Assignment:
Abstract
This individual paper is leading by a research question: "Do you agree the statement that Globalization leads to cultural homogenization in the context of the domination of the West?"
Which the main body of this essay will be based on this topic, the purpose of this essay is to improve understanding of the concept and the use of globalization and culture homogenization. My view of this question will be present later in-text, and specific case studies and various valid will also support the ideas. Understanding this research question and answering them would be extremely beneficial for more future sociology studies.
Definitions
It is essential to understand what globalization is as it's a keyword to know how culture homogenization works and impact modern society. The description of globalization can be simplified as the process of international integration by the worldview, products, and other cultural elements. It grows at a rapid speed due to the development of transportation and communication technology in the 21st century and has become one of the most important bases of our modern society. The process of globalization is conducted by a various group of populations, government and sometimes global corporations.
In 2000, the IMF(International Monetary Fund) divided the basic concept of globalization as four parts: trade and international exchanges, capital and investment flow, population flows and dissemination of knowledge. However, as we are enjoying the benefits globalization brought us, we are also facing numerous consequences. Global warming, over-fishing, and air pollution are significantly linked with globalization, these are all potential threat to human livings are earth.
Culture homogenization is a critical part of "cultural globalization"(transmission of ideas, meanings, and values around the world in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations)(Globalism, Nationalism, Tribalism: Bringing Theory Back In by James P 2006). It stands for the reduction of cultural diversity in a nation's population, according to David O'Connor's "Encyclopedia of The Global Economy" in January 2006, he consider it as the "process by which local cultures are transformed or absorbed by a dominant outside culture." This term is very often found
An example of it can be McDonaldization which thesis in it's cultural
Except for westerner influence, Japanese animations, Indian Bollywood films and different religions can also reckon as use of cultural homogenization despite their though in most cases insignificant in comparison to the Western influence in other countries. The process of adoption of elements of global culture to local cultures is known as glocalization or cultural heterogenization
Cultural homogenization can impact national identity and culture, which would be "eroded by the impact of global cultural industries and multinational media". The term is usually used in the context of Western culture dominating and destroying other cultures. The process of cultural homogenization in the context of the domination of the Western (American), capitalist culture is also known as McDonaldization, coca-colonization, Americanization or Westernization and criticized as a form of cultural imperialism and neo-colonialism. This process has been resented by many indigenous cultures.
However, while some scholars, critical of this process, stress the dominance of American culture and corporate capitalism in modern cultural homogenization, others note that the process of cultural homogenization is not one-way, and in fact involves a number of cultures exchanging various elements. Critics of cultural homogenization theory point out that as different cultures mix, homogenization is less about the spread of a single culture as about the mixture of different cultures, as people become aware of other cultures and adopt their elements.
Citation:
Globalization: Threat or Opportunity? An IMF Issues Brief. (n.d.).
James, P. (n.d.). Globalism, Nationalism, Tribalism: Bringing Theory Back In (2006).