3.6A: Cultural Diffusion

• Globalisation has spread a 'westernised' global culture which originates in North America and Europe. This is a culture based upon:


   

  • Wealth creation, earning money in order to buy consumer goods and high levels of consumption. 
  • Private enterprise, where people own business rather than the government owning them. 
  • Success, which is measured by how wealthy you are and how much 'stuff' you buy.
  • Fashion, technology and trends, which are important in western culture.
  • An attitude that the physical environment should be exploited for its natural resources to create wealth.
• Impacts on both the environment and people (Changing diets in Asia).

  • Western culture is viewed as having both positive and negative impacts
  • Spread of western diet (high fat, high sugar, fast food) is changing diets around the world, especially in Asia - spread of McDonald's, KFC and other fast food. Has been linked to rising obesity rates in many emerging countries.
  • Very wasteful in terms of resources - discarded fast food packaging and fashion items worn only once or twice - can be linked to deforestation and excessive water use in industry, as well as air and water pollution.
• China and the Paralympics

  Globalisation has promoted equality through the Paralympic Games. The games have caused the people of China to become more acceptant of people with differences e.g. disabled people.