The Cultural World-System
Swarajya Mag|October 2017

Despite much talk of “soft power”, the fact is that whichever way you slice it, Indian culture fares poorly at seeking or exercising it

Makarand R Paranjape
The Cultural World-System

THERE IS HARDLY any doubt that a cultural world-system exists. It is related, but not identical, to a world economic or political system. How to decode and understand its mechanisms, especially its impact on India? Few critics or commentators have ventured to do this. In this series of articles, that is what I propose to do.

The only notable attempt till date has been Culture, Globalization, and the World-System: Contemporary Conditions for the Representation of Identity (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1997) edited by Anthony D King, but it hardly refers to India. I became interested in world-systems theory around the same time, especially in India’s position. Some of these views were first presented at the 11th ACLALS Triennial Conference, 16 December 1998, Kaula Lumpur, appearing in the proceedings later.

The question to be answered is not so much whether worldwide economic and political ideologies and institutions influence — even control — cultural production in societies such as ours. Evidently, they do. But more vital to our interests is to expose the systemic nature of such determination. A concomitant question might be how our own culture, in turn, impinges upon the cultural world-system. In other words, have we participated in the cultural world-system to our benefit or advantage?

Such questions may have common sense responses, but require deeper, trans-disciplinary studies for more thorough or deeper comprehension. To start with, a quick, if obvious admission: traditionally, we have not paid too much attention to, let alone tried to understand, the cultural world-system. Despite much talk of “soft power”, the fact is that whichever way you slice it, Indian culture, especially Hindu culture, fares poorly at seeking or exercising it.

This story is from the October 2017 edition of Swarajya Mag.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 2017 edition of Swarajya Mag.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SWARAJYA MAGView All
The Hesitant Orbit
Swarajya Mag

The Hesitant Orbit

In order to march boldly ahead into the deep space, New Delhi must work towards building a station, boost its techno-economic planning and use the Indian Space Research Organisation smartly.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2017
Nudges And Narratives
Swarajya Mag

Nudges And Narratives

The debate surrounding Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati brings India a complex network of portraits within a cultural world-system.

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2017
The Spell Of Specialisation
Swarajya Mag

The Spell Of Specialisation

THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE NEEDS AN URGENT REJIG. THE KEY TO SPEED AND EFFICIENCY LIES IN PUTTING AN END TO A GENERALIST APPROACH AND IN GOING FOR A NEW SERVICE.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2017
Swarajya Mag

The Great Gamble

With demonetisation, the prime minister has taken a huge risk— both economic and political. He must succeed, because this move could transform both our economy and our society.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 2016
The Lies And The Truth
Swarajya Mag

The Lies And The Truth

The government must be bold enough to up-end the activists who are coming in the way of the nation’s agricultural progress.

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2017
Figuring Out China
Swarajya Mag

Figuring Out China

China’s economic footprint is being followed by its military footprint. To know that is not be belligerent but to prepare oneself adequately.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2017
Management 108
Swarajya Mag

Management 108

The Upanishads Have A Lot To Teach Today’s Executives When Outcomes Are Unpredictable, Relationships Complex, And Change Is The Name Of The Game. 

time-read
8 mins  |
August 2017
Sunny Days Ahead
Swarajya Mag

Sunny Days Ahead

THE NEW GUIDELINES FOR TAXI SERVICES ARE SENSIBLE, RATIONAL, AND MORE THAN WELCOME.

time-read
6 mins  |
August 2017
The Cultural World-System
Swarajya Mag

The Cultural World-System

Despite much talk of “soft power”, the fact is that whichever way you slice it, Indian culture fares poorly at seeking or exercising it

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2017
The Hard Way Forward
Swarajya Mag

The Hard Way Forward

India has been focused on software, but there are large opportunities to be seized in hardware. A primer, and some busting of myths.

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2017