Cheerleaders like Johan Norberg and Thomas Friedman argue that globalization is inevitable and mainly positive, whereas other critics seem to have slightly different views. As YaleGlobal Online describes globalization is “propelled by the desire to improve one’s life and helped along by technology… this increasing integration of the world has enriched life but also created new problems.” As one can see, globalization is highly contested, but there are undeniable good results and bad results, depending on which aspect one is looking at. In order to understand globalization and its potential effects, on must look at all aspects as a whole, and be open to the views of contradicting experts.
Economically, globalization has mainly been a force for …show more content…
Steger says that the cultural aspect of globalization consists of the “symbolic construction, articulation, and dissemination of meaning—given that language, music and images constitute the major forms of symbolic expression” (Steger 74). Steger says that culture changes over time, but globalization forces a more rapid change. There is a debate over if globalization is making us culturally all the same or all different. Globalization has made individuals more aware of cultures around the world in which they were previously unfamiliar. Places in the heart of the United States, like Indianapolis, now have all different kinds of ethnic restaurants from around the world. Foreign places like China now have prominent American companies like McDonalds and Walmart. This has enriched life by increasing competition in driving down prices, but causes problems in that the low prices often put local companies out of business. There is also an argument that this spread of cultures is making us all similar, since McDonalds and Walmart have now spread to across the globe, making those places similar in that aspect. However, as Keith Naughton describes in his article in Newsweek, all Walmart’s are not the same. These Walmart’s in China are not like the ones in America, nor are they the exact same as the ones anywhere else. Companies like Walmart have had to adapt to the cultural differences, and thus, Walmart …show more content…
In order to analyze this interconnectedness, we must look at all parts of globalization, not just one, like Steger described in the parable of the blind man and the elephant (Steger 12). This parable shows that scholars (the blind men) have to look at globalization (the elephant) as a whole, since each aspect is important, and looking at just one can cause confuse the true nature of globalization. Globalization is a controversial term; for example, some experts believe everyone benefits and the standard of living is rising, whereas other critics point out the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, and point out that everyone is affected differently by globalization. As Steger argues, globalization is a process, not a condition, suggesting that although experts may speculate, no one knows where globalization will
Economically, globalization has mainly been a force for …show more content…
Steger says that the cultural aspect of globalization consists of the “symbolic construction, articulation, and dissemination of meaning—given that language, music and images constitute the major forms of symbolic expression” (Steger 74). Steger says that culture changes over time, but globalization forces a more rapid change. There is a debate over if globalization is making us culturally all the same or all different. Globalization has made individuals more aware of cultures around the world in which they were previously unfamiliar. Places in the heart of the United States, like Indianapolis, now have all different kinds of ethnic restaurants from around the world. Foreign places like China now have prominent American companies like McDonalds and Walmart. This has enriched life by increasing competition in driving down prices, but causes problems in that the low prices often put local companies out of business. There is also an argument that this spread of cultures is making us all similar, since McDonalds and Walmart have now spread to across the globe, making those places similar in that aspect. However, as Keith Naughton describes in his article in Newsweek, all Walmart’s are not the same. These Walmart’s in China are not like the ones in America, nor are they the exact same as the ones anywhere else. Companies like Walmart have had to adapt to the cultural differences, and thus, Walmart …show more content…
In order to analyze this interconnectedness, we must look at all parts of globalization, not just one, like Steger described in the parable of the blind man and the elephant (Steger 12). This parable shows that scholars (the blind men) have to look at globalization (the elephant) as a whole, since each aspect is important, and looking at just one can cause confuse the true nature of globalization. Globalization is a controversial term; for example, some experts believe everyone benefits and the standard of living is rising, whereas other critics point out the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, and point out that everyone is affected differently by globalization. As Steger argues, globalization is a process, not a condition, suggesting that although experts may speculate, no one knows where globalization will