Does globalization threaten cultural diversity - Essay Example

Indeed, inter-dependency of resources, including economic pressures, labor, cultural competency, market compulsion etc. are important imperatives that give thrust to the process of globalization. People move from one country to another to exploit opportunities for personal and professional growth which has resulted in multicultural societies. Big businesses look for new opportunities across globe to expand their business and revenues. This necessitates understanding of people and their culture so that they can interact with empathy and develop mutual respect for peaceful existence.

Thus, globalization helps people become more understanding of other cultures and promotes acculturation to become part of mainstream society of the host country. Julia Galeota’s main argument is that globalization is actually promoting American hegemony and directly and indirectly is responsible for other cultures to lose their identity under the powerful influence of American values. The economic and military power of America has been an important ingredient that has significantly impacted global market and spread American culture across national borders.

She claims that globalization has brought in more multinational companies in the developing and under developed countries and popularized their products. McDonald’s burgers and Coca Cola are easily available across the globe and people are increasingly learning English to adapt to American way of life. It contends that technology and media have been vital propellants that have helped America’s monopoly in global environment which has motivated people to adopt American ways, including goods and services, which has threatened the survival of their own unique culture and values.

Phillipe Legraine argues more rationally and looks at globalization with greater insight and wider perspective of development. He rightly asserts that when American businesses expand across globe, they localize their products to suit the requirements of people. Thus, MTV in Saudi Arabia and China does not focus on the latest hip hop or rock music of America but adapts itself and showcases local music. They could experiment and mix but primarily they cater to the local demands. In America also, the cultural diversity is emphasized because of the changing socio-economic and political compulsions.

The world is changing fast and inter-dependency of resources has become a reality. Cultural diversity not only provides firms and individuals with more leverage to compete but the nations also benefit because of the unique talents that diversity brings with it. Globalization has given a big boost to industrialization and development and created platform for equity and equal opportunities in all spheres of life and therefore has promoted the causes of cultural diversity. Answer 3 Julia Galeota’s assertion that globalization has threatened cultural diversity to certain extent supports Samuel Huntington’s view that the dominating source of conflicts would be cultural (Huntington, 1993).

Huntington believes that civilization, as highest cultural grouping of people where people gain different identities within the broader precinct of their national identities, can also become main issue of conflict in the modern world. For example, Galeota says that China, Cube and