{"id":68110,"date":"2022-06-13T17:42:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T21:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=68110"},"modified":"2022-06-16T17:48:47","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T21:48:47","slug":"what-is-western-influence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/what-is-western-influence\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Western Influence? Amartya Sen’s Take"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Western influence? How does Westernization affect traditional cultures in the East?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Westernization is the idea of non-Western societies adopting certain aspects of American and European cultures and values. Amartya Sen discusses the concept in Development as Freedom<\/em>, where he explains that traditional cultures aren’t necessarily at risk because of Western influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read below to learn more about Westernization, and determine if it’s as influential as many people say it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Western Bias Critique<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Development as Freedom<\/em>, Sen argues that a democracy that values freedom should be implemented in all countries to combat poor development. But it raises these questions: What is Western influence, and does his argument support Westernization?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen’s critics take issue with his emphasis on the importance of human rights, saying it\u2019s biased toward Western cultures. This critique argues that the concept of human rights is a quintessentially Western idea and that it doesn\u2019t apply to non-Western (especially Asian) cultures. Therefore, \u201chuman rights\u201d are simply an invention of Western civilization, which has its roots in ancient Greece and Rome, and they were devised more specifically during the Enlightenment in Western Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, Eastern cultures have their own ethical frameworks, which prioritize honor and obedience above liberty and individuality. <\/strong>These cultures are better off adhering to their own traditions, and they don\u2019t need Western influence foisted upon them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examining \u201cAsian Values\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In response to the Western influence critique, Sen contends that many \u201cAsian values\u201d are<\/em> compatible with freedom and human rights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, Sen cites the tremendous diversity of Asia. Asia comprises approximately 60% of the world’s population, so claims of a monolithic set of values for the region or its people are misguided. <\/strong>Various religious, cultural, and literary traditions have been practiced across China, Japan, India, and many other regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen acknowledges there are aspects of Asian cultural traditions that are hostile toward freedom and individuality<\/strong>. He also says many Western traditions are similarly hostile. For example, Aristotle\u2019s defense of slavery and aristocracy reveals freedom and democracy replaced aspects of the Western tradition. To Sen, the question is whether or not pro-freedom aspects are present in Asian heritage in addition to<\/em> authoritarian ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of \u201cWestern Values\u201d in Asian Traditions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n