Cultural Globalization: the Phenomenon of Cultural Homogenization
This is “Cultural globalization essay” in which will be an attempt to reveal this topic. To start with culture, as a term used in the social sciences and humanities, and as a concept, can simply be defined as the way of life of a given set of people, race or community. As a concept further expanded, culture is not necessarily limited to a set of people bounded by race as it can be a way of life amongst people spread across vast locales or geographical locations. Culture refers to the ideas, customs and social behavior of a particular people or society. It also includes languages, religions, cuisine, music, beliefs, arts, laws, capabilities, habits, as well as technologies [such as tool usage, cooking, shelter and clothing] of the individuals in these groups. Culture is also evident in not just people with similarities or in biological groups, such as people from the same country or village; but also amongst people belonging to similar social groups, such as individuals in the military, for instance.
Culture is acquired through the processes learnt in socialization, and is generally seen as an identity marker for an individual, or a set of such individuals. Degrees of cultural sophistication, that is the level at which a group of individuals has developed a level of sophistication in arts, sciences, education, manners and all other components of culture, differ from group to group, which is a primary reason why there are many different cultures in the world, and why there such differing levels of cultural sophistication have been the line distinguishing advanced slash thriving civilizations from less complex societies. In more applicable terms, it is the reason why there are cultures classified under the third world, and why there are others classified under the category of developed countries.
Globalization refers to the process of integration and interaction amongst people and societies across the world. Cultural globalization describes the processes that facilitate the transmission [and exchange] of ideas, meanings, values and all other factors and components of different cultures in such a way as to encourage, foster, induce, and intensify social relations among the parties involved. The process of cultural globalization is characterized by the consumption of cultures diffused by media, pop culture, the internet, and the foremost propagator of globalization; travel. This spread of cultures across and around the globe means that there is a widespread participation of in social relations that is not limited to cross national and regional borders. Cultural globalization involves the formation of shared norms and knowledge with which people associate their individual and collective cultural identities. It increases the level of interconnectedness of the cultures of different people across the world, all through cultural diffusion.
Cultural homogenization is a tenet of cultural globalization, and it describes the reduction in differing factors in cultures, or better still, the reduction in diversity in diversity of cultures, brought about by cultural diffusion of cultural symbols. Cultural homogenization is the process by which local cultures are transformed or absorbed by a foreign culture. It is the breaking of cultural barriers which leads to the assimilation of a single culture.
Now, globalization of culture has been said to be associated with a range of cultural consequences, all of which are analyzed into three distinct theses. Of utmost importance is the homogenization thesis, which posits that global culture is becoming standardized around a western, or more specifically, American pattern. The question most pertinent in such a discussion is; does homogenization pose harm or benefit to existing local cultures as the homogenization thesis claims?
America, as a prominent powerhouse in global affairs, is no doubt one of the most advanced countries slash civilizations in the world, be it viewed from a political or economic standpoint. Such is evident in the fact that it holds the status as a country whose local currency is the background for the federal reserve, a position held by gold until after the great depression, or the fact that America is at the center of many of the modern world’s affairs, from conflicts, to technological advancements, to even religion. There is hardly any global issue that is bereft of influence from the United States. Beyond this, the American standard of living is seen as ideal, and as such, many a country aspires to live the way persons do in “God’s own country”. America is seen as a blueprint for life in the First World, so to speak.
In times past, perhaps the zeal to live as America does by other less advanced countries may have not been so widespread and dire, as the desire for another culture would have been limited by access to it in the first place. Before the boom of the internet and the rise of pop culture, and the improvements in the global transportation sector that has made connecting the world as simple as making a beaded necklace, integration of cultures would have seemed an impossibility, and if at all it were possible, it would have been rather difficult. However, in recent times, an individual does not even have to move an inch before he has access to all forms of cultures and traditions, and an avenue for comparison of cultures, as well as cultural diffusion is created.
Globalization does have its perks. One of such is that less sophisticated cultures have a working template through which they can improve their standards of living. An example is seen in the case of the Asian continent, particularly in the case of Japan and most recently, China. After serious setbacks to their ways of life caused by wars, pestilences and natural disasters, these countries used the very art of cultural diffusion to inculcate the advancements countries like America and most of Europe had been living by that guaranteed the progress they enjoyed. For instance, many of China’s economic reforms bear a sort of semblance to that of the United States. Japan, on the other hand, has a technological progress that can only be attributed to a connection to many of Europe’s tech giants, such as Germany. Another example, is given in the rather peculiar case of South Africa, a country, despite Africa’s many problematic structures, seems to be doing fairly better than most countries in the region, down to the point where other African countries have templated their way of life as an ideal on the path to progress. It is no news that South Africa applies many of the policies of the western world. These countries employed cultural diffusion to better their interests; cultivating aspects of the western way of life, and imbibing it into their local cultures. The payoff has been monumental.
