Globalization is truly a complex phenomenon. It indicates that the world today is getting smaller, people from all around the world are interconnected than before. Globalization is driven by a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, and political factors.
Jan Aart Scholte states that ‘Some people have associated “globalization” with progress, prosperity and peace. For others, however, the word has conjured up deprivation, disaster and doom.’ In these paper I will discuss positive and negative impact of globalization on society: at social, cultural, economical and political level.
Can we expect a growing homogenization of culture globally- what george ritzer (1996) It is true that globalization can affect people’s identities and cultural values; which can be altered significantly. Although, at the same time globalization is expanding the knowledge of foreign cultures. Today’s young generations are developing an identity that gives them a sense of belonging to a worldwide culture, they are aware of trends, styles, events and facts that are a part of the global culture.
The media such as television and Internet, are allowing user to pass on the message instantly anywhere in the world and makes it easy for person to adopt different culture. For instance, the individual from non-western cultures, who are altering their own cultural values and beliefs, and accepting western culture in response to globalization. Article in Postcard: New Delhi propose, women in India prefer wearing western clothings instead of sarees, Furthermore, in India at the dinner table, they serve pizza, pasta and noodles, instead of traditional Indian food.
At the same time, westerners adopting eastern culture; they are exploring the yoga and meditation. In a globalized world, you may see McDonalds and Starbucks everywhere in the world. Nevertheless, the same globalization escort various nation cuisines across the world to explore. Think of all the quality Thai, Chinese, Indian or Mexican restaurants arising across the world over the past two decade.
I think the next generation is adopting the foremost concept and ideas of different culture. Additionally, globalization allows us to explore different religions, which we were unable to reach previously due to the distance. At present, one can be sitting in Alaska and exploring Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, chinese traditional religion or various African/native American religions and learning about it. While in the past, person had limited choices, they could learn the only one religion that local spiritual teachers could teach. Although now, you have the option of learning multiple religion and follow the one that brings inner most peace for you. Although, we are getting multicultural and slowly accepting the diversity of human culture; were people will respect each human being and accept there cultural beliefs. Moreover, in the globally connected world, we might not be as blended as many people concern off.
For instance, over the Internet the standard form of language is English because it is considered as the world’s common language. At the same time, internet also has facility for the speakers of various small languages, to get connected and build common ideas. For the example, you may find various regional Wikipedia over the internet. Before the globalization, we did not had encyclopedias in different regional languages, the Encyclopedia were only in English. Today, we have a various set of language in “Wikipedia” that allows people from other region to expand their knowledge using the language they are comfortable with. Also, the people from various region has opperchunity to learn different languages.
As we globalizing and blanding together, we are making sure to preserve the values of others. Furthermore, economic globalisation refers to the corporation; which compete internationally yet at the same time serves the law of nation where they originally operating from.The globalization promotes free trade which allow global economic growth. In recent years, from many western countries and the US have shifted some of their labour intensive industries to developing countries. For the example, in the America more than 50% of the workforces of firms such as Ford, General Motors, IBM, and Exxon reside outside the United State (Sassen 1994). Which create jobs in developing countries and lifts many people out of poverty line. According to a recent United Nations Development Report (1996), whilst globalisation has been a catalyst in reducing poverty and enhancing the quality of life worldwide.
On other hand, the competition between the business makes them more competitive and to attract the consumer they lower the price of goods.Traditionally politics has been undertaken within national political systems. National governments have been ultimately responsible for maintaining the security and economic welfare of their citizens, as well as the protection of human rights and the environment within their borders. With global ecological changes, an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political activity increasingly takes place at the global level.Under globalization, politics can take place above the state through political integration schemes such as the European Union and through intergovernmental organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Political activity can also transcend national borders through global movements and NGOs.
Civil society organizations act globally by forming alliances with organizations in other countries, using global communications systems, and lobbying international organizations and other actors directly, instead of working through their national governments.