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Globalization of Culture
Technology has now created the possibility and even the likelihood of a global culture. The Internet, fax machines, satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries. Global entertainment companies shape the perceptions and dreams of ordinary citizens, wherever they live. This spread of values, norms, and culture tends to promote Western ideals of capitalism. Will local cultures inevitably fall victim to this global "consumer" culture? Will English eradicate all other languages? Will consumer values overwhelm peoples' sense of community and social solidarity? Or, on the contrary, will a common culture lead the way to greater shared values and political unity? This section looks at these and other issues of culture and globalization.
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Globalization
Articles and Documents
2008 |2007 |2006 | 2005 | 2004 | Archived Articles
2008
Universities Rush to Set Up Outposts Abroad (February 10, 2008)
This International Herald Tribune article reports on “university globalization,” referring to the trend of US universities creating campuses overseas. For instance, students in Doha, Qatar can pursue a degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University. This development raises a number of questions. Is it merely a way for more students to access higher education? Or is it another way to export US culture?
2007
For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion (April 15, 2007)
This New York Times article reports that an increasing percentage of Hispanic immigrants to the US “are abandoning church,” suggesting that “along with assimilation comes a measure of secularization.” Hispanic church leaders fear that “the spiritual tradition of the church,” although prevalent throughout most of Latin America, may not be strong enough to withstand “the influence of Americanized pop culture.”In Many Business Schools, the Bottom Line Is in English (April 10, 2007)
This New York Times article reports that English is rapidly becoming a global language in academia. At least 1,700 universities in countries with another host language offer master’s degree programs in English, and an increasing number of schools “have stepped up English-language requirements” at undergraduate levels as well. Directors of these programs aim to prepare students “to be global leaders in this new era of internationalization,” arguing that a universal teaching language is a necessary and “natural consequence of globalization.”Brazil Rainforest Internet Plan (March 30, 2007)
In an effort to curb illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil plans to offer free internet access to the indigenous communities which are “the true protectors of their areas.” Although some members of the communities fear that the introduction of computers and the internet may “erode indigenous culture,” others argue it will encourage the rainforest’s estimated 20 million inhabitants “to join the authorities in the environmental management” of the Amazon and open communication between the native tribes and the Brazilian government. (BBC)Wi-Fi Buses Drive Rural Web Use (March 29, 2007)
Buses equipped with wireless internet servers are bringing Bollywood tunes, e-mail and celebrity gossip to remote villages in developing countries. United Villages, which runs the project, hopes the internet access will increase global awareness and open employment opportunities to rural villagers who otherwise have very limited communication with the outside world. (BBC)India Attracts Universities from the US (March 26, 2007)
This New York Times article on the “Americanization of Indian education” reports that a growing number of US universities are operating satellite campuses and partnership programs in India. Universities such as Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, and Columbia Business School argue that this trend will “expand their global reach” and “tap into the Indian market” in response to increasing demand in Asia for higher-education opportunities.
2006
The Globalization Index 2006 (November-December 2006)
In this sixth annual Globalization Index report Foreign Policy and A.T. Kearney rank 62 countries, accounting for 85 percent of the world’s population, according to their degree of globalization as measured by 12 variables. The variables fall in the four categories of economic integration, personal contact, technological connectivity, and political engagement, revealing also “the very different ways that countries are opening themselves up.” Throughout the report, the authors imply that more globalization is always better. However, despite this clearly positive and seemingly uncritical view of globalization, the report acknowledges that “highly globalized nations spew more carbon dioxide per capita than less globalized countries.”South-South Communications Lag Behind Trade Flows (November 22, 2006)
Reporting from a November 2006 seminar on international communication in Brazil, organizer Inter Press Service (IPS) highlights the commonly held view that stronger economic and political ties between countries of the global South have not been matched by a similar increase in South-South information flows. Some participants argued that a growing income and technology gap “between central and peripheral” countries impede efforts at “decentralizing” rich countries’ power and the Northern domination of the media. The president of the Group of 77 countries at the UN instead called for “more training and interaction to strengthen communication,” and proposed a new Southern news network, coordinated by IPS.The Three Rounds of Globalization (October 19, 2006)
Identifying “three rounds of globalization,” this the Globalist article argues that “globalization is not a new thing.” The exchange of ideas between ancient civilizations – the first round – fueled the rise of the West with industrial revolution and imperialism – the second round. Likewise, the transfer of Western ideas feeds the present rise of India and China – the third round. By these dynamics, the world is returning towards global equity, where India and China have a share of world income roughly similar to their share of people – as in the early 19th century. While appreciating this return to international equity as a “moral imperative,” the author fails to consider to what extent the economic development of these Asian countries takes place at the expense of domestic equity and the environment.Across Latin America, Mandarin Is in the Air (September 22, 2006)
Particularly since Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Latin America in 2004, relations between China and Latin America have strengthened. The total value of trade between them increased dramatically from US$10 billion in 2000 to US$50 billion in 2005. Similarly, the number of people across Latin America taking Chinese classes has increased substantially, this Washington Post article reports. With Latin America being the prime destination for Chinese investors, Latin Americans understand the importance of communicating in Mandarin.From Cultural Revolution to Culture Exports (July 28, 2006)
