The Process of Globalization
The dynamic process of growing connection between various people, cultures, ideas, and points of view is known as globalization. With globalization, there are many cultural similarities that lead to integration. The borders between many cultures are blurred by globalization, resulting in the creation of a new, universal culture. Researchers that study globalization and its impact on regional identity agree that the aggressiveness of market economics and communication technology in the 21st century has resulted in widespread globalization. Due to the increased interaction between people from different continents, the world is now seen as a little town. Undoubtedly, the many benefits that globalization has been credited with, both politically and economically, have led to support for it. Ideas and knowledge can be shared all over the world within seconds. Furthermore, companies have expanded their markets, and people already have more autonomy of traveling to any part to do whatever is right for prosperity. However, even with such accrued benefits of globalization, drawbacks of globalization are a worrying factor in society. The destruction of the culture that comes with globalization cannot be taken lightly. With people trying to go global, the resultant effect is that people have ended up leaving their lifestyles and adopting other people's culture through a process of westernization. The research paper will focus on the destruction of local culture through globalization. The paper will go a step further in providing effects of globalization on the confined identity and integration of cultures has affected pop culture.
When did Globalization Start?
The source of globalization in the previous eras has not been provided an exact point of its start, as there were so many activities that could have led to its emergence. To some people, globalization began from the transport of different commodities from various parts of the world to Europe. Others argue that the discovery of America during the period of the slave trade gave rise to globalization while other groups are of the view that it started on the onset of the industrial revolution in the 19th century (Crane et al. 35). On the contrary, others relate globalization to the continued urge in human beings to expand knowledge to lead better lives in the future. However, one thing that is clear with globalization is that the more humankind tends to move from one locale to the other and the more communication is passed among various corners of the world, the more globalization continues to gain deep roots in society (Crane et al. 38).
Effects of Globalization on Local Identity
Local identity is the appreciation of one's culture and the feeling that an individual would want to be associated with the culture. Social identity gives an individual a sense of superiority and self-worth. Without a local personality, individuals might always find it difficult to fit in society due to the many changes associated with technology. Globalization is the primary factor that has affected local identity (Cleveland et al. 1092). While people in the 18th and 19th century enjoyed their regional identity, the wake of globalization in the 20th century disrupted people's local identity by bringing in other characters such as westernization. As such, the trend poised by globalization from the 20th century onwards continues to affect society negatively. In fact, globalization relentlessly continues to disintegrate local identity, leaving a dilemma on how cultures and personalities can be preserved while globalization is entangling them at a fast pace (Martell, 94).
The Effects of Globalization on Local Identity
The effects of globalization on local identity have its merits and demerits. On its benefits, globalization has led to the acceptance of some cultural forms internationally. Globalization of cultural forms creates cultural contacts in various parts of the globe. Cultural music such as Jazz and Reggae were local identities of cultures, but they have been accepted and accommodated in the world. Alongside the benefits of such accommodation of such cultural music does not undermine individual cultures initially present in a particular society. Moreover, such globally Accepted music contributes to no harm to local culture since such music contains words of wisdom, virtues, and teachings of daily life (Rosenmann et al., 203).
Globalization as a Source of Social Unity
Globalization is a source of social unity. The era of globalization, especially in the 21st century, is not comparable to the period of the first and Second World War. In the age of globalization, people are experiencing a considerable degree of peace and harmony due to increased interconnectedness. Much of the integration is due to the high participation of more than 200 countries in international sports across the global divide. Universal games such as the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup represent the tranquility shared among different countries worldwide. Besides, the effects of globalization on local identity have led to social acceptance and appreciation of different cultures. Globalization enables people to travel all over the world, allowing them to interact with people from different cultures and understand their way of life. Such interactions are a source of scientific inventions that have helped in the cure of ailments. For instance, the Indian culture is widely known for its abundant knowledge of medicinal herbs. Similarly, the exchange of goods between various cultures through enabled globalization has helped cultures to gain international identification. Evidently, not all such happenings undermine a local culture (Rosenmann et al., 206).
The Adverse Effects of Globalization on Local Identity
Since globalization is not full of glamour, it has some adverse effects on local culture. Through globalization and westernization, individual identity has been replaced by westernization. Globalization has suppressed local customs to a point where even domestic industries cannot survive anymore. Cultures that were capable of producing their cultural commodities can no longer do the same due to absorption of commodities from western civilization. Local identity encourages the consumption of local products such as traditionally brewed beer, clothes made from hides and pottery (Crane et al., 106). However, such commodities have ceased in existence, and different cultures around the world are left with no specific identity that can identify them. Individuals from the Asian continent are commonly identified with the hijabs as their mode of dressing.
However, through globalization that comes from traveling to a new destination in seek of education and jobs, individuals from Asian cultures have ceased from their mode of dressing and accommodated different dressing that cannot identify them from other cultures. When such local commodities are not utilized, the high chances are that domestic industries fall as well. On the other hand, the death of sectors means that a culture cannot be competitive in the world market, as it will not have anything to display to the outside world. As such, society is obliged to adopt foreign commodities, which in the end undermines local identity. Globalization brings fort homogeneity in specialties, and such uniformity lacks identity (Martel, 205). Multinational corporations have provided homogeneity in products, but result in income inequalities in one culture making the dependents.
The Abuse of Rules and Norms through Globalization
Another adverse effect of globalization on local identity is that the rules and norms that govern society are abused leading to wrath. Local identity has a high regard for standards that are expected to be followed by a specific group of people. For instance, Muslims are expected to follow Sharia law. However, when Muslims travel abroad, globalization makes such people conform to the fundamental tenets accepted internationally, thus causing the fall of religion which is part of a local identity. Most societies in the African continent used to be guided by a set of rules put in place for the common good of the people involved but globalization has eroded such rules. As a result, the cultures experience cultural harm since it eliminates the peaceful coexistence that identified the group (Cleveland, 1096).
