Globalization, Glocalization, and the Changing Nature of Pilgrimage in a Post-Secular World

Abstract

Globalization is a commonly used term to describe the rapid changes and spatial transformations that have taken place on a global scale over the past forty years. The purpose of this paper is to examine how globalization has influenced pilgrimage from a geographical perspective. This paper begins with a discussion on globalization and glocalization. Attention is then turned to the changing use of the term and practice of pilgrimage in the modern, and post-secular world. The text then discusses ten ways in which modern pilgrimage travel has changed due to globalization, including: the democratization of pilgrimage; changes in the sacred laws of hospitality; the increasing medicalization of pilgrimage; pilgrims as an unwanted guest; technology and the pilgrimage experience; the over-commodification and monetization of pilgrimage; the segmenting of pilgrimage and tourism; pilgrimage as spectacle and play; transplanted pilgrimages; and pilgrimage as a sustainable practice(?), are discussed before concluding.

Keywords

• globalization
• glocalization
• pilgrimage
• post-secularity
• technology
• conmodification
• tourism