Globalization Buzz

The geographical boundaries and times zones are getting dissolved. It is the first time in history that virtually every individual at every level of society can sense the impact of international changes. They can see and hear it in their media, taste it in their food, and sense it in the products that they buy. This is globalization.

Globalization has economic roots and political consequences, but it also has brought into focus the power of culture in this global environment - the power to bind and to divide in a time when the tensions between integration and separation tug at every issue that is relevant to international relations. The homogenizing influences of globalization promote integration and the removal not only of cultural barriers but also of many negative dimensions of culture. Globalization is a vital step toward both a more stable world and better lives for the people in it.

Today it is an overarching international system shaping the domestic politics and foreign relations of virtually every country. Even the most rigid and closed economies of the world have succumbed to the force of globalization. China opened to its gates in 1979, since then its economy has been growing leaps and bounds and with the upsurge middle class population, china has become a hot destination for all global brands. Globalization is not only transforming the world; it is creating its own metaphors as well. Satellites carrying television signals now enable people on opposite sides of the globe to be exposed regularly to a wide range of cultural stimuli. “Friends” the comedy television soap savored by millions all over the world, hasn’t only made people laugh, but also made them realize that a girl and a guy can be friends, even best friends, which is still considered deplorable in many of the societies. In fact, Middle Eastern leaders have cited CNN as a prime source for even local news.

Eight years ago, when Nike was established in Vietnam, the workers had to walk to the factories, often for many kilometers. After three years, they could afford bicycles. Another three years later, they could afford scooters. Today, the first workers can afford to buy a car. Since, Nike paid their workers $72 a month, almost three times the minimum wage for a state-owned enterprise, almost luring doctors and teachers away from their jobs, which could have had a cataclysmic impact on their growth and development. Globalization is much like fire. Fire itself is neither good nor bad. Used properly, it can cook food, sterilize equipment, form iron, and heat our homes. Used carelessly, fire can destroy lives, towns and forests in an instant.

The homogenizing effect of globalization has led to the loss of individualism. People across the globe, having common interest or common views are forming groups. On the Internet, there are more web pages than McDonald’s has hamburgers – billions and billions served, with everything from PhD dissertations to the details of a teenager’s latest date. Strangers, across the globe are chatting to each other; people are sharing their views on international issues (blogs), environmentalist are campaigning and trying to gain support from people all over the world through internet. This signifies, that world is gradually moving towards one global culture and we literally have become citizens of the world.

Even though almost every language on the planet is represented on the Internet and on specialty television, in every country there is a rapidly growing number of people who can understand, and speak, English. It is estimated that by 2050 half of the world would be more or less proficient in it.


Globalization can be credited for bringing the best of the cultures to the center stage. Yoga, which was just restricted to India, is now practiced all over the world, ayurvedic products are gaining acceptability, managerial expertise of American corporate houses being incorporated in many other corporations.
Technological foresight of the Japanese has inspired many young brains.
Luscious food, like pizza, Indian curries, noodles, burgers and much more is available at the market near my place. Thanks to globalization.

The concept of one world or global culture may seem to be exciting, but it has got an obvious fear surrounding it, the fear of the “law of the jungle” being applied in this global village, in which the strong will survive and overpower the weak. The progressive world gives an impression of having tacitly approved globalization. However the ground realities differ. The majority people still remain untouched by the phenomenon, preserving the inveterate cultures. One of the many contrasts is the disparity that exists between the third world countries and the developed nations. As the rich have got richer and the poor have got poorer, there cultures have moved strikingly apart

Globalization is omnipresent. It can be incredibly empowering and incredibly coercive, it can make minnows stronger While it is homogenizing cultures, it is also enabling people to share their unique individuality farther and wider.

Hopefully, By 2100, “globalization” will be renamed as “universalization”, because by that time we will be communicating with the citizen of mars and soon be called “citizen of the universe”