Consumption Culture in the Presence of Globalisation: The Influence of Religion, Nation and Ethnicity on Consumption Patterns

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss existing consumption culture approaches and to analyse various consumption patterns determined by national, ethnic and religious differences. The current consumer culture is usually approached from two major positions: consumption homogeneity and consumption heterogeneity. Although globalisation has penetrated a number of areas in the modern world, one can see that consumption patterns have not become universal. The differences exist not just among the countries, but in some cases even within countries. The migration and population trends make these differences even higher. Even though the tendency of using the same products could be noticed all over the world, the reasons for consumption are different due to various national, religious or ethnical values. Paper type: general review.

Products Quality Religious-Ethnical Requirements and Certification

“…Although religion is an important constituent of a culture, it could be noticed a tendency that majority of studies focuses on other cultural aspects as nationality, value system, etc. as an important factors influencing consumer behaviour (Ruževičiūtė & Ruževičius, 2011). Religion, on the other hand, impacts development of certain values and principles that in turn conditions human behaviour as well.…”

“…Religious prohibitions are the most prevalent cases there. In business context the most prevalent religious prohibitions issues are related with Jewish Halakhic and Islamic law, related to kosher and halal products (Ruževičiūtė & Ruževičius, 2011).…”

“…Particular attention here is paid to humane slaughtering in order to cause as little pain and stress as possible to animal experience during butchering. That is why halal certification laboratories have particular technological devices that help to indicate not just the meat components prohibited by law, but also to estimate stress hormone levels (Riaz & Chandry, 2004, Ruževičiūtė & Ruževičius, 2011. It is important to note that several companies in Lithuania have recently started to produce the products that conform to halal and kosher requirements (Ruževičius & Žilinskaitė, 2011).…”

“…However, the consumption rates of the products that meet different religious-ethnic quality requirement could be successfully fostered among the local non-Muslim consumer as well, if appropriate information and media tools were adopted. This fact could be based on experience of foreign countries: It is estimated that 30% of the halal products are consumed by non-Muslims that perceive the halal certificate as a symbol of quality, ecology, health and ethics (Riaz & Chandry, 2004;Ruževičiūtė & Ruževičius, 2011).…”

Religious Practices and Consumption Behavior: Why and How Christian Consumer’s Needs and Expectations in the West African Context are Crucial

“…Today, the interest of researchers on culture and consumption is oriented on religion and its influence on individuals social behavior, and their consumption behavior (Bagozzi, Wong, Abe, & Bergami, 2000;Cleveland, Laroche, & Hallab, 2010;Nassè, 2020;Nurbasari, 2015;Ruževičius & Ruževičiūtė, 2011;Sudaryanto, Imam, Anifatul, Jaloni, & Taskiya, 2021). For some contemporary researchers, the influence of religion in human society is very noticeable in all dimensions of life (Diop, 2004).…”