Cultural Confusion Caused by Globalization
Globalization is a cause of cultural confusion among individuals. Individuals who have lost their identity through globalization are not able to identify between right and wrong since their inner self is tampered. Such individuals can accommodate any behavior without understanding the consequences of that action. Individuals whose identity has been taken away through globalization cannot lead ethical lives (Rosenmann, 214). Notably, the rise of immorality among the youth results from the inability to tell what is considered morally acceptable in society and what is considered an abomination.
The Influence of Communication Technologies on Local Identity
While globalization is believed to integrate people through new communication platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there is more harm than good in these communication technologies. The issues considered as private continue to be shared across the digital platforms. Moreover, the emergence of these communication technologies has taken away the primary identity of a family. Nowadays, the social fabric of a family has been lost. To that effect, children have nobody to offer guidance in their course of life. As such, children at a young age abuse drugs leading to uncertainty in the existence of a future generation. Communication technologies continue to influence the individual views of people making them vulnerable to the worldview present on the internet (Crane et al., 214). Nowadays individuals are dependent thinkers as they rely on the internet for information. As such, people end up adopting ideas and views of others making them lose discrete identity.
Efforts to Protect Religion from Westernization
As westernization that is a result of globalization continues to take up different societies in the world, some countries are increasingly raising awareness of the menace attributed to globalization. Nations from the Asian continent, for instance, are strict in their religion. Since they would not want to lose their faith, those countries have initiated processes and measures that can help in safeguarding their religion. Different countries in the Asian continent are popularly known to follow Islam religion to the latter. The states too have not been left in the efforts to safeguard their faith. The most significant step that has been taken by countries in the region is opening up to local media that is supposed to produce and air local content. As such, the influence of westernization is expected to reduce since the local press will inform, educate and remind people of their own culture and religion. Converse to the BBC from westernized countries, Aljazeera has become more popular and acceptable in the Asian region. Such nations that place due importance on religion must take advantage of the available platforms to communicate religion practices and values as a means of protecting it (Cottee, 171).
China is one of the countries that are cautious about the effect of social media on the culture of its people. As a way of controlling the results that are caused by the social platforms, the country does not allow the use of some new media technologies to ensure that their religion culture and values are safeguarded for the future and present generations.
The Impact of Globalization on Pop Culture
Pop culture is expressed in the world today through entertainment from television shows, music, movies, satellite broadcasts and newspapers not forgetting the change in foods and modes of dressing. Pop culture is also called popular culture due to its dominance in most parts of the world. Debate on globalization and pop culture is formed on the basis that globalization of such kind is Americanization. To an extent, the argument can be valid since the United States has been the home of pop culture, whereby, their entertainment industry has generated a lot of revenue especially from overseas. Over the years, the rest of the world has over depended on the entertainment industry of the United States. Most countries have been imperialized by the pop culture of the United States due to the importation of such westernized entertainment (Crothers, 201).
Due to globalization, more than 75% of the world depends on entertainment films from the US. Moreover, there is a high dependency on the broadcast platform such as CNN and Reuters. As such, many countries are losing their culture to westernization. Globalization has enabled media companies from the US to spread media in the form of books, music, and other forms of pop culture to other countries in the African and Asian continents. Besides, globalization has allowed for the expansion of businesses overseas (Crothers, 203). Through such developments, the American food chain markets have found their way into other countries. As a result, the countries in which American food chain stores have dominated have left their cultural foods for American food stores such as McDonald's.
Conclusion
The effects of globalization on local culture are massive and need to be addressed by societies by use of a more sober approach. However, there is still a challenge since globalization continues to expand due to advancements in technology every day. Moreover, it is difficult to draw the line between those cultures that need to be preserved since all individuals from different parts of the world have so many distinctive cultures. People must be careful with the culture they absorb as a result of globalization. Taking note of the positive attributes that come with globalization is paramount. However, the adverse effects should be taken into account and measures to mitigate those impacts should be established and be adhered to avoid the loss of local culture. It is an accepted fact that globalization cannot be turned back into inexistence, and therefore individuals have a role in ensuring that their lifestyles are not swept away by the wave of globalization. Nation-states also have an imperative role in guaranteeing dominant cultures do not assimilate the cultural identities of its people. The use of stringent policies can go a long way in controlling the effect of globalization on local culture, failure to which a country can become a failed state. Some aspects of culture, such as religion, must be protected from the adverse effects of globalization since faith is essential to people's lives. Pluralism is reasonable since it opens up the world to be a free market while providing an avenue for the interchange of views for the betterment of people's lives, but precautions must be kept underway to ensure continuity and change do not eventually disintegrate people's moral consciousness.
Work Cited
Cleveland, Mark, et al. “Identity, culture, dispositions and behavior: A cross-national examination of globalization and culture change.” Journal of Business Research 69.3 (2016): 1090-1102.
Cottee, Simon. The Apostates : when Muslims leave Islam. London: C Hurst & Company, 2015. Print.
Crane, Diana, Nobuko Kawashima, and Ken’ichi Kawasaki, eds. Global culture: Media, arts, policy, and globalization. Routledge, 2016.
Crothers, Lane. Globalization and American popular culture. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.
Martell, Luke. “The Sociology of Globalization, 2016-Introduction.” (2017).
Rosenmann, Amir, Gerhard Reese, and James E. Cameron. “Social identities in a globalized world: challenges and opportunities for collective action.” Perspectives on Psychological Science 11.2 (2016): 202-221.
