How culture influences social development?

Culture plays a principal role in establishing the
national identity, in crystallizing the tracks ofthe social and economic development and
in supporting the institutions associated with them. The more culture depends on
originality and basic foundations, the more light it would throw on society to lead it
towards openness and create reciprocal influence with other cultures without causing any
changes in their characteristics. Only an original culture, one with humane dimensions,
has the capability to create a civilization that leads the society to progress and
develop ment.

Development impacts directly and indirectly
on the way of life of a community.  Education, technology, new skills, increased earning
power and access to information – all of these affect the individuals and the
communities who are the beneficiaries of “development”.

As
such, development may be viewed as a cultural process that may be hindered or
facilitated by culture.  Development impacts upon the culture of those intended to be
“developed” and in turn their culture impacts on the development process. Development
brings with it new ideas, new values, new insights, increased access to information,
contact with other cultures, the promise of a better quality of life, new aspirations,
and invariably, a local or indigenous culture is influenced and evolves organically
within the paradigm of the development ends and strategies.