The Social Process of Cultural Globalization (Research Brief)

My research explored the dynamics of cultural globalization, by analyzing the attitudes and behaviors of young migrants who return from the US to Kazakhstan. My general question was what “cultural remittances” these return migrants brought back with them, as well as how and why such innovations were either embraced or rejected. By conducting semi-structured interviews with such return migrants, and with others who had not migrated but had interacted with returnees, I was able to gain insight into the social contexts and processes through which cultural changes are absorbed and transmitted.

Douglas W. Blum, of Providence College, was a 2011-2012 Short-Term Travel Grants (STG) fellow.