Washington, June 04: India's see globalisation as good but view consumerism as a culture threat, the 2003 Global Attitudes Survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Center for the People and the Press notes. The survey sample was predominantly urban.
Most Indians say growing trade, communication and travel are good for the country, and that technologies such as television and cell phones have improved life, it said.
Foreign cultural imports (movies, music) and other products are also viewed favourably by significant majorities. But a 53 per cent majority say consumerism and commercialism are a threat to Indian culture.
Globalisation gets credit for some of the positive changes people see in India, such as the availability of food modern medical treatments, the survey said.
Most Indians think working conditions and the gap between the rich and the poor have all got worse over the past five years (63 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively), but only a minority attribute these problems to increasing globalization.
Of those with an opinion, most say global institution like the IMF, WTO and World Bank have a good influence in India (50 per cent), not bad (9 per cent).
Nine-in-10 Indians (93 per cent) agree that learning English is essential.
Computers have yet to make a significant impact on the Indian population. Just 6 per cent say they use a computer at home, work or school, and just 3 per cent say they use the Internet or e-mail, the survey notes.

The Global Attitudes Project conducted interviews with a random sample of 2,189 Indians from September 12-October 21, 2002.
Nationalism, measured on a number of questions, is notably high in India. More than eight-in-10 Indians (85 per cent) believe that their culture is superior to others, and 74 per cent say they completely agree. This sentiment is stronger here than in any of the 43 nations asked.
Three-in-four Indians (73 per cent) feel parts of neighbouring countries rightfully belong to their own. Not surprisingly, 67 per cent of Pakistanis and 68 per cent of Bangladeshis say the same about their countries.
Three-quarters (76 per cent) say "our way of life needs to be protected against foreign influence." and most (61 per cent) feel strongly about this, again, an intensity of feeling that is see n in only a few other countries (notably Turkey, Bangladesh and Pakistan).
There is overwhelming support for religious freedom India; 81 per cent say it is very important and 78 per cent say their country does a very good job of providing it.
By a 63 per cent to 36 per cent margin most feel the more satisfying marriage is the one where both work and share home responsibilities, rather than one where the husband works and the wife cares for the home and children.
Support for democratic institutions is strong in India, and most say that maintaining a good democracy is a higher priority than a strong economy. Bureau Report