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December 7, 2004
In the third session, globalization was analyzed in terms of modernization, international communication technology, and how they shape (or not) a cultural homogeneity. Is there a "global culture"? Does globalization alter or further develop national, regional, and local culture?
A person believes that we live in a "Global Village" because s/he shares the comforts of modernity -technological advances and social betterment. The spread of globalization and direct foreign investments developed economic growth worldwide, thus enabling societies and individuals to purchase and sell products, images, and attitudes of the so-called "pop culture." Some argue that globalization alters present diverse cultural beliefs while spreading Western beliefs, which leads to claims such as: globalization equates Westernization/Americanization.
At the same time, communications technology enables the spread of local, regional and national beliefs and culture at a speed never seen before. By simply switching on our television set, we can learn traditions, languages, arts, religious beliefs which belong to people on the other side of the planet.
This leads to questions: is globalization a one-way road where indigenous, regional cultures clash with modern popular culture? Is it a two-way road where we can learn to accept other cultures for greater global understanding? Hopefully, this session brought clarity in defining and understanding globalization and its effects.
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