Is racism (xenophobia in general) essential to the survival of a culture (not society)?

Question

Is racism (xenophobia in general) essential to the survival of a culture (not society)?

Answer 1

No

Answer 2

Culture and Society are pretty much the same thing. Racism and Xenophobia are not the same thing. One can be Xenophobic to members of ones own race. But one can be a racist to members of ones own culture or society. Irrational fear of "foreigners" can occur at the micro or macro level... that is one can fear those from a different country, part of ones own country, state, city or even a neighbor hood within the city. Racism is not only the "hating" of those of a particular skin colour different from ones own, but is also the belief that ones own race is better or superior to *any* other race. Bigotry is the intolerance from *anyone* different from ones own group, culture or society and is not restricted just to race. It could be different religion, political leanings, or race... But to answer your implied question *all* the above can be involved in protecting ones culture from invasion or assimilation from any outside source. Protecting ones identify is a prime human emotion and is good, bad or indifferent depending on how it is implemented. Ideas, ways of doing things, cultures are not only different.... sometimes one is "better" than another and deserves to be protected.

Answer 3

Xenophobia and racism are totally different categories. Racism is the hatred of someone for their race and or culture. Xenophobia comes from former General Xenophon which means "fear of strangers."

Your answer would be no.

Answer 4

NO.  Xenophobia is an irrational fear.  One can preserve and appreciate their own heritage and culture without fear... think about it.

Answer 5

Well this behavioral traits is coming from our tribal heritage (small societies), which was necessary at the time due to limited ressources. But today this reflext is still working, and whether or not peoples acknoledge it, all humans feel the same, it just that some don`t approved their own feelings as it doesn`t along their beliefs. Which proves that humans have changed over time, but not that much!!! We are just getting better at handling social issues!

Answer 6

Certainly not.  Cultures usually do better when they don't isolate themselves.  Also, xenophobia and racism are not the same thing.

Answer 7

This is a complicated issue and depends greatly on how you define culture and how you look at cultural evolution.  There always has been and always will be cultural diffusion.  Without it agriculture would be limited to a handful of areas.  Globalization has caused a massive diffusion and adoption/adaption f culture.    Cultures can adopt certain traits as is, modify them to fit other social traits or can manipulate them to serve completely different purposes.  The flaw in the question is that you ignore this constant dialog between different cultures and the role this plays.  Culture is not and never has been a static so the "survival of a culture" is a strange concept.  There are of course examples where acceptance of foreign influence resulted in the complete disruption of a culture.  Native American Indians when contacted by Europeans being a prime example I know a lot about.  Alcohol has been shown to have caused massive social upheaval and disruption but guns are another less well understood.  Native Americans had an informal political system lead by elders.  These elders help powers over hunting and warfare that kept the more hot headed youth in check.  The youth were more likely to trade with Europeans and so they were the ones in possession of guns (and alcohol).  This shift in power dynamics caused waves of disruptions through out the cultural groups on the eastern seaboard and quickly spread inland.  Xenophobia (not going to touch the racism issue) would actually be the antithesis of cultural survival.  That which does not change is left behind.  The only cultures that do not change are those studied by archaeologists.

Answer 8

The resistance to change is indeed what preserves a culture.  However a culture that cannot change is doomed to eventual failure in much the same way of any animal that has become overly specialized.  Therefore the term "social or cultural Darwinism."  When the cultural climate changes a culture must change to meet the challenge or die.

To answer your question, YES, anyone not conforming to the cultural norm is viewed with suspicion regardless of what the difference is.