Traditional communities, modernisation and moral behaviour

Abstract

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to ascertain impact of modernisation on moral behaviour in village communities in North India.Design/methodology/approach– Both qualitative and empirical analysis is done to evaluate a set of ideas related to the main objective. The empirical analysis is based on primary data.Findings– Limitations of primary data notwithstanding, results suggest that in-group, inter-group and generalised trust are not exclusive. The empirical results also suggest that significant sources of inter-group trust are trust in neighbours, trust in village council, development/modernisation and education. And sources of generalised trust seem to be inter-group trust, trust in village council, development and education.Research limitations/implications– The study pertains to village communities in Indian Punjab embedded in region’s evolved syncretic culture. Researchers need to take into account historical specificities while designing studies for other areas.Originality/value– The paper finds that majority of individuals in the evolved, heterogenous communities are inclusive and subscribe to moran values that persist with modernisation. But core values may become dormant in a situation of social disequilibrium. Inclusive development and spread of education in a conducive local institutional framework seem to restore them.