Contemporary Globalisation and Urbanisation - Essay Example

The world stands witness to the fact that Globalisation has created tremendous opportunities and vast possibilities laced with some hitherto unseen problems. On one hand, it has triggered off tremendous progress in transport, communication, tourism, information technology, education, and trade. At the same time, the other, it has also stimulated fear, insecurity, and loss of individuality, and ethnicity. While patriotism and national chauvinism are other factors that are resisting globalization, there is a looming public fear of the disappearance of local ethnic cultures coupled with the old and substantial fear of colonisation.

When we look at the effects of globalization on religion, the church itself is unsure of the good effects of globalization on mankind. Urbanization and fast phased life are not admired in sedate communities. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and many more religions are against Globalization and view it suspiciously as the most materialistic tool in the wrong hands. Ethics in globalization has become another important factor and touches 19th-century geographic traditions. The world of ethics is emerging out of globalization. Even while imposing ethical values on other cultures, globalization leaders should be careful not to hurt regional feelings. Terrorism is at a new high. Mollifying the jihad enthusiasts had been impossible till now. Future cultural uniformity is threatening the uniqueness of their regions and religions. Here Globalisation is seen as a threat to their very integrity and habitat. They are fighting to protect their homes and hearths.

As the famous dictum goes “men who got the same things, shared the same culture;” Naturally it depends on the inherent economics and consumption similarities. Modernity threatens its underlying uniformity. The expansion of western civilization is always combined with Western culture's dominance, which is not always palatable to other cultures. Old World has cultural diversities, and differences of every kind. Rarities and peculiarities of regions are fast diminishing under globalization. “In short, new economic geographies are in the making: economic geographies that are global in their reach, changes that produce competition on a global scale and that reflect new conditions of production,” according to Cox (1997) p.2.

It is believed homogeneity will over-last the differentiation. Today’s issues are mainly McDonald's hamburger, cola world, and its clash with the local cultures. The clash will continue between local and international in every sphere of life and it will go on till local becomes international and international is accepted as local. Globalization cannot be termed as a homogenizing force, but it could be used as a tool toward that end.