Understanding Globalisation

2 Pages 566 Words

The concept of global culture is one in which we must look at from a very open minded perspective. From the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, to New Delhi’s Yamuna River we see the effects of globalization. Erla Zwingle describes the process of globalization, as a shift from old, locally owned businesses, to new multinational corporations whose product are consumed in every part of the world. Within this shift from local, to multinational business we can also see that English, a single language is emerging as one in which people all over the world are able to communicate through. Along with this new global language we can also see that certain consumer products are now recognizable on the global level. A good example of one of these products is Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola, originally a small company based out of Atlanta, Georgia whose corporate reach was limited to the American South is now a global company whose trademark logo can be recognized by almost anyone all over the world. Another example of a global culture that Zwingle uses is the example of Tom Sloper and Mah-Jongg. Tom Sloper is an American software developer that plays the Chinese game Mah-Jongg with people all over the world through the Internet. Through interactions with people in different parts of the world, such as in Tom’s case, we can see that cultures are spreading to people whom previously would have no way to experience them.

The question of if the spread of western culture through the world is a good thing is one in which we can look it from two different perspectives. On one hand we can see it as global advancement into a new era where people are more educated about different cultures. On the other hand we can view it as imposing a single culture on the entire world, destroying peoples cultural history and traditions. However black and white this debate may seem, Zwingle brings up a good point when discussing Chinese resistance to westernizati...