Globalization In John Bodley's Price Of Progress

Globalization is a highly influential trend that has impacted the majority of the world including some of the most indigenous tribes. In the past, globalization has been thought to be innovative due to advances in transportation, communication, and technology. However, the transfer to modernity has cause unfortunate setbacks regarding traditional people and their well-being. The reality being that most of indigenous tribes were forced to give up their culture or have been effected by globalization. These ideals have been extremely detrimental in terms of the loss in language and tradition among the indigenous people. The way cultural was stripped away from them has put forth the state of hopelessness. An effect of hopelessness is having a void …show more content…
In the article “Price of Progress” the author John Bodley discusses this idea of progress. His theory of progress includes that there are beneficial goals that all societies should want to strive toward. These include increased incomes, higher standards of living, greater security, and better health. The article then states “Although one may argue that tribal peoples must sacrifice their traditional cultures to obtain these benefits, government planners generally feel that this is a small price to pay for such obvious advantages.” So if indigenous people have to sacrifice their traditional culture than is progress really beneficial? In the Native American episode (S3 E6) of “30 Days” people who leave to reservation return even with bad conditions. So why do people still come back? It’s because of the culture. This is what the Natives call home their traditions, practices and culture are steam from their land. Many Native communities have ties to the land that date back thousands of years. These ties are worth more than money or even better living conditions. Because traditions are sacred and important part of a culture. They are a key identifier in distinguishing different cultures because they vary depending on the certain tribe, religion, ethnicity, social institutions etc. These customs or beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation and to keep them alive. Native Americans always had …show more content…
In fact, according to samhsa.gov, “At 16.93, the suicide rate for American Indians/Alaska Natives of all ages was much higher than the overall U.S. rate of 12.08.” Also according to the National Violent Death Reporting System 2003–2009, “of AI/AN suicide decedents tested for alcohol, 36% were legally intoxicated at the time of death. There were proportionally more positive test results for alcohol among AI/AN decedents than there were for any other racial or ethnic group.” These social ills exist in indigenous communities indirectly through the ideas of globalization. Without any Western influences most likely none of these social ills would have exited among the indigenous people. So why are drugs and alcohol particularly evident upon the indigenous? This is because of the undeniable feeling of hopelessness traditional people face. In the Native American episode (S3 E6) of “30 Days,” Morgan Spurlock, the star of “30 days” asks the man at the store on the way to the Navajo reservation what he will be seeing. The man tells Spurlock that he’ll see a lot of poverty and alcohol. Why is this so? It dates back to the 1880’s when Native Americans were forced to assimilate to English culture. When everything you know it taken away from you how can you live? There is no way to fill that void so many Natives resulted to drug and alcohol to help cope with that