Imposition of Western Culture

Definition

This refers to the process where Western societies, particularly European powers during colonial times, impose their culture, language, and societal norms on non-Western societies.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a party with your unique dance style. Suddenly, a group of people come in and insist everyone must only dance their way. They even change the music to suit their style. That's what imposition of Western culture is like - changing local customs and traditions to mirror those of the West.

Related terms

Cultural Imperialism: The domination of one culture over another by deliberately imposing its own cultural values.

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Assimilation: The process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group; often used in reference to minorities integrated into dominant cultures.