Hill, C.W.L (2007), International business Competing in the global marketplace.

McGrawHill, New York

Effect of western society on Pakistani Society

Sarwat Nauman
Institute of Business Management
sarwat.noman@iobm.edu.pk
Abstract
Anthropologists define culture as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art,
morals, law, custom, and other capabilities acquired by people as members of society" (Hill,
2005). Another definition describes culture as "the system of shared beliefs, values, customs,
behaviours, and artifacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one
another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning."
Culture is the cornerstone of a civilized society and evolves over time with its values and norms.
It is not a fixed concept, however, and can change for many reasons. One force that can cause a
culture to change is the exposure to other cultures' political and economical philosophies, social
structures, religions, languages, and styles of education (Hofstede, 2003).
The culture of Pakistan is very diverse, with many ethnic groups that have distinct cultural values
and norms. Part of the reason for this is that, in the past, the area now known as Pakistan was
invaded by many different countries or factions of people, the British being the most prominent
and recent one.

Colonial India

Causes of Westernization in Pakistan

British colonialism and colonization of the mind
The British ousting from the Indian subcontinent in no way meant that the customs they
introduced would fade away. During their reign, the British not only influenced the Indians
politically, economically, and socially, but they also influenced their minds and culture to such an
extent that even subsequent generations have absorbed the influence as well. In many instances,
Western culture and its symbols are still valued over native customs, leading to a kind of
colonization of the mind.
This colonization of the mind is one of the root causes of the identity crisis weand especially
the youth face today. This cultural circumstance began after independence, though it was
fostered long before by British powers. It coupled with other factors, like globalization,

technological advancement, and youth disillusionment with native powers and has led to an
increasing influence from Western culture.
GLOBALIZATION

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, globalization is the development of an

increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and
the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets. Since today's economy is dominated by Western
countries and culture, increased globalization in Pakistan has led to the West's growing influence
even though colonization has ended. This is especially true among the affluent, who have easy
access to television and other forms of electronic media, Western products, and food.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of famous Western food chain outlets in
Pakistan. Major cities sometimes have three or even four outlets of the same chain. Furthermore,
many Pakistanis have settled abroad in countries like the US, the UK, Scandinavian nations, and

other European countries. Their continued relationships with those who remain in the country
affect Pakistan's culture and economy.
The globalization has both positive and negative sides to it. On the one hand, globalization is
helping Pakistan interact more with the Western countries and establishing relations that will be
helpful for Pakistans economy. On the other, globalization has lifted cultural barriers and
provided exposure to new ideas and ways of thinking. Economically, it has dramatically
increased the wealth of some people and led to a more urban country. This has polarized our
culture as more people are moving away from the teachings of Islam and from traditional
customs in general. As noted by Shaukat and Chadhary, This polarization of society has been
matched step-for-step by the polarization of religion within the country
In light of this ongoing debate, and in order to determine if the positive effects of globalization
outweigh the negative ones or vice versa, we need to examine the issue from both points of view.

Positive Impact of Globalization on the Justice System

The most basic rights that every human being possesses are the rights of speech and action,
which Western influence has reaffirmed.
Human Rights

Western influence on human rights in Pakistan is a complicated issue and came from many
sources. According to Shaukat an Chaudhary, it could be due to an indirect method; whereby
western ideas influence curriculum in schools and universities, or even through the direct
method; whereby readily accessible media in western countries has encouraged the people of
Pakistan to expect and ask for the same right (Shaukat and Chaudhary).

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Most notably, the rights for women came with the arrival of westernization in Pakistan. Now,
women in Pakistan arguably enjoy more autonomy as compared to any other Muslim country, be
it political, social, or even religious rights.
This influence has not only allowed women to take an active part in politics and international
sports; but has also resulted in elevating the status of women when it comes to getting high

profile jobs, helping them stand on equal footing with men. For instance, women are now at high
posts in many renowned banks and multinational companies and hold ministerial posts in the
government as well. This liberty has given women the right and ability to enjoy life as other
women do in the western countries.
A MODERN JUSTICE SYSTEM

In the early 2010s, the judicial system in Pakistan was just found to be a mere formality and was
a system for justice in name only. Now, the judicial system has started taking note of the
difficulties of people and is making an effort to resolve them with sincerity and in the shortest
time possible. The much debated human rights issues which were previously ignored are now
being attended to, which is clearly evident from the recent passing of a human rights bill. I
believe that judicial system is the backbone of a country, and Western influence has encourage
Pakistan to develop a more robust judicial system.
In this respect, westernization has had some positive effects in Pakistan.
Negative Impact of Westernization on Pakistani Culture: Food, Family, and Language

