abstract: The foundations of Westernization Movement in Turkey were laid in late Ottoman Empire. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the proclamation of the republic, urban space became highly important and modernist architects from the west planned a large number of Turkish cities. The concept of urban park was introduced and parks became significant components of modern life in this period. Bursa, too, was influenced by this movement; it was planned by western planners and an urban park was built. However, the meaning of urban parks within the ideal of modern life in Turkey and in Bursa has changed over time. This study is based on urban development periods in Turkey and it presents the change Bursa Kulturpark in Bursa, the early modern city of Turkey, underwent during the process from modernization to globalization.