Running head: GLOBALZIATION AND CULTURE 1

GLOBALIZATION AND CULTURE

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Introduction.

The concept of culture has always been difficult to describe especially in the modern

times where there is constant growth of globalization. The notion of globalization has brought

new viewpoints on cultural differences. The two main common views, are cultural convergence

and cultural differentialism, on the other hand the world has witnessed cultural hybridization

which is aa a result of recent globalization. Jan Pieterse book is thoughtfully discussed from

different perfectives. The authors argues that the world is seeing the establishment of global

mélange culture which occurs through cultural hybridization or mixing.

Cultural differentialism is perhaps the oldest viewpoint which is frequently linked to the

Huntington’s concept of the disorganization of civilizations. This viewpoint defines cultural

dissimilarity as undisputable and accepts dissimilarities in religion, localization, and language.

The second viewpoint, which is cultural convergence, or the McDonaldization reinforces the

notion of global cultural uniformity characterized by diverse impacts it caused: The

Westernization, Coca-colonization, as well as Americanization. Lastly,we have the third

viewpoint, hybridization, which “refers to the politics of assimilation without the necessity of

losing cultural identity”

When describing the cultural differentialism the book discusses “human mosaic” which

refers to cultural variety. I found this statement interesting and inspiring because it empowers the

readers like me to look beyond the common thinking process and understand that there are things

which can be fixed and static in terms of culture, it makes us to realize that there are things

which we have no control of. And since they are open-ended and fluid-like they can ultimately
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bring transformations into stability of the indigenous culture and generate the infiltration of

different cultures from other parts of the world. Therefore, cultural differentialism can be

considered as the first step of a long process of convergence or hybridization, or even both.

In support of Pieterse viewpoint Cabello (2014) offers a summary giving different writers’

models. The author notes that different writers to about the concepts globalization and culture

using a different language. For example, what Jan Pieterse refers to as differentialism

(differentiation), a writer known as Holton refers to it as polarization, while renowned author of

culture Hanner, defines it as peripheral corruption scenario, on the other hand Hall, calls it

oppositional program. Convergence is at times refers to as homogenization, dominant-

hegemonic code, saturation scenario and global homogenization scenario. For hybridization,

Holton applies the same phrase, however, Hanner refers to it as the maturation scenario while

Hall applies negotiated code word.

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ANALYTICAL INSIGHTS.

The cultural notion is always either ignored completely in debates of globalization or

identified with shallow and misleading generalizations about clashing civilizations and

homogenization. According to my view this piece of work offers a complex perspective, realer to

the ever-moving realities of 21st century life. As for the readers the books empower you to

establish yourself as a world-class philosopher giving you rich imagination about the world.

The homogenizing powers have the same effects as the heterogenizing powers. We are in a

globally linked world, we may assume that we are homogenized however this is not true. For

example, the Internet allows the homogenizing power of English language as the common

language of the globe. On the other hand, it empowers the speakers of several small dialects to

link up and build communal content such as local Wikipedia, dictionaries, and Social media. In

the past five decades, were there dictionaries or encyclopedias in regional vernaculars? No.

Majority of them were published in English. In modern times however we have, range of social

media or contents in different languages that allows knowledge creation in small languages.

In the globalized world, I have witnessed the spread of big companies such as Starbucks and

McDonalds everywhere around the globe. On the other hand, globalization lets cookeries or food

of various countries to be discovered by societies across the globe. Try to reflect on all the

quality Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai restaurants sprouting around the globe over the past
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two decades. Again, a linked world also allows people like me to discover different religious

conviction and spiritual routes which were formerly out of bound due to geographical distance. I

can be relaxing in Jakarta and discovering Taoism, Hinduism or many African as well as native

American religious conviction. In the past, my choices were very restricted to what local divine

tutors could teach as well as what local media could publish.

Globalization gives a voice to different individuals from numerous cultures. Few years ago,

I could only depend on big media houses such as BBC and The New York Times to develop the

views and these viewpoints would form the majority views - highly biased on one culture. Today

we are being able to get numerous varied opinions heard as numerous filters are replaced by

democratic systems.

Globalization and culture starts a vicious attack on ‘anti hybridity backlash' with the

contemptuous analysis of its paradigmatic example. Globalization as well as culture is an

important contribution to a discussion which is interdisciplinary, animated, and glued on

contemporary matters. Globalization forms cultural relations, new transformations, and new

diversity which Pieterse persuasively supports. Whether we support Pieterse’s Work or not, this

work is essential for people who want an intellectual and lively direction to the discussion about

the impacts of the globalization on today’s culture.

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In summary, there are numerous viewpoint which usually try to define the issue of

globalization and culture, however the topic still remains a heated debate. All in all, the effect of

globalization on culture has been widely felt across different cultures. Globalization has greatly

changed the way we see culture and the way we behave. In the past few decades we could hardly

pass the news from one continent to the other this has greatly changed due to the introduction of

technology and machinery which has further ignited the issue of globalization and its impacts on

the culture. Globalization is an important element in today’s world. Geographically inclusive

approach to the globalization is vital as it can help us confront the ever growing conflicts which

are mainly bred by the cultural misunderstanding.

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References

Martín-Cabello, A. (2014): Religion and culture in a global world: A sociological approach.

Madrid: methaodos. working papers, nº2. ISBN: ISBN: 978-84-697-0316-8. Retrieved from:

https://www.methaodos.org/aworkingpapers/methaodoswp/methaodoswp2.pdf

Pieterse, J. N. (2015). Globalization and culture: (3 Ed.), Globalization and Culture: Global

Mélange. (pp.41-58). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.