EN
In the context of the debate about the globalisation processes, the author describes Göran Therborn's theory of globalisation phases and Immanuel Wallerstein's arguments about European universalism as a concept strongly connected with the colonial, post-colonial and neo-liberal discourse of power. The second part of the article contains reflections on the contacts between Japan and the external world, mainly Euro-American world, and particularly in the Meiji period. Processes of economic and social transformation of Japan under external influence have been explained. This was the time of profound transformations in the cultural space and everyday life (the reform of the calendar and holidays, introduction of Shinto - state religion). Examples taken from the Japanese history clearly show how the so-called Westernization (i.e. globalisation) has become a factor of destruction of traditional systems. On the other hand, Western (global) ideas have been transformed and adapted to the local cultural conditions.