Although China’s booming economy influences global markets, the Chinese have not succeeded in universalizing Chinese culture to promote their image overseas. Japan and South Korea benefit from the globalization of culture, but China has yet to capitalize on the film, music, and art industries that serve the dual purpose of revenue and cultural promotion. Chinese government officials seek to encourage cultural exhibitions, especially in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. (Inter Press Service)At the UN, How We Envy the World Cup (June 9, 2006)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan describes the World Cup as a model for successful international politics. Annan points out four manners in which the international community could learn from the World Cup: accountability, conversation and analysis, equality, and willingness to learn from other countries. Individuals throughout the world dissect World Cup interactions with an enthusiasm and critical analysis often missing in political discussions. (International Herald Tribune)
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | Archived Articles
2005
Manifold Ways That Societies Express Themselves (November 2005)
At UNESCO’s General Conference, several governments signed the draft convention on the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions. The document aims to create an alternative to the WTO's “commercial” point of view and to combine states’ right to sovereignty with economic cooperation. To bring it into force, at least 30 countries will have to sign the document. (Le Monde Diplomatique)UN Body Endorses Cultural Protection - US Objections Are Turned Aside (October 21, 2005)
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has almost unanimously approved the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The document, which will go into effect as soon as 30 countries ratify it, allows countries to put in place “policies and measures” to defend their cultural expressions (music, art, language and ideas) from foreign competition. The convention has met strong opposition from the US which fears barriers for its profitable export of music and films. (Washington Post)All Cultures Are Not Equal (August 10, 2005)
“While global economy is converging, cultures are diverging,” claims conservative columnist David Brooks in this New York Times op-ed article. From conservatives in the suburban United States to Islamic extremists in Europe, people the world over are moving into “self-segregating communities,” enforcing their own subcultures and identities. The widening cultural differences “are leading us into a period of conflict, inequality and segmentation,” Brooks warns.In Bid to Globalize, US Colleges Offer Degrees in Asia (July 12, 2005)
With a booming education market in Asia, a growing number of US universities are launching graduate programs in the region, making it possible for students to acquire “a prestigious US diploma without ever having to leave home.” This trend, which involves standardization of curricula and increasing exchange of professors, moves closer to a “global model of education.” (Wall Street Journal)Indigenous People Want Power to Veto World Bank Plans (May 31, 2005)
The World Bank and other International Financial Institutions often consider development as “the only way forward” or the inevitable future for “underdeveloped” societies. But often, “development” means that the Bank places one culture’s traditions and values above another’s. Indigenous populations are taking a stand against the World Bank’s culturally insensitive development policies and demanding a veto over projects on their ancestral lands. (Inter Press Service)Identity and Human Rights in the Age of Globalization (May 2, 2005)
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the Muslim world faces no greater challenge than coming to terms with globalization, says this Zaman Online article. While failed immigrant integration policies in Europe and media attacks against Muslims in the US after 9/11 have strengthened their sense of religious identity, Muslims can no longer overlook human rights in upholding their culture. “A sense of legitimacy is essential to upholding self and collective identities,” and “the language of legitimacy today is human rights and democratization,” the author argues.For Mongolians, E Is for English, F Is for Future (February 15, 2005)
Fueled by the Internet, the spread of US culture and economic globalization, English takes hold in Mongolia. By making the country bilingual, the government hopes to find a “shortcut to development” and survive in a world of increasing competition. (New York Times)
2004
No, the Conquistadors Are Not Back. It's Just Wal-Mart (September 28, 2004)
In spite of protests and accusations of corruption, Mexican state officials have issued permission for Wal-Mart, the biggest private employer in Mexico, to establish one of its subsidiaries next to ancient Aztec ruins. Opponents call this the “new conquest,” others state that the project means “driving the stake of globalization into the heart of Mexican antiquity." (New York Times)Worlds Apart on the Vision Thing (August 17, 2004)
The rising “United States of Europe” is in many ways challenging the supremacy of the American Dream. This article argues that the developing European dream, articulated in a draft of the new European constitution, is the first transnational vision in which a “new global consciousness” is generated. (Globe and Mail)Olympics in an Age of Global Broadcasting (August 10, 2004)
Sports are not just games – beneath the surface lies a great deal of politics. This article highlights how the Olympic Games reinforce the political and cultural distinctiveness of individual nation-states and can be seen as a substitute for war, as physical prowess becomes a measure of a nation’s standing on the international arena. (Yale Globe)A Cultural Connection: Parents' Homelands Seek Lasting Link With Thoroughly American Teenagers (July 30, 2004)
Governments, religious organizations and educational institutions are sponsoring programs around the world to bring immigrants' children back to their countries of origin, for educational and cultural experiences. While directors hope the programs will reinvigorate participants' connections to their countries and cultures, the children have mixed responses, many seeing the trips as "free parties." (Washington Post)In 2,000 Years, Will the World Remember Disney or Plato? (January 15, 2004)
As the unrivaled global superpower the US exports its culture on an unprecedented scale, spreading it speedily and inexorably to every corner of the globe. This article discusses how US “cultural imperialism” both threatens and enriches foreign cultural diversity.(Christian Science Monitor)Localizing Cultures (January 13, 2004)
“Globalization is a declaration of war upon all other cultures” says this article. Cultural, social and religious disruptions are “inseparable spectral companions of economic globalization” in the attempt of the leaders of the globalizing world to “colonize the whole planet in their own image.”(Korea Herald)
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