Perhaps if this expository were to end here, it can be concluded that homogenization exists as a force of complete good to all local cultures that aspire to achieve sophistication. However, as is the case with everything under the sun, there is always an adverse effect. Where there are countries within the globe that homogenization seems to benefit as the world becomes one global community, it is apparent that the reason for the delay in the economically and otherwise predicted global integration, is that as homogenization brings with it all the good of the western culture, it brings along all of its cultural baggage. For one thing, the ability for local cultures to express themselves is limited. Mass media, which is perhaps the foremost harbinger of globalization and eventually homogenization, is controlled by mediums that threaten cultural heritage and expression. In a globalized world, traditions and customs disappear and become lost in the boundaries. Culture from nation to nation becomes no longer isolated; hence an overlapping of cultures occurs. However, unlike regular overlapping processes, when it comes to culture, the most dominant culture absorbs the lesser one, as seen in the case of countries like Nigeria, where there is a nagging issue on the loss of heritages and cultures, especially amongst its millennial population, because many of the country’s youth have next to no knowledge or connection to their own cultures and heritages, but are rather connected more to the western world. Another example is given in the case of aforementioned Japan, where adverse cultural aspects like street gangs, a phenomenon that was not widely spread in traditional Japanese culture but is now all the rage, especially on the streets of major cities like Tokyo. Such a phenomenon has always been somewhat inherent in that of the western culture, and with how mass media has romanticized it with its portrayal, it is now the norm for less dominant cultures.
Less dominant cultures have always needed to be protected and preserved, else they face the risk of extinction and with globalization and homogenization, the threat is even more looming. The global community may be becoming more integrated, but more and more people have become ignorant about social, ethical, and moral values which are various in defining cultural groups. Therefore, homogenization damages small cultures which are in the risk of becoming extinct. Western civilization washes over developing countries and drowns out any sense of individuality and diversity. It affects the surface of culture and causes mass social changes, especially in the behavior and thinking of people. More often than not, many cultures become extinct because they are seen as inferior in comparison to that of the western world. Many people would rather be seen as products of the western world, rather than be seen as ‘local’ as is seen in the cases where traditional languages are frowned upon in favor of the more ‘acceptable’ and ‘sophisticated’ English or any other dominant language.
Globalization should increase understanding and acceptance and not the abandonment of one’s culture. Homogenization eliminates weaker cultures. The countries with smaller economies and lower populations are dominated by larger western cultures. Facets of American culture such as Hollywood, the music industry, the fast food industry, tech and fashion and clothing are spread all over the world. The issue is that this spread is all but one-sided. American culture is not at all influenced by the culture in smaller countries like Cambodia or even Nigeria. If at all there are any influences, they are neither widespread nor monumental enough to mean anything. Even economically, the full benefits are restricted to the dominant cultures. Smaller cultures and countries are exploited on large scales under the pretext of advancement. A very evident example is seen in the case of telecommunication services provided in Nigeria. All but one of the service providers in the country is foreign, and these services are provided at great cost to the locals, with a widespread exploitation in the form of exorbitant charges being the norm on a daily basis. Of course, little to nothing can be done or is done because there is a high demand for these services. The influence of dominant cultures creates a worldwide demand for American slash western products.
This is not to say that smaller countries or cultures should be averse to improvements and progress, or not have access to opportunities and technologies that are the promise of globalization and cultural integration. If smaller cultures were cut off, then they would be isolated, limited and left in the dark. However, globalization should not, because of this be a tool for cultural suppression. If true globalization must be achieved, which is a state whereby all cultures may be integrated and still maintain a distinct individual identity, then cultural suppression must be avoided. Cultural influences would have to be equal, both ends fully participating, meaning all parties involved would be influenced by one another. That is the only means through which a stable global community can ever exist.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no possible way through which cultural integration may occur with all cultural identities maintaining their core individualities. The homogenization thesis finds itself to be held true, and as to question on if homogenization does either harm or good, the answer is inherent in the gradual extinction of many of the world’s lesser cultures.
