4/15 readings

In Chapter 59, what stood out to me was how globalization affects people on a personal level, especially in the workplace. The example of Indian IT workers showed that being skilled at your job is not always enough to succeed in a global environment. Workers are expected to adapt to Western norms, like speaking English fluently and changing how they communicate and present themselves. Because of that, many of them end up balancing two identities—one connected to their own culture and another that fits the global workplace. In a way, this creates pressure to change parts of who they are just to succeed, which I never really thought about before. It also shows that while companies say they value diversity, they may still expect employees to fit a certain global standard.

The article “Globalization is Over” by David Brooks presents a different perspective by arguing that globalization is starting to fall apart. Instead of bringing countries together, it seems like there is more conflict and division now, especially with the rise of nationalism. A clear example of this is global conflicts like the war between Russia and Ukraine, which shows how countries are focusing more on their own interests rather than cooperation. Because of that, globalization doesn’t look as strong or unified as it once did. At the same time, I agree with the idea that globalization was never going to fully succeed in making the world follow one set of values, especially Western ones. Every country has its own culture and traditions, and people are not going to give those up easily just because another system is seen as “better.”

The NPR article about music shows a more positive side of globalization. It explains how, especially in the 2010s, artists began reaching global audiences through world tours, social media, and streaming platforms. Because of that, people are now exposed to music from different cultures more than ever before. Artists like BTS and Bad Bunny are good examples of how music can cross cultural boundaries and gain popularity worldwide. In a way, music brings people together even when there are political or cultural differences. This shows that globalization can still create connections, even if it is not working as well in other areas like politics or economics.

Another important idea comes from Chapter 56 and the E-reserve reading, which focus on how globalization is viewed by different groups, especially religious organizations. These groups are often critical of globalization because they believe it is too focused on money and ignores issues like inequality and human dignity. For example, Pope John Paul II argued that globalization can harm poorer countries by increasing inequality and concentrating power. At the same time, the E-reserve reading suggests that globalization has turned into more of a “culture war,” where countries are competing based on their values, beliefs, and identities rather than working together. Because of that, it seems like understanding different cultures is more important now than just focusing on economic connections. Overall, these readings show that globalization is complicated, and while it can connect people, it can also create division depending on how it is experienced.