Anthropology

The pervasive nature of globalization has resulted in the development of a mainstream view of the globe that is largely dislocated from the peculiar aspects of cultures in many urban settings across the world. This view of the world that enjoys currency amongst many who participate in the various transactions in the global order is however buffeted by cultural stimuli emanating from the specific regions of the world.

The overriding tendency of the west to consistently dictate the popular views and stances on a global scale has been met with resilient and determined forces from the various cultural centers of the world. Asia has by far the largest landmass as well as population in the globe yet, its view on western culture has remained muted and largely obscure for decades. In coming closer to finding the various aspects of western culture as they are viewed and interpreted in the east, we begin at a literal stage.

Tokyos Disneyland theme park was opened in 1983 (Joy 2000) and after its opening a curious spawning of other theme parks depicting life in the western world in Japan begun and continued with consistency. These themed parks called gaiko mura by the Japanese feature model cities made in the image of destinations around the globe such as Canada and New York city. These cities were opened up and visitors were encouraged to explore them perhaps in order to get a feel of how other cultures lived and worked. In a curiously cozy setting a Canadian themed park reportedly features a Swiss village where a cottage is constructed in the spirit of the fairy tale of Heidi. Visitors to this park are particularly encouraged to walk in to the cottage and view the hills and mountains from Heidis bedroom (Joy 2000).  Indeed South Central Japan has very many attractions of which the Spanish village is an integral part. In this particular park called Parque Espana, we see a puppet theatre amongst other choice Spanish themed attractions of which Flamenco dancers are a part.
Whilst such themed parks were also present in other parts of the world such as Europe and the West their popularity waned significantly as many people begun expressing distaste at the villages and theme parks (Joy 2000). This has been markedly different in Japan where a casual amusement accompanies most visitors to the various themes parks. The Japanese approach the whole affair with a mild curiosity.

If the pre-occupation of the Japanese with themes and parks inspired by the west is anything to go by then their further dalliance with democracy is even more descriptive of their views on the west. Democracy is a markedly western form of government that is very dependant on the political culture of a nation as well as its economic development (Yunhan 2008). Japan is amongst the oldest democratic states in Asia. Many other Asian countries have showed a marked distaste for democratic forms of governance. A curious nostalgia to past dictatorial regimes has been recognized with citizens publicly expressing sentiment towards soft dictatorships (Yunhan 2008). Democracy lacks a certain forcefulness that the East is growing wary of. In deed a poll carried out by Yunhan (2008) shows that the majority of Japanese citizens are not confident of their democratic elected government. Their only bias for this system was marked with a further distaste and intolerance with authoritarian regimes.

Democracy as a foreign political cultural export sits awkwardly in many Asian countries of which Taiwan is a good example. In the landmark victory of the native Taiwanese Democratic Progress Party (DPP) in 2000, a democratic government was installed (Daniel 2006) in Taiwan with much celebration from the native Taiwanese districts. Immigrants from mainland China however were severely disgusted by these turn of events after enjoying decades of rule with the notoriously authoritarian Kuomintang (KMT). Whilst it would be reasonable to think that Chinese would now view Taiwan as a great model of democratic rule one would be surprised to witness the various reprimands and general ire at a regional conference on democratic deliberation in China. Mainland Chinese still smirked bitter with their defeat in Taiwanese political circles and demonized the democratic government in Taiwan with little pause for thought. These same anti-democratic sentiments were also felt by Singaporeans when the Foreign minister of Taiwan insulted Singapore and alluded to the countrys government kissing the ass of the Chinese mainland rulers (Daniel 2006). Needless to day these regional tensions have served to relegate democratic rule to a very precarious position.

In much the same way that many cultural exports have landed in the east, democracy is still being digested as it were and many Asians are still groping for ways in which to cope with the form of government. Regional differences continue to color the debates on the appropriate forms of government though even in this circles few lean towards communist models especially since economic developments in the east have increasingly sought to favor pro-democratic sentiment across the region.

Economic development remains a primary incentive for the appropriation of everything from the west as can be occasioned by the curious developments of television dramas in Singapore. In the very early days of Singapores economic climb all eyes were reportedly glued to the screen watching a popular Hong Kong import in the TV show dubbed Man in the Net. Singaporeans were still too poor to afford TVs individually and therefore the sets were reportedly shared amongst neighbors. At the appointed time every week the enclosures and spaces between houses would be empty as everyones attention shifted to the melodramatic events on screen. This trend has continued as the Singaporean market though now much wealthier has always invited Chinese imports on television. A marked departure has been occasioned with recent series depicting the romantic episodes of urban professionals living in tastefully furnished apartments in Tokyo. These types of images have become popular in especially rural settings as the collective desire for more material possessions continues to stir the sympathies of these areas. It is this primacy in economics that keeps the constant influx of the west in to Asia without much ire and resistance.

Sport is a very strong cultural product. Its strength lies primarily in its ability at creating community and various levels of competitions and achievement in society. The spread of football in its present westernized form where forces of capital and economy feature prominently has been very rapid in the east. The origins of organized sport in China can be traced to the 1920s where the Chinese Football Association was formed (Wolfram  Horne 2004). In Japan the current trend in the migration of so called sports laborers is a recent phenomenon being occasioned on the back of the adoption and spread of modern market economics in sports. The formation of the Japanese League (J League) has seen approximately 80 of players under the age of 24 express a desire to play in the wildly lucrative leagues in Europe.

Sport has thus become the constant obsession of many in the east and with it serious consideration has been placed on Asia as the game continues in its attendant desire to commoditize and sell itself in all forms be they media or apparel. Asian markets are today serious considerations by many sports organizations on a global scale. Reciprocity has seen that Asia now view the games as a viable economic option as can be occasioned by Chinas advances in sports infrastructure and organization. Their hosting of the 2008 Olympics with unrivalled expenditures in sports infrastructure show the importance sport has obtained in recent times in the east.

China is also interested in future bids for the world cup (Wolfram  Horne 2004). The epicenter of the global sports order is thus set to shift substantially to the east even as Asian countries continue to advance in economy. Although Asia only gets four positions in the FIFA World Cup final tournament the continent now boasts of serious fan bases that are variously distributed between football, cricket and basketball. The appropriation of sport has been strong and consistent as more and more people begin adopting the nuances of the west. Japan boasts of having the sixth best paid footballer playing in the Series A league as of the year 2000 (Wolfram  Horne 2004). Sport has therefore found its rightful place in the east and with it substantial amounts of influence are beginning to emerge at the feet of sports icons and stars as can be occasioned by the influence of Indian cricket across that part of the region.

Globalization has caused substantial strains in world relations. No other significant process has matched the take up of the west by the east and every other constituent on the globe. The east has seen its political and economic rationales re-defined under the economic and cultural influences of the west on its people and its resources. Todays make up of the east is mash up of various modern western themes with changing age old cultural values that work to create a bubbling and exciting emerging region in the east. From the physical adoption of architectural marvels in skyscrapers to the political cooption of democracy and various sports we see a gradual adoption and endorsement of the west in the east. Thought the process is markedly guarded in areas such as China in other regions the process has found a life of its own as can be occasioned by the tangents that the Indian film industry has taken on a global scale.