1st Edition

Globalization and Urban Culture in Dhaka

    164 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge India

    164 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge India

    164 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge India

    This book examines globalization and urban cultures in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, from a socio-cultural view. It focuses on the evolving nature of urbanity in the city due to globalization and the global flow of information, while framing the changing patterns of everyday cultures and practices.

    The volume explores key linkages and factors in urban transformation; the history and heritage of Old Dhaka; globalization, diverse urban cultures and ethnic spaces; changes in food habits, clothing, health practices, and recreation; changing forms of festivals, marriages, and religious practices; the situation of indigenous people in Old Dhaka; and the roles that need to be played by NGOs, civil society, and the local government. With its rich ethnographic case studies and field-based evidence, it discusses the relations between technology-driven economic activities and increasing cultural homogenization. It traces developments induced by cultural globalization and includes contemporary debates along with comparisons of Asian and global perspectives.

    This book will be a useful resource for scholars and researchers of urban studies, city studies, urban sociology, social anthropology, cultural anthropology, political sociology, development studies, South Asian studies and cultural studies, and to those interested in Bangladesh.

    Foreword by Habibul Haque Khondker

    Preface

    Chapter 1   Introduction

    Chapter 2   Globalization and Changing Urban Cultures: Contemporary Debates and Perspectives     

    Chapter 3   Old Dhaka: History, Tradition and Culture

    Chapter 4   Everyday Culture and Changing Practices

    Chapter 5   Changing Patterns of Ritual and Festivals

    Chapter 6   Cultural Transition and Adaptation: Way Forward

    Biography

    Kazi Abusaleh is a Research Scholar pursuing a European Master in Social Work with Families and Children under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. He completed his BSS and MSS degrees from the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and secured first-class honours. As a researcher, he has worked at Transparency International Bangladesh, BLAST, OKUP, and BRAC. He has published several articles in journals and his major research interests include globalization and culture, international migration, climate actions, and human and child rights.

    M. Rezaul Islam is a Professor in Social Work at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; International Academic Adviser at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Malaysia; Academic Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia; and Senior Research Associate at the Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He completed his MSW and PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK. His research and teaching interests focus on culture and development, globalization and social change, social research methodology, poverty, community development, international migration, social inequality and social justice within a human rights approach. He has published widely, including 100 journal articles.

    Md Nurul Islam is a Professor in Social Welfare at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is actively involved in social work education in Bangladesh. His main research interests include community development and urban studies. He has published more than 35 social work and social sciences books (in Bangla) and 40 journal articles.