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CHAPTER 3: EFFECT OF GLOBALISATION ON INDIAN SOCIETY
Introduction
● Globalization is the free movement of goods, services and people across the world in a
seamless and integrated manner.
● Globalization is based on the principle of universalism as against protectionism.
● R.G. Harris defines globalization as an economic process. It is guided by the rationale of
capitalist which calls for the free market, free competition and survival of the fittest.
● According to Thomas Friedman globalization is ‘that loose combination of free trade agreements,
the Internet and the integration of financial markets that is erasing borders and uniting the world
into a single, lucrative, but brutally competitive marketplace’.
Background
In Ancient time: Some scholars point out that the origins of the history of globalization can be traced
back to the ancient civilizations. Example of the earliest forms of globalization is the trade links between
the Sumerian civilization and the Indus Valley Civilization. In fact, after this age, there are numerous
instances where trade links were established between various countries like India, Egypt, Greece, and the
Roman Empire and so on. There were regular business links between the Parthian Empire, the Roman
Empire, and the Han Dynasty. The popularity of trade relations led to the development of various trade
routes like the Silk Road and so on.
In medieval age: The Islamic period in the medieval era is an important epoch in the history of
globalization. This was when the Jewish and the Muslim traders started going to various parts of the
world to sell various items. It was in this period that Africa and Eurasia engaged in the cultural and
economic exchange between them. Gradually, this led to the growth of colonies in various parts of Africa,
Asia, and Latin America.
Globalization between the pre-modern periods to the modern period: The industrial revolution in the
19th century was one of the major periods in the history of globalization. Due to the industrial revolution,
there was a significant increase in the quantity and quality of the products. This led to higher exports and
better trade and business relations.
Globalization in the modern era: Globalization, in the modern sense of the term, came into existence
after the Second World War. One of the main factors for this was the plan by the world leaders to break
down the borders for fostering trade relations between nations. In India globalization started with the
opening of the Indian economy in 1991.
Features of globalization
Globalization is difficult to capture conceptually, because of its complex phenomenon which touches
many aspects of society. “Although globalization is associated with big systems such as the world
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financial market, production and trade, and telecommunications, our focus area will be on
Multiculturalism, Monoculturalism, and Melting Pot. These three are discussed below:
● Monoculturalism: Here the immigrant is expected to assimilate with the national culture, in
such countries the idea of cultural and national are conflated. Many Europeans nations thought
on this lines, except the UK for a long time but in the recent decades, some of this philosophy is
under dilution because of the actual presence of many immigrants who differ from them
substantially-racially, ethnically and culturally. In today’s context, many countries are
following the protectionist policy and diluting this philosophy of Monoculturalism.
● Melting Pot: In the United States the traditional view has been one of a melting pot where all the
immigrant cultures are mixed and amalgamated without state intervention. However, many states
have different language policies within the union.
● Multiculturalism: In comparison to the above two approaches, multiculturalism is a view, or
policy, that immigrants, and others, should preserve their cultures with the different cultures
interacting peacefully within one nation. Today, this is the official policy of Canada, Australia,
and the UK. Multiculturalism has been described as preserving a “cultural mosaic” of separate
ethnic groups and is contrasted to a “melting pot” that mixes them. This has also been described
as the “salad bowl” model.
The impact of globalization on Indian society
Globalization is an important development that changed deeply India’s modern history. It is seen that in
the era of globalization India face huge changes in their social, economic and cultural ways, and it is
obvious that globalization comes into our society with new concepts and values and they carry new
problems and perspectives. Fragmentation of the traditional Indian family network is leading to an
erosion of the available support within the immediate and extended family. The impacts have been
discussed below:
Effects of globalization on the family system: The effects of globalization can be positive or negative
and these effects are discussed below:
● Positive Effects of globalization:
○ The position of women in the family improved and promoted gender equality.
○ There is an Increase in Women workforce in White Collar jobs, thus contributing to GDP
growth.
○ Increased internet penetration has created a robust knowledge ecosystem for learning
anything, anytime, and anywhere.
○ Improved healthcare facilities for elderly people.
○ Reduced orthodox belief and some social evils like Child marriage.
● Negative Effects of globalization:
○ Globalization has increased Nuclearization of Families. Nuclear Families, characterized by
individuality, independence, and desire for privacy are gradually replacing the joint
family.
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○ The institution of marriage is breaking down at a fast rate.
○ Children becoming more addicted to mobile / gaming systems and sometimes committing
suicides like in Blue Whale Challenge than playing outdoor games
○ Women employment increased the importance of the nanny system, so children in early
age are deprived of parental care.
