Cambodia Connected: A Portrait of a Kingdom in the 21st Century

Cambodia Connected: A Portrait of a Kingdom in the 21st Century

Chapter 1: The Global Current: The Complex Influence of Western Culture on Cambodian Youth For a thousand years, Cambodian culture was shaped by a gradual and deliberate dialogue with its neighbors, a rich synthesis of indigenous animist beliefs with the great traditions of India and China. In the 21st century, however, a new and profoundly different influence has arrived. It is a powerful global current, flowing not through ancient trade routes or royal courts, but through the ubiquitous, glowing screens of smartphones, televisions, and computers. This is the pervasive influence of modern Western culture, and it is having a complex, multifaceted, and transformative effect on the aspirations, identity, and social interactions of Cambodia's overwhelmingly youthful population. The Vectors of Influence This cultural current flows through several powerful channels. The most significant is undoubtedly the internet and social media. With over 70% of the population now active on social medi…