Course Instructor
Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
12. Sociological debates on
Provincialism
What is Provincialism?
Provincialism is the way of life characteristic of the regions outside the capital city of a country,
especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded.
Provincialism is the holding of old-fashioned attitudes and opinions, which some people think is
typical of people in areas away from the capital city of a country.
Example of Provincialism
Provincialism is the state of having concern for purely local matters, or having a narrow outlook.
An example of provincialism is being concerned with only one's town, as opposed to
surrounding communities or other countries as well. The quality of being provincial;
having provincial tastes, mentality, manners.
List of provincial governments of Pakistan
The four provincial governments of Pakistan administer the four provinces of Pakistan. There are
also two territories and two disputed regions which have similar governments but with some
differences. The head of each province is a non-executive Governor appointed by the President,
on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Governors play a similar role, at the provincial level, as the President does at the federal
level. Each province has a directly elected unicameral legislature (provincial assembly), with
members elected for five-year terms. Each provincial assembly elects a Chief Minister, who then
selects a cabinet of ministers from amongst the members of the Provincial Assembly. Each
province also has a High Court, which forms part of the superior judiciary.
Imperialism
Imperialism is a policy or ideology of extending the rule over peoples and other countries, for
extending political and economic access, power and control, often through employing hard
power, especially military force, but also soft power.
While related to the concepts of colonialism and empire, imperialism is a distinct concept that
can apply to other forms of expansion and many forms of government. Imperialism is simply a
manifestation of the balance of power and is the process by which nations try to achieve a
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
favorable change in the status quo. The purpose of imperialism is to decrease the strategic and
political vulnerability of a nation.
Etymology (source) and usage of Imperialism
The word imperialism originated from the Latin word imperium, which means supreme power,
"sovereignty”, or simply "rule”. It first became common in the current sense in Great Britain
during the 1870s, when it was used with a negative connotation.
The term was and is mainly applied to Western and Japanese political and economic dominance,
especially in Asia and Africa, in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its precise meaning continues to be
debated by scholars. Some writers, such as Edward Said, use the term more broadly to describe
any system of domination and subordination organized around an imperial core (industrialized
capitalist countries) and a periphery (less develop countries).
Difference between Colonialism and Imperialism
Yet they are two words with totally different meanings. Colonialism is where one country
physically exerts complete control over another country and Imperialism is formal or informal
economic and political domination of one country over the other.
Though both the words underline suppression of the other, Colonialism is where one nation
assumes control over the other and Imperialism refers to political or economic control, either
formally or informally. In simple words, colonialism can be thought to be a practice and
imperialism as the idea driving the practice.
Colonialism is a term where a country conquers and rules over other regions. It means exploiting
the resources of the conquered country for the benefit of the conqueror. Imperialism means
creating an empire, expanding into the neighbouring regions and expanding its dominance far.
Colonialism can altogether alter the social structure, physical structure and economics of a
region. It is quite normal that in the long run, the traits of the conqueror are inherited by the
conquered.
Colonialism is a term used to describe the settlement of places like India, Australia, North
America, Algeria, New Zealand and Brazil, which were all controlled by the
Europeans. Imperialism, on the other hand is described where a foreign government governs a
territory without significant settlement. The American domination of Puerto Rico and the
Philippines can be cited as examples of Imperialism.
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
In Colonialism, one can see great movement of people to the new territory and living as
permanent settlers. Though they lead the life as permanent settlers, they still maintain allegiance
to their mother country. Imperialism is just exercising power over the conquered regions either
through sovereignty or indirect mechanisms of control.
Coming to the origin of the two, Imperialism has a longer history than Colonialism. While the
history of colonialism dates back to 15th century, Imperialism has its origins dating back to the
Romans.
Globalization
Globalization is the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world’s
economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services,
technology, and flows of investment, people, and information. Countries have built economic
partnerships to facilitate these movements over many centuries. But the term gained popularity
after the Cold War in the early 1990s, as these cooperative arrangements shaped modern
everyday life. This guide uses the term more narrowly to refer to international trade and some of
the investment flows among advanced economies, mostly focusing on the United States.
