Scholarly look on globalization and cultural imperialism - Essay Example

? of institute] of supervisor] [Journalism and mass media] Critical term paper Introduction After the sad period of historical drama characterized by cultural alienation of a part of humanity, a period that has really drawn and painted figures of otherness, the world today offers us an image of osmosis of cultures. The temptation is great and inevitable for African thinker invited to talk about the globalization of culture and its impact on the question of the other, to return to the historical drama lived or suffered by the continent. Indeed, the African intellectual, inheriting a long history and trying to forge a new future, cannot apprehend the otherness through the mesh of interculturality, having no memory of the past. The slave trade, colonization, the structural dependency, alienation radical incurred by the companies to which we belong, challenge us when we think and consider the phenomenon of multiculturalism. (Thomas) At the time of the Renaissance, the discovery of other worlds to the West was a discovery of other peoples and cultures (Lughod). During this meeting, Africa has suffered the deep culture shock. For centuries it remained the subject of pure curiosity, and reduced to the status of an "object" of gaze. In the testimony of missionaries, the African was ranked just before the hippos and elephants. He was a half-way between bestiality and humanity. How could he have a culture? Africa was a primitive people. The Negro is recognized by its characteristic features such inordinate length of sex and laughter. Hegel, one of the emblematic figures of modern philosophy, was of African children of the night. In Reason in history, Hegel refuses to grant the certificate of humanity to these beings of the continent. (Gavin) During the course of this discussion we would be looking at some of the fundamental aspects of the ways through which the phenomenon of globalization has imposed its effects on different areas primarily Africa and the ways though which it has facilitated the dissemination of cultural imperialism. Scholarly look on globalization and cultural imperialism When talking about globalization and the resulting phenomenon of cultural imperialism which takes place and emerges because of this, it is important to consider a couple of multitude dimensions in order to fully develop our understanding regarding the entire issue and the connection which can be formulated between the two processes. In order to understand this connection it is important that scholarly sources and their opinions are provided first hand priority. (Sirkin and James) In this context and during the course of this discussion we would be considering the perspectives which have been presented by two prominent scholars of American intelligentsia which include David Rothkopf (38-53) and James Petras (139-48). Both of these scholarly personalities have their own opinion about the phenomenon of cultural imperialism and how does globalization play an extremely pivotal in the facilitation and subtle proliferation of this process in different countries of the world. It is however interesting to note here that the opinion and point of view of both these scholarly individuals is completely different and on contradiction to each other, hence it is also important for us to assess the validity and rationale that the argument and thesis statement laid by each of them supports and decide our side accordingly. Rothkopf advocates the idea of cultural imperialism and states that it is important for the West to impose its set of ideologies and values upon other nations so that they may adopt and inherit a similar system and institutional framework which is implemented in the West. (Moore) These ideas mainly emerged in the Cold War era after World War II which brought the intelligentsia of capitalists and communists at loggerhead with each other and with each of them making an attempt to manifest their cultural, ideological, political as well as economic leverage and hegemony over other states of the world. Hence it is also important to mention that Rothkopf supports his opinion of cultural imperialism and its subsequent proliferation in favor of United States and the very ideology which it adheres and implements upon. (Joachim) On the other hand it is also important to have a look at the opinion and perspective which has been presented by Petras. Unlike Rothkopf, Petras is of the view that every society of the world and the norms which govern it are different from one another, hence it is important that tolerance to each of such culture and sub-cultures which may prevail within a society are respected and tolerated under all circumstances. He further in the crux of his argument states that in the post-cold war era US has been among the countries which has initiated a new series and wave of imperialism all over the world which is mainly being conducted on the basis of its economic institutions and political forces. However in totality the opinion which has been presented by Petras does not advocate the dissemination of cultural imperialism instead it focuses upon the formulation of strategies and adopting of measures through which such measures can easily be curbed and controlled. (Marshall) Apart from the opinions which have been presented from these two scholars it is also important to have an idea regarding the opinion that we have regarding the entire situation. The opinion which has been presented by Rothkopf can simply be termed as an extension of the theory and thesis which have earlier been presented by theorists like Samuel Huntington and their theory on clash of civilizations through which they intend to provide legitimate justifications for the bloodshed which a country is conducting all over the world. (Murray) Another important point which rebukes and debunks the idea which has been presented by Rosthkopf is the first amendment of the US constitution itself which provides every citizen and civilian of the country to feel free to practice his religion, culture and norms without encountering any kind of pressure or resistance from any authority or any nature. (Fernando) Hence when economic resources of countries are vanquished in the name of capitalism a new wave of imperialism is pioneered in every country where such strategies are conducted and exercised. Movie based on globalization theme As far as the question regarding the supporting of globalization and cultural imperialism with a literary piece is concerned a prominent value addition which can be made in this sense is that of the film Blood Diamond. Set in the backdrop of bloody civil war in the war ravaged area of Sierra Leone of Africa, the film intends to provide us with the gravity of the situation in which the people of the country have to lead their lives in after they are enslaved by the corporate nexus and the vicious financial circle which dominates it. This vicious and blood thirsty corporate nexus fueled by large corporations and multinational corporations who are not directly involved in the financing of the civil war, but they are more interested to ensure the prevalence of situations and circumstances in which it can continue to prevail for a long time. (Mander) However another important feature which has been projected by the film is the increasing likeness of the people of the country to speak English in American accent, hence the signs and manifestations of globalization throughout the film are quite prominent in the entire movie. The notion of a powerful nation trying to overcome the weaker one with the help of its financial resources and capacity is also evident throughout the film in which the poor Africans and citizens of the country are forced to live as slaves and work in gold mines and it is basically the agents of these powerful nations who are involved in the smuggling of stones and minerals like diamonds throughout the world. (Steven) Works cited Fernando, Salvetti (ed.). "Glocal" Working. Living and Working across the World with Cultural Intelligence, (2010). Milan Joachim; Eugenio Diaz-Bonilla. Globalization of Food and Agriculture and the Poor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, (2007). Print Friedman, Thomas L. The World Is Flat. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, (2005). Print Haggblade, Steven; et al. Transforming the Rural Nonfarm Economy: Opportunities and Threats in the Developing World. Johns Hopkins University Press, (2007). Print Kitching, Gavin. Seeking Social Justice through Globalization. Escaping a Nationalist Perspective. Penn State Press, (2001). Print Mander, Jerry; Edward Goldsmith. The case against the global economy: and for a turn toward the local. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, (1996). Print Moore, Karl; David Lewis.  Origins of Globalization. New York: Routledge, (2009). Print Murray, Warwick E. Geographies of Globalization. New York: Routledge, (2006). Print Reinsdorf, Marshall and Matthew J. Slaughter. International Trade in Services and Intangibles in the Era of Globalization. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, (2009).Print Sirkin, Harold L; James W. Hemerling and Arindam K. Bhattacharya. Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything. New York: Business Plus, (2008). Print Lughod, Janet. Before European hegemony : the world system A.D. 1250-1350. New York: Oxford University Press, (1991).  Rothkopf, David. "In Praise of Cultural Imperialism." Foreign Policy No. 107. (1997): 38-53. Print. Petras, James. "Cultural Imperialism in the late 20th Century." Journal of Contemporary Asia. 23.2 (1993): 139-48. Print. Read More