○ Due to an Increase in the cost of living in cities, people send their old parents to the
old-age homes and show less respect for dependent parents like in Movie "Baghban".
○ The concept of the head of the family is deteriorating and importance is given to
breadwinners.
Effects of Globalization on the Education system
Globalization has a close relationship with education. As education has an important place in shaping
society, globalization has to be connected with education and global activities have a deep impact on it.
Some of the positive and negative effects of globalization on education system are as follows:
● Positive Effects of globalization:
○ Globalization will be helpful in making the obsolete education systems up-to-date.
○ Globalization promotes assimilation of Knowledge of the latest events, technologies, facts,
developments, and discoveries which is very much essential for the development of any
society.
○ Due to globalization universities and institutions of the developed countries will be
offering their knowledge to the less developed countries.
○ Globalization promotes new tools and techniques such as E-learning, Flexible learning,
Distance Education Programs, and Overseas training.
● Negative Effects of globalization:
○ The worst impact of globalization on education can be seen in the rapid
commercialization of education and over-emphasis on market-oriented courses.
○ Due to the globalized education, Social Sciences and Humanities has been
undermined, which have a detrimental effect on society.
○ Globalized education system prepares the students to earn their livings, rather than
focussing on the development of mental horizons and personalities of the students.
○ Educational institutions are putting more and more emphasis on courses which create
skills for the market. The social, cultural, political, traditional and moral education is
being neglected and being termed as irrelevant and obsolete.
Effects of Globalization on Religion
Globalization brings a culture of pluralism, meaning religions “with overlapping but distinctive ethics and
interests” interact with one another. Essentially, India’s leading religious traditions—Hinduism,
Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam—teach values such as human dignity, equality, freedom, peace, and
solidarity. Therefore, through such religious values, globalization engenders greater religious tolerance in
such areas as politics, economics, and society. India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the
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world, with some of the most deeply religious societies and cultures. Religion still plays a central and
definitive role in the life of most of its people. Some of the positive and negative effects of globalization are
as follows:
● Positive Effects of globalization:
○ Globalization allows for religions previously isolated from one another to now have
regular and unavoidable contact.
○ Religions must use the communication easily available through advanced technology to
focus more on the humane and pluralistic forms of their teachings—values such as
human dignity and human freedom.
○ All religions have to at least some extent have changed their rigid and somewhat
inhumane rituals, giving much more importance to the rituals beneficial for everyone.
○ It has increased the level of tolerance among various religions. Followers of different
religions are living side by side respecting the religious traditions of each other.
● Negative Effects of globalization:
○ Globalization disrupts the traditions and customs of people.
○ Globalization breaks down traditional communities and replaces them with larger,
impersonal organizations.
○ In an era of globalization, organizations set universal standards upon all members,
causing individuals to believe that they are not fairly represented.
○ Due to globalization, collective identity is reduced to a number of cultural religious
characteristics.
○ Globalisation also makes religious affinity stronger in comparison to national affinity.
Many religions follow their religious leaders sitting in another country without giving it
much thought that would it be harmful for nation or not.
Effects of globalization on Agriculture
Agricultural Sector is the mainstay of the rural Indian economy around which socio-economic privileges
and deprivations revolve and any change in its structure is likely to have a corresponding impact on the
existing pattern of Social equity. Globalisation has opened up doors of Indian economy, consequently
agriculture sector has undergone massive changes. Some of the positive and negative impacts of
globalisations on agriculture are as follows-
❏ Positive Effects of globalisation on agriculture
● With globalization farmers were encouraged to shift from traditional crops to export- oriented
‘cash crops’ such as cotton and tobacco. This shift has generated more income to farmers.
● India has been experiencing the increase in the production of food-grains particularly after the
inception of new agricultural strategy (i.e., Green revolution) and adoption of new technology and
internationally best agriculture practices.
● Another important emerging trend of agriculture due to globalisation is the increasing volume of
agricultural exports. Agricultural exports are playing an important role in expanding economic
activities along with generating employment opportunities.
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● Globalisation has made ample scope for the development and expansion of food processing
industry in India by new market for processed food as well as attracting Foreign Direct
Investment in this sector.
● Globalisation has encouraged the concrete of corporate and contract farming which have helped
farmers.
❏ Negative Effects of globalisation on Agriculture
● Under the Special Economic Zones Act of 2005, land has been taken over by the government for
commercial and industrial purposes. Most of the acquired land is fertile for non-agricultural
purposes
● Cash crop demand increases farmer’s focus on these crops. But demand and price of these crops
may fluctuate. This have major implication when farmer deviate from food crops. This have issues
for countries food security.
