Disruption of Traditional Societies

Definition

This refers to the interruption or breakdown of established social structures within societies due to external influences such as colonization or globalization.

Analogy

Think about your favorite TV show getting interrupted by constant commercials. The flow is broken; characters' development gets disrupted; plotlines get lost. Similarly, traditional societies faced disruptions due to external influences that changed their way of life drastically.

Related terms

Cultural Assimilation: The process whereby individuals or groups adopt the culture traits of another group often dominant in society.

Globalization: The process by which businesses develop international influence or start operating on an international scale affecting local cultures and economies.

Acculturation: Cultural modification resulting from intercultural borrowing from one culture by another as a result of prolonged contact.