Impact of globalization on local culture: A case study of North Waziristan Youth

Abstract

One of the most powerful forces reshaping societies worldwide is globalisation. Its influence extends beyond politics and the economy, permeating even the most isolated communities' social and cultural ties. Examining how globalisation has affected the local culture of North Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal region distinguished by its strong traditional, linguistic, and religious identity, is the goal of this study. The study investigates the ways in which migration, education, media exposure, global cultural trends, and technology have shaped young people's values, way of life, and sense of self. 367 young respondents, ages 18 to 30, participated in in-depth interviews and completed a structured questionnaire as part of an empirical study that was carried out in a few North Waziristan tehsils. Descriptive, correlational, and regression statistical analyses were used to investigate the relationship between local cultural orientation changes and globalisation factors. The results showed a strong correlation between educational diversity, exposure to international media, and the decline of customs, language preference, and group behaviour. The study did, however, also find adaptive patterns in which globalisation benefited social mobility, awareness, and the modernisation of cultural expression. The results suggest that while globalization is gradually transforming indigenous cultural norms, North Waziristan’s youth are not entirely abandoning their local identity. Instead, they are reconstructing it within a hybrid framework that blends global modernity with traditional Pashtun values. The paper concludes that sustainable cultural preservation in the face of globalization requires context-specific policies that promote intercultural dialogue, education, and responsible media engagement.

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