Cultural Globalization

1/ Summarize :

The globalization is a multidimensional phenomenon, that is it is made in several different domains. It’s the fast process which engenders the increase of connectivities worldwide. It has naturally obvious effects in our everyday lifes, mainly in our use of the technologies of communication. We live in a much more connected world, in which we share the same concerns on the world and in which the other cultures influence our own lifestyle.

The economy is the most important element in the phenomenon of globalization, however it can’t be considered as the cause of this process. On one hand, the economy works independently of the culture, that is the human apsiration. And on the other hand, the globalization has impacts on the culture.

The cultural globalization is sometimes called americanization, cultural imperialism or westernization, what is perceived as the domination of a culture on the others.

Our personal acts are influenced by our own culture and our acts and our lifestyle influence the world markets. There is a mutual influence between the globalization and the culture.

A speculation about the globalization is that it will bring has a world unique culture. Indeed, we can see the unifying effects of the existing connectivity worldwide. The local problesm become world concerns with effects on the rest of the world.

However, the world does not become there for all that unified. The globalization is an uneven process. Indeed, the most developed countries are more involved there and have more influence on the rest of the world. Whereas the less developed countries, as the Third World, participate little in the globalization.

There is a threat in the globalization which is the American imperialism. An example is the total domination of the present big American brands signs in all the parts of the globe. This phenomenon of americanization could bring to the loss of the other cultures. Having said that, you should not confuse the consumption of cultural property with the cultural practices.

The world connectivity engenders a shock of civilizations, moving closer to very different cultures. So, certain Muslim countries oppose the globalization, being afraid that this globalization installs the culture western as the ideal culture. Historically, already, the Christianity placed its own culture in the center of the world. In the 13th century, we attend a domination of elements stemming from the Christianity. At that time, all these tracks of the Christianity strenghten the idea of a world unified around the same faith.

In the 20th century, Marx and Engels anticipate the phenomenon of globalization in their works, in which they speak about a universal unique world. Marw was convinced internationalist, however his thought was Eurocentric and he did not take into account the impact of the ethnic and religious links in the modernity. The neo-Marxists are as for them, more pessimistic than Marx about the perspectives of the globalization. The liberal culture of today claims as for her the cultural difference. Today, we must be cosmopolitan and not impose a particular culture.

The cultural globalization can be approached in a different way by analyzing its effects on the various localities. The culture is bound to the locality, its history and its way of functioning. In spite of the globalization, every place keeps its cultural specificity, in places the most connected to the globalization. The deterritorialization, the aspect of the globalization is smelt in our daily actions and in our personal choices. The telemediatization, forms of deterritorialization, also acts on our lives and our values. The modern life moves forward with the fast rhythm of the technologies. This immediate access engenders more opening at people who think more global. For those who consider the globalization as a threat, the cultural identity is perceived as fragile and endangered. Yet, the plurality of the positions of identity is possible. Today, the idea is to preserve the local practices while valuing the equality and the world solidarity.

2/ Mention of any new, interesting, or unusual items learned :

An interesting point is the influence which the religion has on our current thoughts ! Certain more and more atheistic countries keep nevertheless religious values anchored well in their thoughts. We can read in this text, an opposition between the Christian countries and the countries having a religion particularistic as the Islam. The Christianity leaves no room in the cultural difference and takes place in the center of the world as the unique thought. In opposition, the more particulatistic religions leave a place with the humanity of the other people. The Christian ethnocentric thought is present always in our modern time. And it is maybe one of the causes of what we canc all the westernization.

3/ Identify at least one question that’s either problematic :

An interesting question that I settle is : can we exceed the shock of civilizations ? Indeed, the globalization moves closer to very different cultures. The globalization is moreover rejected by the Muslim world. Its cultural opposition engenders conflicts all over the world. The globalization is a process which we can’t prevent. In these conditions, how live together cith civilizations which do not wish it ? How to establish a climate of safety between civilizations having opposite values ?