Globalization can be described as the transfer and merging of ideas from one country to another. Therefore, it may seem as if globalization only affects economics and politics. Political affects of globalization are easiest to understand, such as the spreading of democracy and other types of governments across the world. It affects economics in that countries export their own products and import other products, to continue the flow of money. However, it affects far more than that. Culturally, globalization has opened many doors of communication between parts of the world that had previously not communicated. This can be seen by the statement “New media crossing national frontiers are giving people access to information and ideas that those in authority, in national societies, have sought to suppress” (Curran and Park 7). Socially, countries use globalization to export their culture. For example, some American singers are popular in other countries and the United States gets many of its fashion trends from other nations.
In terms of global communication, globalization has made it much easier for the world to communicate with each other. Leaders of countries worldwide can communicate fast and efficiently, which is extremely helpful in times of crisis. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter also play a big role in the social aspect of globalization because they spread culture fast. Cultures of countries around the world also spread more, using types of media and other influences, due to globalization. “Far from promoting self-sufficiency, the ‘modernization’ of developing countries merely fosters dependency within an exploitative system of global economic relations. It promotes American capitalist values and interests, and erodes local culture in a process of global homogenization” (Curran and Park 5). This statement shows how globalization is used to benefit the wealthier countries while poorer countries do whatever they can to make money.
This idea actually helps to explain the different directions of globalization theory. This idea, would of course, be liked by the political economists, due to the fact that it deals with the idea of capitalist victory. Cultural theorists would be more interested in the fact that because of globalization, ideas from fashion to language are shared throughout the world. Although these two ideas are rather different, they both seem to be true. Society changes with the effects of globalization, yet it doesn’t seem to be drastically “building [a] progressive society” or “weakening [the] progressive movement” (Curran and Park 10-11). I believe that the change is just that- a change in how the world works that is neither hurting nor benefiting society in a major way.
In addition, the access to communication also plays a role in globalization. Wealthier nations are bound to be more involved in the world due to the fact that they have the technologies that allow this. On the other hand, a country like Tuvalu or Nauru, which most people have never even heard of, is bound to be less involved in global actions, due to the fact that they are small countries that they don’t have the necessary technologies available to them. This idea is known as equality of access. Therefore, globalization doesn’t actually happen globally- it only happens in the nations wealthy enough to afford it.
Globalization. In De-Westernizing Media Studies (pp. 3-18). New York: Routledge.
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Do you think that globalization has harmed poorer countries like Mexico? While the wealthier countries may benefit in many ways I think globalization has also aided the poorer nations. From an economic prospective globalization has given the poorer nations a chance to produce goods and provide employment for those who would otherwise be unemployed.
ReplyDeleteIts like that long fought question on whether or not sweat shops are good. While I don't condone the horrible conditions present in a sweat shop they do provide the people of these poor countries with a wage and a chance to buy food. Sweatshops and the like area necessary step to a wealthier nation. Our own country went through its factory stages and we are moving on.
Jenna, you did a great job of exploring the different areas that globalization can affect a country in. In regards to the cultural impacts of globalization, you mainly focused on how globalization will benefit countries by spreading their culture abroad, giving them a larger audience.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the negative affects of globalization on a culture, such as that country's culture being lost under an influx of foreign culture (as can be seen in many far Eastern countries that are influenced by the Western World) are outweighed by the positives?
It certainly seems like it would only help out some countries while hurting others.
Soriano- I feel that although the poorer countries do benefit from globalizaton, they end up getting hurt more. Sure, they are able to make money from the jobs that are provided, but the money is never enough. As companies pay them, the prices on things worldwide constantly increase and therefore the workers never make enough to atually make a profit.
ReplyDeleteRussell- I think it depends on which country you're looking at when you decide whether or not globalization is good. For countries that can use globalization to outsource labor and make higher profits, I would say that globalization is great. However, for the poorer countries that have to do all of the labor, I'm not sure that I would say globalization is good. So, therefore, I agree with you in you're statement that it helps some countries while hurting others.