The History of Globalization is Driven by Technology, Transportation, and International
Cooperation
Since ancient times, humans have sought distant places to settle, produce, and exchange goods
enabled by improvements in technology and transportation. But not until the 19th century did
global integration take off. Following centuries of European colonization and trade activity, that
first “wave” of globalization was propelled by steamships, railroads, the telegraph, and other
breakthroughs, and also by increasing economic cooperation among countries. The globalization
trend eventually waned and crashed in the catastrophe of World War I, followed by
postwar protectionism, the Great Depression, and World War II. After World War II in the mid-
1940s, the United States led efforts to revive international trade and investment under negotiated
ground rules, starting a second wave of globalization, which remains ongoing, though buffeted
by periodic downturns and mounting political scrutiny.
Globalization as a tool for Prosperity and Peace
After World War II, the United States helped build a global economic order governed by
mutually accepted rules and overseen by multilateral institutions. The idea was to create a better
world with countries seeking to cooperate with one another to promote prosperity and peace.
Free trade and the rule of law were mainstays of the system, helping to prevent most economic
disputes from escalating into larger conflicts. The institutions established include:
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
UN, United Nations, established 1945, 193 member countries. Seeks to prevent conflict with
global security norms and assistance for humanitarian crises.
NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established 1949, 29 member countries. Bulwark of
Western security alliance.
WTO, World Trade Organization, established 1948, as the GeneralAgreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT). Replaced 1995, by the WTO, 164 member countries. Sets rules for international
trade and adjudicates trade disputes. Member countries agree to WTO rules, but can also
negotiate free trade agreements with each other.
Pakistan is now an Example of Hybrid Society as a Result of Globalization
Advances in technology, such as mobile phones, aero planes and the internet have made the
growth of transport and communication possible. Amongst other things, this means that people
and countries exchange information and goods and services quickly and in a less complicated
way. This process is called globalization.
Globalization comes from the word globe and means the worldwide coming together of countries
and nations. Globalization refers to the growing integration of economies and societies around
the world. There has been a tremendous increase in the connection between various economies.
Globalization certainly has the greatest influence on the developing countries around the world,
countries such as Pakistan.
Globalization has had serious impact on Pakistan’s economy, politics, society and law. Like
many other developing countries, Pakistan is experiencing both positive and negative effects of
the globalization. Every society has its own culture and way of life. It is established by the group
of people who live together and adhere to some principles in their society. Pakistan has a rich
and unique culture that has preserved established traditions throughout history.
Many cultural practices, food, monuments and shrines were inherited from the rule of Muslim
Mughal and Afghan emperors. The national dress of Pakistan is Shalwar Kameez, but cultural
globalisation is having impact on the dressing of men and women. Wearing T-shirts, sunglasses,
long shoes and jackets is not a part of Pakistan’s culture. People are becoming more conscious
about their dressing styles and fashion. Now, they see if a fashion is suitable for them or not.
Women have become more brand conscious. The trend of wearing western clothes like jeans and
shirts is increasing in women.
Pakistan has its own deep rooted desi cuisine. As a result of globalisation, fast food culture is
widespread in Pakistan. International food chains can be easily located on the corners of streets,
airports, malls, shopping centers, schools and gas stations. Pakistani people love to eat inter-
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
continental and Chinese cuisines. Pakistani cuisine is also being recognized due to globalised
world.
The variety of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk music and traditional styles
such as Qawwali and Ghazal to modern forms fusing traditional and western music, such as
synchronisation of Qawwali and western music by the world renowned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Various American, European, and Asian television channels and films are available alongside
state owned PTV and other privately owned channels. People have a wide variety to choose
from, what they like to listen and watch. They have access to latest movie and music releases,
making it more competitive for the Pakistan’s movie and music industry.
Globalisation has had serious impact on economy and politics. Pakistan is experiencing both
positive and negative effects of the globalisation.
Economic globalisation has also provided opportunities for developing countries -- it expands
the size of their markets for export and attracts foreign capital, which aids development. Another
positive effect of globalization is greater competition among firms, which benefits consumers
who have access to products at increasingly lower prices. People gain most from free trade in
both developed and developing countries as they can buy goods at more affordable prices, and
therefore have a higher standard of living. In this way, free trade can be seen as an indirect way
to reduce poverty.
