CULTURAL SYNCRETISM

Social Structure

Cultural Syncretism

Cultural Syncretism

Cultural syncretism is basically defined as when two different beliefs, attitude, viewpoints and thoughts unite and mix together and form a new culture. Under this phenomenon two beliefs synchronize to form a new culture.

The process of cultural synchronization has been observed in different parts of the globe at different points of time. Some of the major cultural synchronization that appeared in the lime light is cultural synchronization in Africa and America and India and China. Different factors played their roles to bring about this change of culture. Let's discuss cultural synchronization in Africa and America and India and China. What factors caused this cultural shift and what factors showed resistance in bringing about this change.

Cultural Syncretism in Africa and America

Cultural syncretism is a process in which a more dominant culture overcomes a less dominant culture. African culture showed a lot of influence of American culture. Presence of large number of Africans in America facilitates this region to adopt different factors of American culture in more than one ways. On the other hand, as we know America is already comprises of scores of sub-cultures in such situations it is difficult for a society comprises of many different sub-cultures to influence from any other external source.

Americans used to hire African slaves and this influx of African slaves affected American culture and gave birth to the African-American culture. During the late seventeenth and eighteenth century African and African-Caribbean slaves created a distinctive subculture in America.

Cultural syncretism in India and China

India and China did not embrace cultural change openly. They reacted in more cultural self- defensive and cultural self-determined way. In this region, their own culture, ethnicity and beliefs were more dominant than the foreign culture and beliefs.

Factors that affected Cultural syncretism in Africa & America and India & China

Following are the factors that affected the process of cultural syncretism positively or negatively:

Religion

The most potent reason why Syncretism had not flourished in past in India and China is their resistance to accept beliefs of another religion. In India and China, the most prominent religions are Hinduism, Daoism and Buddhism. In India, the beliefs and values of Hinduism is very loosely structured while in China, they drive their values from Confucianism.

In 1880's China showed some religious syncretism. This religious syncretism has been altered many a times and also it produced a group of rebellions in China that is known ...