ABSTRACT
Culture is the identity of one kind of social group – in other words, the communities. Cultures offering people cultural identities appear around the world in the form of ethnicity, religion or universal values. Cultural compactness may increase over time, as, for instance, when a group becomes increasingly conscious of its cultural identity. The outcomes of culture can be strictly political as well as socioeconomic. Among the forces of globalization people find economic globalization, regional integration in Europe, the United States and Asia, and the technological revolution in communications. The outcomes of culture can be strictly political as well as socioeconomic. Globalization has two contrary outcomes, both enhancing materialism and reinforcing communalism. Cultures offering people cultural identities appear around the world in the form of ethnicity, religion or universal values. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
