The Subcategories of Individualism and Collectivism Essay Example
During the cold war, Western and Eastern countries aligned themselves based on their support for communism or capitalism. Despite the war's end, this division has remained mostly unchanged. In his work "Harmony and the Dream," Brooks contrasts individualism and collectivism to classify the world. Although this classification is easily understandable, it has a significant drawback. Many countries have complex societies that do not neatly fit into either category of individualism or collectivism. To enhance our understanding of different nations globally, it becomes necessary to introduce subcategories that can accommodate these complexities. However, creating subcategories for collectivism poses challenges due to individualism currently prevailing as a societal norm. Consequently, all the subcategories mentioned below are considered part of individualism.
The concept of individualism can be categorized into different subcategories, including pre-individualism. Pre
...-individualism represents the stage before a country fully embraces individualistic values. India serves as an example of pre-individualism due to its history of colonization by Great Britain. English continues to be India's second official language and the upper class adopts Western social norms. Despite efforts towards capitalist development, India still maintains its Eastern atmosphere, distinguishing it from North American and European nations. While Singapore is more advanced, modern, and Westernized compared to India, it can also be considered a pre-individualistic country.
Japan, which is similar to China both geographically and culturally, exemplifies semi-individualism. In the past, Japan had shared China's beliefs in self-effacement and collective focus. However, after the Meiji Restoration, Japan started embracing capitalism. Throughout World War I and II, Japan aligned itself more closely with Western nations rather than Eastern ones. This change in mindset is evident in contemporary
Japanese culture, which appreciates individual capabilities. Semi-individualism pertains to nations that prioritize personal achievements within group settings; South Korea also falls into this category.
The concept of hyper-individualism refers to highly advanced individualism in a country. The United States is described as a hyper-individualistic country due to its strong sense of individualism inherited from Ancient Greece. This individualism is rooted in Americans' blood, leading to a focus on independence and privacy. As a symbol of hyper-individualism, the United States exhibits higher levels of individualism compared to any other country. This classification of individualism into subcategories helps provide a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of the world, showcasing the different characteristics among countries while still emphasizing their individualistic nature.
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