Cultural Defence, Religion and Development

Question 1

What is cultural defence?

Answer 1

Where religion serves to unite a community against an external threat. In such situations, religion has special significance for its followers as it symbolises the group or society’s collective identity. Defending the community against a threat often gives a religion a prominent role in politics.

Question 2

Describe Poland as an example for cultural defence

Answer 2

• Poland was under communist rule by the Soviet Union. While the church didn’t always challenge the communist rule openly. It served as a popular rallying point for opposition for the Soviet Union, so Catholicism separated Polish people from Russian Orthodox, ‘us and them’ mentality
• The church gave support to the Solidarity free trade union in the 1980s that brought about the fall of communism.
• The church regained a central role and has has significant influence on Polish politics since

Question 3

Describe Iran as an example for cultural defence

Answer 3

• Western capitalist powers had influence in Iran and led to installing a pro-Western regime e.g. banning the veil, replacing the Iranian calendar with a ‘Western friendly one’. Modernisation also widened the gap between the rich and poor, while protest was suppressed
• This led to Islam becoming the focus for resistance, led by clerics like Ayatollah Khomeini who promised a return to traditional religious values. He declared an Islamic republic, and was appointed Iran’s pollical and religious leader
• Haynes argues that the Iranian Revolution wasn’t typical of politics in the Middle East. In some other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the religious leadership is closely tied to the local elite

Question 4

How might religion aid economic development?

Answer 4

• Some sociologists are that religions aids economic development, and that the economy, technological advancement and modernisation go hand in hand
• e.g. Weber shows how religious ideals can lead to economic development through the Protestant

Question 5

What are the 3 key impacts of globalisation on religion identified by Beyer?

Answer 5

• Particularism: While globalisation promotes 1 global popular culture, religion is a symbol of how people are culturally different from one another. This has contributed to a rise in fundamentalism and a feature of conflict
• Universalism: Major religions have focused more on what unities them, and religious leaders emphasise shared values. Also, inter-faith dialogue through technology has helped to diffuse conflict between religions
• Marginalisation: Religion is increasingly marginalised in contemporary society and plays less of a part in public life

Question 6

How has globalisation affected Indian society?

Answer 6

Globalisation has brought rapid economic growth and has created prosperous, education, urban MC in India, working in IT and biotechnology, sectors closely tied into the global economy

Question 7

Describe the religiosity of the Indian population

Answer 7

• Nanda observes that a majority of this class continue to believe in the supernatural.
• A survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies found Indians are becoming more religious. Only 5% said their religiosity had decline in the last 5 years. Also that ‘urban educated Indians are more religious than their rural and illiterate counterparts’.

Question 8

What conflict is there in motivation of Indian MC to continue believing in the supernatural due globalisation?

Answer 8

• Indian MC are optimistic about the opportunities that globalisation brings, Nanda argues their increasing religiosity is the result of their ambivalence about their new found
• This ambivalence stems from a tension between traditional Hindu values and materialism of the new prosperity of the MC.

Question 9

How is the conflict of ambivalence resolved in Indian society?

Answer 9

• Resolved by the modern holy men and tele-gurus who preach the message that desire isn’t bad but it’s a manifestation of divinity that motivates people
• They also teach that consumerism can be ‘spiritually balanced’ by paying for the performance of appropriate and extravagant rituals, serving as a way to displaying one’s wealth too.

Question 10

How has Hinduism legitimatised Indian nationalism?

Answer 10

• Nanda notes that India’s success in the global marker is increasingly attributed to the superiority of Hindu values, a view constantly promoted by the media and politician’s, along with the idea that Hinduism is the essence of Indian culture
• In this Hindu ultra-nationalism, the world of Hindu gods has become the same as worshipping the nation of India and Hinduism has become a civil religion

Question 11

How has Hinduism penetrated public life?

Answer 11

The supposedly secular state is increasingly influenced by religion. e.g. ‘Hindu sciences’ (astrology) are being taught as an academic subject in universities

Question 12

Describe capitalism in East Asia

Answer 12

• East Asia is an example of how religion and the growing global economy go hand in hand. Countries like China, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are all experiencing rapid economic growth
• e.g. Redding describes the spirit of capitalism among Chinese entrepreneurs in the tiger economies. He sees their ‘post-Confucian’ values encouraging self-discipline and a commitment to education and self-improvement
• The effect of this value is similar to that of the Protestant ethic, in that it leads to economic productivity and the accumulation of capital