● Globalisation has shifted public discourse from agriculture sector to industrial sector, this has
caused low investment in agriculture leading to agrarian distress.
● Globalisation has facilitated practice of Contract farming and Corporate farming as possible
solutions to problems of Indian Agriculture. But the small sized, fragmented, landholdings and
lack of competitiveness of agricultural produce are main reasons for eroding profitability of the
agricultural sector.
● Limit on global subsidies by WTO and non-discriminatory approach to be followed has made
many crops economically non-viable.
Effects of globalization on children
Most of the children live in nuclear families where they have a very weak connection with their kins and
relatives and at present, they might not have enjoyed the company of their neighbors due to modern
urban settings and hectic daily routine. So they are very much influenced by mass behavior represented
in mass media through television, newspaper, movies, social networking site. Some important effects are
as follows:
● Positive Effects of globalization:
○ Due to the globalization, children were more aware of the world happening and this is
creating more avenues for learning, jobs and other amenities in life.
○ Due to the globalization Children are now more open to pursuing their studies in foreign
lands than ever before.
○ Due to the globalisation, many foreign universities are opening colleges in India, thereby
promoting foreign education more accessible and affordable in India.
○ Indian children are now more future ready, they are much more exposed to the latest
developments in the world.
● Negative Effects of globalization:
○ Due to the spread of technology children spend most of their time on gadget and online,
cutting them off of the real world. It makes them physically, mentally and emotionally
weak.
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○ Due to the effect of foreign movies and plays, children glorifies foreign countries while
looking down on their own culture. It weakens the attachment with their own country.
○ Due to the Nuclear family, Children have weak connections with their kins, So their
Behaviour is influenced by mass media through television, newspaper, movies, social
networking site.
○ Globalisation is changing the food habits of children, specially in cities. They are
becoming addicted to taking unhealthy junk food over the home-made food. It results into
an unbalanced diet devoid of nutrients required for their healthy development.
Effects of globalization on Women
Women in India from ancient times have faced problems such as patriarchy and social discrimination;
caste-based discrimination and social restrictions. Globalization gave women in India the much-needed
wings to touch the deserving heights by breaking the shackles of patriarchy and because of this, the voice
of women is increasingly heard in Parliament, courts and in the streets. The Constitution of India gave
women equal rights with men from the beginning. Some of the positive and negative effects of
globalization on women are as follows:
● Positive Effects of globalization:
○ Changing role in work: Globalization attracted more companies as well as different
organizations into India. This provides opportunities for not only working men but also
women, who are becoming a larger part of the workforce.
○ Globalization has indeed promoted ideas and norms of equality for women that have
brought about awareness and acted as a catalyst in their struggle for equitable rights
and opportunities.
○ Changing role in Family, Marriage, Caste: With the advent of globalization, the
Institution of Patriarchy was challenged. With new jobs for women, they become
independent and achieve social mobility and demanded equal rights. As nuclear families
have become more common, it has become easier for women to assertively claim their
rights and ask for equality in an environment. Same caste marriage is decreasing.
○ Economic Sector- Increased participation of women in the economy is a boon to both
the National economy and family incomes. An opening of new doors in multiple sectors
from Entertainment e.g. Priyanka Chopra to Corporate e.g. Indira Nooyi has facilitated
women to become economically independent.
○ Political Sphere- The much conservative the political sector has also opened for women
because of the modern ideas propagated by Globalization E.g. Women Sarpanchs in
India. Participation of women is also increasing in the political sphere.
● Negative Effects of globalization:
○ Women have to juggle with both domestic responsibilities and professional work.
○ With the advent of Globalization, there is increase in the number of low paid, part-time
and exploitative jobs for women.
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○ Women's in rural areas are overburdened because of migration of men, it leads to the
feminization of agriculture.
○ Because of the globalization crimes like women trafficking and exploitation of working
women have increased.
○ Globalization leads to the nuclear family and because of this older parents spent their life
in Old-age home.
Conclusion
The roles of women in India have been changing and they are now emerging from the past traditions into
a new era of freedom and rights due to globalization. Women have made great strides in the corporate
world but still, the patriarchal nature of Indian society stops from having careers that infringe too much
on family life. Women are now supporting their families with dual incomes thereby increasing the voice
not only at home but also at Parliament for 50 % Reservation. They have dual roles to play – as an unpaid
servant at home and as paid servant in an organization. Not only this, they have to undergo stress &
tensions at both places. Women today, consider themselves as the true `ardhangini of their husbands.
She is more cognizant of his world today and she understands his work pressures. It is widely felt that
earning power allows them to voice their opinions on bigger decisions.
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