The assimilation of globalization in societies.
For many centuries the process of globalization has served as a vehicle for perpetuating not only the process of intercontinental integration as but communication. This process has enabled civilizations to not only engage in the process of trade and exchange across national borders but facilitate the process of cultural divergence and hybridization with regards to goods and services. It as a result of this veracity that in this essay I will be discussing what is globalization. Followed by a brief discussion on how this process is similar to concepts like Imperialism, colonialism, “Westernisation” in addition to “Easternization”. Thirdly I will provide intricate discussions on how these actualities relate to Societies as a collective.
The phrase globalization comes from the English phrase“Globalization” ,which refers to the emergence of an international network ranging from both social and economic prospects(Cuterela, 2017).However regardless of this fact the idea only began to gain popularity after the ‘Cold War’, due to the fact that the term had become associated with the international community becoming independent with regard to its economic and social ‘dimensions’(Cuterela, 2017).Nonetheless in order to truly grasp the concept of globalization in today’s golden age one must analyse the ‘spatial-temporal’ processes of contrast which constitute towards changes in varying civilizations from across the globe(Deese, 2012.)The process of globalization did however spur as a result of the advancements made with regard to transportation technology from 1896–1914 in relation to railroads ,steam ships and airplanes (Deese, 2012).Conversely the emphasis behind this process is based on large scale immigration in addition to free trade as well as the elimination of traffic barriers(Cuterela, 2017). This fact has however forced many political academics to ask themselves the question, does the process of globalisation have similarities in comparison to other intercontinental processes like imperialism, colonialism, development, westernization as well as easternization?
The process of globalization within Africa has however educated the global community upon African cultures creativity with regard to the flow of both ideas and values (Nsiambi, 2001) .Moreover this progression has eased the amalgamation of trade and commerce facilitated by foreign investment in addition to a flow of capital within the continent (Nsiambi, 2001). Although this process has enabled many struggling states within Africa to enter the global parish this movement of information, culture and technology is not without its disadvantages. As more African cultures interact a significant few are being destroyed at the expense of others in
addition to the fact that negative values are being spread all over the world with relative ease as a result propaganda spread through the media(Nsiambi, 2001).Additionally, globalization within Africa has lead to the encouragement of illicit drug trade, prostitution, pornography, human smuggling as well as the dumping of dangerous waste materials which has resulted in the environmental depletion of various states within the continent(Nsiambi, 2001).Furthermore globalization within Africa has facilitated towards the brain drain in many developing states, resulting in the reduction of human capacity with regards to its populace (Nsiambi, 2001)
Imperialism is however a term used to refer to the process policy, practice or advocacy upon which one country nation or state seeks to extend its authority, power and dominion by conquering other countries or by establishing its economic and political dominance over other countries with regard to direct territorial acquisitions (Lenin, 2017). Nonetheless this occurrence fuelled by capitalist industrialism and nationalism brought previously unoccupied lands under European control during the nineteenth century(Lenin, 2017).This expression has however been introduced into many languages to describe the contest between opposing European states to secure colonies as well as spheres of influence in both Africa and Asia(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2017).Before Imperialistic expansion Africa was known as the “Dark” continent and remained unknown to the outside world until the late nineteenth century as a result of the continents harsh external Mediterranean environmental conditions(Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2017)These two processes do however nonetheless share a great deal of similarities as both processes involve economic and political control over other nations in addition to the fact that both globalization and Imperialism resulted in the exploitation of several nations to satisfy the wants of the ‘Great powers’(Lal, 2000). This can be noted through an observation of the European expansion blueprints in the nineteenth century in comparison to organisations like the United Nations and World Bank in today’s global age. These two intercontinental movements do however also share a number of differences as the process of ‘imperialism’ usually involved a hostile takeover of an established nation or culture in order to serve the imperials country of origin. Whilst globalization is a process upon which modern technology and world politics have peacefully shifted into the control of every affiliate of the international societal order (Lal, 2000)