Pakistan liberalized its economy as a part of adjustment but Pakistan’s trade expansion has not
been as spectacular as some of the fast globalizing countries. Pakistan’s exports have not kept
pace with that of the rest of the world. Pakistan is facing challenges due to rise in competitive
conditions. Pakistan’s industry has to compete with foreign competition so they need
improvement. Trade sector is leading in growth because trade barriers are reduced by
globalization. Manufacturing industry is also growing now. The communication technology
revolution is growing fast and taking part in economic development.
For winners of the process, globalization becomes an integrating phenomenon, one that brings
together markets, ideas, individuals, goods and services and communication. For the losers, it
can be a marginalizing phenomenon. Just as the winners come closer to each other they become
more distant from the losers.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle
Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It occurred after the Crisis of the
Late Middle Ages and was associated with great social change. In addition to the standard
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
periodization, proponents of a "long Renaissance" may put its beginning in the 14th century and
its end in the 17th century. The traditional view focuses more on the early modern aspects of the
Renaissance and argues that it was a break from the past, but many historians today focus more
on its medieval aspects and argue that it was an extension of the Middle Ages. The Renaissance
was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern
period.
Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence was felt
in art, architecture, philosophy, literature, music, science, technology, politics, religion, and other
aspects of intellectual inquiry. Renaissance scholars employed the humanist method in study, and
searched for realism and human emotion in art.
Regionalism
Regionalism is a political ideology which seeks to increase the political power, influence and/or
self-determination of the people of one or more sub national regions (administration division). It
focuses on the "development of a political or social system based on one or more" regions and/or
the national, normative or economic interests of a specific region, group of regions or another
sub-national entity, gaining strength from or aiming to strengthen the "consciousness of and
loyalty to a distinct region with a homogeneous population", similarly to nationalism.
More specifically, "regionalism refers to three distinct elements: movements demanding
territorial autonomy within unitary states; the organization of the central state on a regional basis
for the delivery of its policies including regional development policies; political decentralization
and regional autonomy".
“Regionalism is an approach to study the behavior that emphasizes the geographical region as
the unit of analysis, stressing the relationship between man and his immediate physical
environment. Economic social and cultural organizations are analyzed in terms of their
interrelationships and functions within the geographic region” -W.P. Scott.
Subject to contextual and conceptual variation, a region is generally conceived as a permanent
and definite area. The concept of region varies with the criteria chosen for its demarcation.
However the regional analysis pioneered by Walter Christaller has been increasingly
appropriated by other social scientists. Before Christallar, regions were defined as natural
systems created by topographical features. But Christellar defined them in terms of social
relationships and organizational principles.
Types of Regionalism
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Ms. Humaira Baber Sheikh
Parochialism: When the people of a region see only their interest and nationalist outlook, the
principle of brotherhood, dignity of individual and such ideology is called ‘parochialism’. It is
manifested in disdain for others and sometimes leading to violence. Such people many a times
see themselves as superior to others in culture, language etc. Violence by Shiv-Sena against
South Indians and North Indians, by ULFA cadre against people from Bihar fall in this category.
Regionalism: When people of a region raise voice for their autonomy, rights, fair share in
development process, against discrimination and demand separate statehood or autonomy within
state, it is called ‘regionalism’. Demands for linguistic state of Andhra Pradesh in 1950’s,
Bodoland and Gorkhaland fall in this category.
Secessionism: When a region wants to end its association from the nation and wants to see itself
as separate entity in world map, such extreme form of regionalism is known as ‘secessionism’.
Inter-state dispute: Indian federalism have given rise to another form of regionalism which is
manifested in inter-state disputes. State and its people see other states as rivals and competitors
and this result into conflict over sharing of common resources, land boundary issues etc. The
dispute over Chandigarh, Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal between Punjab and Haryana, boundary
disputes between Maharashtra and Karnataka on Belgao, water dispute between Tamil Nadu and
Kerala over Cauvery water and water dispute between India and Pakistan are some examples of
it.
