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.

Japan and the Rise of the Idea of Race: The Meiji Era Fusion of Foreign and Domestic Constructions

Abstract: The notion of race, and notably the anxiety over the global hierarchy of the races alongside doubts about the capacity for survival of the Japanese ‘race ’, were a matter of unprecedented concern in Meiji era Japan. It was essentially a mere chance that the forced opening of Japan and the subsequent process of modernization carried out according to the Western model coincided with the rise of scientific racism in the West. Nonetheless, Japan had had its share of rudimental racial worldviews much earlier, including a certain degree of ethnographic knowledge of the Other and an indigenous sense of xenophobia. This chapter seeks to examine the interaction between the domestic and foreign views of race in Japan during the Meiji-era (1868–1912) and the way in which they amalgamated to form a national discourse surrounding self and the Other.

Ottoman military organization (1800–1918)

Abstract: The long nineteenth century was an age of reorganization for the Ottoman military. Many European and American observers at the time glorified this process as a reform that signified the “westernization” of the military. This attitude was reproduced in the twentieth century by scholars of Middle Eastern and Ottoman history in the context of “modernization.” In a rather Orientalist approach, they constructed a linear, progressive story about the so called modernization of Turkey, which seemed designed to justify the emergence of a secularist and westernist regime in postOttoman Turkey founded and monitored by praetorian generals. According to this version, lateOttoman history from the middle of the eighteenth century to the first quarter of the twentieth had represented a confrontation between the so-called reformist/progressive statesmen in favor of westernization and their conservative/traditionalist opponents. It was argued that as a consequence of successive defeats against non-Muslim/European forces the “progressive party” in the Ottoman bureaucracy had finally discovered Europe and came to believe that the state could be saved only if the Ottoman military was reorganized in the fashion of its non-Muslim adversaries. Keywords: nineteenth century; twentieth century; eurasia; military history

Evaluation of Iranian Contemporary Nationalist Historiography Characteristics

Abstract: Novel Iranian historiography is strongly influenced by the nationalist dialogue. It has had a great impact on redefining the new Iranian identity in the contemporary era. The Pahlavi regime (emerged in 1925) produced and used that way of thinking in a modern way and differently from previous traditional governments. This study will take a look at the emerging of the modern Iranian identity from a historical-analytical perspective and attempt to determine why the common nationalist thinking in most recent Iranian historic literature is dominant. It mentions the most significant characteristics of that party’s historiography. New Iranian historic literature, influenced by the nationalist dialogue, has characteristics such as modernization, racism, Islamophobia, westernization, and egotism.

Living in two worlds. Challenges facing Pacific communities: The case of Fijians in New Zealand

Abstract: Living in two worlds is an insider perspective of how indigenous Pacific Immigrant communities, in this specific case Fijian's living in New Zealand face the challenges of living two cultures in a developed country like New Zealand. The quest to hold on to one's indigenous culture while adapting to another, in order to survive the realities of everyday circumstances can be a complicated struggle. The main objective of this research was to collate and analyze information from Fijian families who migrated to New Zealand from 1970's to the mid 1980's with reference to the challenges they faced. In order to understand such constant struggles there are underlying questions and factors that should be considered. For example - why do people continue to be conservative about their cultural identities or how do they react to unfamiliar challenges in a multicultural society. Another could be - what influences have been seen in order for their children to recognize their indigenous identity. Comparable factors that will bring to other aspects of living in two worlds which would be considered were socio-economic issues, higher education, technological advancement, immigration policies, development constraints and quality of living standards. Fijians and other indigenous Pacific people have through the years gained the ultimate will to defend their cultural and traditional identity whilst living in a world of western values and culture. Coupled with this have been the complexities of holding on to the values of both worlds. As this project probed into these newly rediscovered stories about journeys to their new homeland filled with opportunities, capitalism or westernization had never withered their passion and dreams as Pacific people to better themselves. They also enjoyed the luxury of both worlds as conservators of Pacific cultures and exploiters of technological advancement filled with huge dreams, opportunities and better standards of living. Fijians have the smallest population of Pacific people in New Zealand when compared to Samoa, Tonga, and Cook Islanders. There were relatively small number of Fijians who arrived after the end of World War 2 and they were basically employed in farms, forestry work stations and industrial areas. Others were in New Zealand on government scholarships, training or internship and work experience programs. Most of these people returned home while a very small proportion stayed behind. In the early 1970's and 1980's there was also an influx of seasonal workers in the Central North Island areas including Hawkes Bay, Tokoroa and the Waikato region. Most people were recruited from the Pacific Islands including Fiji because of their hard working attitude and cheap labour margins. When their term was completed some decided to stay and work, eventually residing legally and permanently with their families. Another group of men came via Wellington by boat, destined to become maintenance and repair workers. (bound for maintenance and repair work and ) but were left…

Nationalism in Greece and Turkey: Modernity, Enlightenment, Westernization

Abstract: The emergence of the Greek and Turkish nationalist projects, although not contemporaneous, was the outcome of the rapid transformations experienced by the subjects of the Ottoman Empire at a time when European imperialist powers were expanding their spheres of influence and progressively incorporating the Ottoman territories in the modern European state system.1