Controversely colonialism refers to the practice of domination which rotates around the subjugation and or oppression of citizens by an invading state. This process involves the settlement of citizens from colonial powers into a colony (Ramnath, 2012). This form of expansion is however incredibly exploitative as the relationship consists of one country being subject to the authority of another with regards to not only basic societal rules and regulations but economic and political policies. This transactional process has however taken a variety of forms since the Liberian, British, French, Italians and Germans began their incursions upon Africa and Asia. Colonial rule does however consist of a metropolitan centre ruling its conquered satellites from afar, through a combination of proxy rulers in addition to local administrators (Ramnath, 2012). The colonial powers adopted a chain of fiscal policies and practices that would aim to devastate and weaken Africa economically, politically and culturally in the future (Vasquez, 2017). The negative effects of colonialism did however become palpable after man African countries gained independence. The effects of colonialism ultimately resulted in the destruction of many African traditional lifestyles and culture. This process does however contain a similarity with globalization as both these processes consist of the large scale immigration of people to another state (Vasquez, 2017).On the other hand differences between these two occurrences’ can be noted as globalization refers to a peaceful economic movement whilst colonialism is more aggressive and aims to establish permanent colonies(Vasquez, 2017).
Westernization refers to the assimilation of western culture into the global community in addition to the process of social mechanical structures from various civilizations becoming similar to that of either the United States or Britain (Scott, 2017). Furthermore this actuality results in the conversion of universal customs and practices becoming similar to that of western civilizations. Westernization is a development that spurred as a result of changes brought about through cultures as consequence of decade long colonial rule in not only Africa but Asia (Ramnath, 2012). Sub-Saharan Africa does however face many challenges among its populace as a result of the pressures brought about by “western” influence. Westernization has nonetheless stripped many communities within Africa of their cultural integrity with regard to knowledge, tradition and pride (Ramnath, 2012). This observable fact has however resulted in a new generation of architecture with regard to infrastructure and structural innovation (Vasquez, 2017). Westernization is however a two sided process sweeping the world in the last few centuries, this can be noted as Westernization as a association must have its influences and interests met by a at least some aspects of a society as they aim towards more models of westernization in the hopes of attaining a more western lifestyle(Scott, 2017).The differences between these two intercontinental processes can be noted as Westernization refers to the assimilation of Western culture, whilst globalization refers to means of establishing both free trade and development for the entire international community(Hatadia, 2017). As a consequence it can be noted that westernization is cultural transformation whilst Globalization refers to an economic alteration (Hatadia, 2017).
Easternization is a term that came into eminence within the mid 1990’s and refers to the spread of oriental administrative techniques to the west or alternatively the manner in which western styles have been adopted by countries in the ‘Far East’ (n.a, 2017). This expression is however centred on a debate with regard to the influence of ‘Asian values’ in ‘Western’ civilizations file (Borup, 2015). Within the mid 1990s popularity and interest with regard to Asian philosophical religious beliefs like Buddhism, Theosophy and transcendentalism steadily began to grow within western culture (Borup, 2015). A significant source of this process is however said to be the fact that modern science undermined traditional religion; this veracity resulted in the creation of a societal gap. This occurrence is however nonetheless known as a ‘culture-counter’, as a result of the fact that the western world populace viewed traditions of the east offering a free pious alternative lifestyle free from the negative associations of western religious tradition (Borup, 2015). An example of this processes in Africa can however be noted through an observation of these philosophy popularity. This process is however significantly different from globalization due to the fact that it only aims to influence western culture in addition to the fact that this intercontinental process is based on the spread of religion whilst is more of a economic process(Borup, 2015).
Hence Fourth in conclusion it is my belief that that the globalization as process has served as a means of not only uniting civilizations but propelling the international community into a culturally diverse society filled with a hybridization with regard to economic, social and technological advancement
References
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