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Getting to Know 5 Communities in America that Preserve Traditions and Resist Globalization. From the Amish fields in Pennsylvania to the Indian villages in Arizona, these five groups maintain their traditional way of life while resisting the influence of globalization.. 1. Amish in Pennsylvania – A Life Without Electricity
A morning on an Amish farm, the sound of roosters crowing unites with the rumble of horse-drawn vehicles crossing the dusty road. No smartphones, no television; only traditional farm equipment is meticulously maintained. According to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies , there were approximately 350,000 Amish people scattered throughout the United States in 2020, with the majority concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. This community voluntarily rejects the use of modern technology, following a belief that emphasizes simplicity, self-sufficiency, and family togetherness.
2. Hutterite in Canada-US – A Collective Community Based on Agriculture
In the grasslands of Saskatchewan and Montana, multi-story stone houses accommodate hundreds of people who share agricultural produce collectively. Hutterite, rooted in the 16th-century Anabaptist movement, practices a cooperative economic system where each member contributes labor and receives a share of the produce according to their needs. Although they are located in an area connected to the outside world, they maintain an old German language in worship and avoid mass media, making their lifestyle almost isolated from the globalizing current.
3. Navajo Tribe – Preserving Cultural Heritage on Sacred Land
On the Arizona highlands, the Navajo tribe carves traditional dances on rocks and weaves colorful rugs that tell the story of their ancestors. According to data from the US Census Bureau, there are approximately 300,000 Navajo members living on 27,000 square miles of reserved land. Despite the pressure of infrastructure development, many Navajo communities reject oil and gas projects that threaten their sacred land, protecting their way of life based on small-scale farming, handmade crafts, and spiritual beliefs.
4. Old Order Mennonite – Simplicity in a Digital World
Unlike the Amish, who reject all forms of motorization, the Old Order Mennonite allows the use of horse-drawn vehicles but rejects internet at home. This community is scattered across several states, including Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Kansas. Their lives revolve around church, religious school, and organic farming. Studies by the Mennonite Central Committee show that more than 70% of families in this community choose homeschooling to control the curriculum that aligns with traditional values.
5. Hmong Community in Minnesota – Reviving Traditions in a New Land
After fleeing the conflict in Laos, thousands of Hmong people settled in small towns in Minnesota in the 1970s. Although integrated into the American economy, they still maintain traditional clothing, qeej music, and complex funeral rites. Studies by the University of Minnesota note that approximately 40% of Hmong families still practice small-scale farming in their backyards, growing traditional vegetables like cabbage and cucumbers, as a way to preserve their cultural identity.
Conclusion
These five communities demonstrate that in the midst of globalization, there is space to preserve traditional ways of life. Whether through rejecting technology, preserving old languages, or rejecting industrial projects, they assert their right to determine their own cultural fate. In a world that is increasingly connected, their existence serves as a tangible example that choices rooted in tradition are still relevant and resilient.