CULINARY RESILIENCE IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD: HOW SOCIAL NORMS NEGOTIATE TRADITION AND ADAPTATION

Abstract

Purpose – This study investigates how macro-level forces and micro-level cultural constructs shape food culture resilience in different societies. It bridges the knowledge gaps between cultural preservation and adaptation. Research methodology – PLS-SEM methodology was adopted in the survey data of six coun-tries. Bootstrapping verified path coefficients and model robustness. Findings – Cultural Openness supports Heritage, preventing globalization from disempow-ering myths. Social Pressure drives food culture resilience (FCR) in collectivistic cultures yet is diluted in individualistic settings. Taboos subside in secular/pluralistic settings, replicating trends for moral flexibility. Enhanced predictivity for institutionally institutionalized civilizations facilitates easier observation by the models of modest to considerable FCR variation. Research limitations – Cross-sectional data limit causal inferences. Unmeasured variables could also affect outcomes in transition countries. Practical applications – Strategies should be implemented with cultural correctness by poli-cymakers and marketers. For instance, leveraging openness to redefine traditions in multicul-tural settings, framing dietetic interventions as collective efforts in collectivist contexts, and customizing products with flexible ethical schema in secular settings. Originality/Value – This research fills macro-micro cultural theory gaps, suggesting “adaptive preservation” as a driver of traditions in a globalizing world. This research shakes homogeni-zation discourses, providing a rich model for cultural.