Social Impact of Globalization Process in the Context of a Rural Village in Sri Lanka

While globalization has been credited with expansion of world economies, improved communication among peoples of the world with a promise of a better future with greater access to new technologies and services; globalization has also been referred to negatively for the growing inequalities both within and between countries and has been viewed by some as the pursuit of material interests by dominant states and multinational companies. The present research was conducted to examine the research problem of ways and means of globalization process has influenced rural society in Sri Lanka and the factors that have contribute to this process and in which manner the rural communities respond to this process? The study has followed mixed research methodology which uses both qualitative and quantitative data. Primary data were collected from a sample of villagers in Kudagama village in Rathnapura district of Sri Lanka using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The theories, concepts and recent studies that are relevant to the research problem were reviewed to place the study in a broader theoretical framework. The study found that the globalization process has made considerable impact on the society especially socially, politically and culturally. The study concluded with that the traditional rural Sri Lankan society has been considerably influenced by the globalization process.