I'd like to start out this section with a quote from an American scholar, Vine Deloria, on what he
believes is a key aspect of Western civilization: Western civilization, unfortunately, does not
link knowledge and morality but rather, it connects knowledge and power and makes them
equivalent.
For this reason, the flip side of the coin shows a more menacing picture. The increasing trend of
westernization has taken our local culture hostage in numerous aspects.
Family
The extended or joint family system, a trademark of Pakistani social culture, is losing its value
and seems to be vanishing altogether, replaced by a culture of individuality. The youth of today
believe in independence and individuality. As a result, we have seen a rise in the psychological
disorders, divorces, suicides, and crime.

FOOD

The traditional concept of home-cooked food in our culture is being replaced by fast food meals
from restaurants like KFC, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds and others inspired by the fast food
model.
Pakistani dishes, which were famous for their flavor, are hardly acceptable to today's youth. As
of today, we see cold drinks being used to such an extent that they are part of almost every meal,
even in formal dinners. The introduction of energy drinks and sodas also has played a part in
diminishing the consumption of traditional drinks.
Increased exposure to internet, television, movies, and video games has increased drug abuse,
violence, and related vices. The Pakistani youth, which forms the majority of the population, are
quickly being influenced as they are the most vulnerable.

LANGUAGE

By far, the greatest impact that westernization has had on our culture is on the language. Our
mother tongue Urdu is being replaced by English as a more common language used in
conversations. This is happening because of the number of English medium schools in our
society and the excessive use of email and messaging amongst the youth, which is usually in
English or in a combination of English and a native language. It frequently, however, is
communicated in Roman characters, diminishing the importance of Urdu script.
The influence of English is so great that some youth feel ashamed speaking Urdu. In fact, we
have started using English as a tool to distinguish between high and low class. Those who speak
English proficiently are considered among the elite class, despite the fact that Urdu was the
official language of Pakistan until English was added only a few years back.

Conclusion

The influences mentioned above are in no way the only areas where westernization has had an
impact. Westernization has influenced every aspect of daily life, ranging from cuisine to basic
human rights.
To that extent, even the minute details of daily life have been affected by westernization with
both positive and negative effects on Pakistan's culture. Westernization has been part of the
modernization process, which in no sense can be regarded as harmful. On the other hand, it is
important to examine the West's impact since if we are not careful, it could have a negative
influence on our society, and lead to the disruption of cultural values and customs.
Unanswered or Unanswerable Questions Regarding Westernization in Pakistan

The question of westernization and modernization in Pakistan is a very complex topic. There are
many questions that I could not answer in this article, and some questions that might not even
have an answer.
Please continue thinking about these issues as they are relevant to this topic and shape its
discourse.

What is westernization and how is it different from modernization?

What are all of the factors that are leading to change in Pakistani society?
This could include governmental, economical, religious, and societal changes
(e.g. where and how people live).

What is globalization? What are the forces of globalization? Are they

economical, cultural, or something else?

Many countries and groups of people are struggling with similar issues,
having also emerged from a colonial past. How does one form identity in a
post-colonial world? How do you treat the colonial history? How can you
preserve cultural traditions, and which ones are better left behind (if any)?

How are the current cultural changes in Pakistan different or similar to ones
that have happened in the past? Or ones that are happening in other
countries.

How do different groups in Pakistan view westernization or modernization and

why do differences of opinion exist?

Works Cited

Hill, C.W.L (2007), International business Competing in the global marketplace. McGrawHill, New York
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Hofstede, G. (2003), What is culture? A reply to Baskerville, Accounting, Organizations and
Society, Vol. 28, No. 7-8, pp. 811-813
Vine Deloria, Jr, retrieved from http://thinkexist.com/quotes/vine_deloria,_jr./
Mahlaqa Shaukat and Mutahir Chaudhary retrieved from
http://pylc.co.uk/documents/committee/YouthAffairs-PYLC2010.pdf
Mahlaqa Shaukat and Mutahir Chaudhary retrieved from
http://pylc.co.uk/documents/committee/YouthAffairs-PYLC2010.pdf
Albert Einstein, BMJ: The British Medical Journal, volume 319, 23 October 1999, p. 1102
Earl Warren, The Law and the Future" in Fortune magazine (November 1955)
Felix Frankfurter, National Observer (Silver Spring, Maryland, March 1, 1965)