Globalization's pros and cons are particularly interesting to me. In my previous classes, usually the cons are shallowly discussed and not really rebutted against. Globalization is a complicated topic, and it deals in shades of gray instead of black and white. One of the larger issues, that globalization can be interpreted as continued western imperialism, is particularly poignant. There are salient points that can be made, but the issue is that it is perceived as an overt act of westernization. I do not think they are necessarily wrong when regarding neoliberalism. The west’s policies of neoliberalism are the dominant economic ideals, especially when you look at the three sisters. Regarding economic policies, I think neoliberalism has won (for now). Plus, in countries that adopt certain policies that are perceived as "other" there is usually a corresponding rise in nationalism, or a resurgence in tradition. Whether its western tradition being imported to the east or vice versa. But culture, a form of soft power, should also be considered regarding globalization. The playing field is more even regarding soft power, communication, or technology. One example is the entertainment industry. Anime has been around for a long time now in U.S. culture, but now I am also seeing Korean and Chinese dramas on popular streaming platforms like Netflix. It is this soft power that connects regular people all over the world, forming “spontaneous communities” of individuals as the textbook calls it. I think this can be paralleled with companies as well. While certainly not spontaneous, large international corporations can connect you with co-workers in other countries, people you would never interact with normally. This can lead to meaningful and fulfilling connections. I feel that globalization’s faults are glossed over too easily, however the benefits it brings should not be ignored either.
1 comment:
I really liked your analogy that globalization is more of a shade of grey than black or white. There are both positive and negative impacts that globalization has on countries around the globe. Though globalization interconnects us, it also creates the loss of individual cultures. For example, many languages are disappearing, as English and more dominant languages are becoming the basis for business.
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