What is globalization?

What is globalization?

1. Summary.

This reading is about the notion of globalization. Unlikely with the many other theories, Globalization has a somehow open definition, in other words, it is still contested concept. There had been many separated, several concepts provided by several authors. It is highly important that Globalization cannot be reified by an ontological way but plural meanings. For examples, Velho(1997) emphasized that the having an inter-subjectivity is crucial. If someone take his own perspectival position, all the devised notion of globalization contributes to the development of complex, mutual-cooperative notion of the globalization. In Velho paradigm, Globalization is understood as a ‘direction’ which guide the whole world to the some circumstance. However, Globalization may have some concerns about the negative effects. Globalization caused inequalities between nations combining with the capitalistic paradigm through open markets, free trade, and deregulation. In the standpoint of the dimensions of globalization, there are three main dimensions of such, economic, political, and cultural. And moreover the cultural dimension has become much more important because of the influences combined with the economic dimension. For examples, there are McDonaldization by Ritzer. Ritzer pointed out the cultural imperialism, which contributed a lot to the latent Globalization. Despite of the attempts to spread the consumption of goods or services, it is very important to adapt specific brands to local, cultural circumstances.

Also, Globalization is distinguished by two major directional tendencies, increasing global connection and global consciousness. This consciousness does not mean consensus, a shared sense of the world as a whole. In case of the form of Globalization, like the United Nations, globalization is focused on nation-states, world politics, individuals, and humankind. It is important to understand what features, dimensions, and forms consist of globalization. We are living the most globalized historical stage ever, so we have to understand our position in the globalized world more in detail.

2. new items I learned from the article.

I was very impressed about the inter-subjectivity of globalization. It means the mutual understanding and mutual respect about what they had been found. Such as glocalization, there are many good and bad aspects and by-products derived from globalization. For example, by the economic perspectives, there exist severe inequalities in the world. Definitely, some countries are economically powerful but some countries are not. In these circumstances, the side-effects derived from globalization costs a lot to the developing countries. It maybe lead the developing countries’ status to the one similar with economical imperialism in the past. For example, by the FTA, many countries are connected by free trade. But somehow the result of FTA only cause to reinforce the advanced country’s interests. In the cultural aspects, as well, the influences of the advanced country threaten to disappear the poor country’s own culture. Under these circumstances, there have no choice but to be generated numerous theories and studies reflecting each country’s conditions, good or bad. But the Globalization is always contested concept, not a single definition. It was interesting to me that every opinion and theory could be considered to be convinced, and regarded as a whole living discourse.

3. discussion point.

My discussion point about globalization is what personal qualities will be needed to survive in the fast-changing globalized world or not to fall behind from the change. We are living in the globalized society and world. Moreover, the information technologies growth very fast day by day. In this fast changing society, we encountered both chances to progress our cultural, economical status and risks to lose our own identities and subjectivities. Also, by the progress of the internet, the importance and influence of public or individual are becoming much more effective. We can easily find information from the foreign public by the SNS or web sites. Our informative territory is expanded for worldwide. In this manner, what effort could we take as an individual to maintain our own history and identity?