Do Globalization Processes Change Identities - Essay Example

Do Globalization Processes Change Identities Globalization refers to a process through which regional economies, cultures and societies integrate via a globe-spanning communication network and trade. The term at times refers to economic globalization, which is the integration of economies in the international economy through foreign direct investment, trade, migration, capital flows, and the spread of technology (Sheila 2004, p.10). Because of globalization processes, there has been an influence on respective identities in various cultures in the social, political and economic fields of the respective region1. This paper looks into the element of changed identities following the processes of globalization. It gets in detail on some of the staunch identities, which as a result of globalization have changed and continue to experience changes in due time. The main drivers of globalization include a combination of technological, economic, socio-cultural, biological and political, factors. This means that all identities in the mentioned fields of operations experience changes of identities2. It is apparent that regions tend to adopt changes from other regions into their system therefore experiencing a drastic shift of the local identities. Looking at the element of globalization, it has come in line with advanced technologies. On this note, globalization processes through technology has enabled several regions to build skyscrapers and other advanced infrastructure. Some few years ago, building of infrastructure involved simple processes thereby producing simple buildings, roads and other infrastructure. Looking at today’s world, it is apparent that many regions now feature tall buildings with a classic finish owing to an influence of technology adopted in the process of globalization (Sheila 2004, p.10). Taking for instance Israel, a country, which was in the past 20 years having simple houses with no storey buildings, a sign of an architectural origin, it has now changed and ranks as one of the highest ranked regions with the tallest skyscrapers all over the world (Bhagwati 2004, p. 56). A region, which was once a symbol of ancient architectural origins and practices, is soon going to be one of the most modernized cities around the world. There is even clear evidence that even some tombs across the region are being cleared to create space for advanced and refurbished infrastructure. The process through, which globalization changes identities of respective regions is called Glocalisation. The term Glocalisation combines the words ‘localization’ and ‘globalization’ emphasizing the idea that adoption of global services or product is likely to succeed in a particular region if it is adapted to the requirements of the existent local practices including the cultural expectations. The process is particularly evident in the 21st century where globalization has featured in many fields of life of individuals. It is particularly important in the identity changes experienced in the cultural field because people remain conservative to original ideas. A change of identities following globalization is apparent in the cultural element of dressing. Dressing is an important part of culture in any given society. In the past and some instances in the present, culture dressing has been on the frontline of dictating dressing of the people in a given society (Bhagwati 2004, p. 56). For instance, among the Hindu community, long dress is evident for women and trousers for men. Globalization has facilitated drastic changes in the field of dressing by spreading influences on the dressing code among many communities. It is very common nowadays to spot a woman wearing trousers almost in every community. The change of identity is soon growing strong among the communities globally and has been lately acceptable in many regions across the world. Globalization influence in this case features following the media influence a more westernized culture shifting to almost every part of the world3. It is undeniable that the practice is apparent in many regions though with a different style. More to this, include hairstyles, and other elements of fashion globalized and changing identities of respective communities. There is also evidenced change of identities in communication following technological changes and spread across many regions. Some thirty years ago, the world was commonly using communications methods including letters, fax and landline phones. In the new era of technological advances, the identities are changing drastically. In the current state, almost every home in the world has a mobile phone, which they use to communicate. It was a dream globally to facilitate communication so easily like the culture allows today. It is apparent that phones are advancing the communication levels thanks to globalization, which has been a facilitator of this kind of development. Additionally, the internet cannot be left out of the communication fields as changing identities completely. Currently, due to globalization, there is an overhaul of all operations across the globe due to the internet. The internet is breaking down cultural boundaries all over the world by making it easy to communicate, enabling near-instantaneous communication among people anywhere. This has been because of the advanced media and digital forms within the internet industry4. The Internet associates with the cultural globalization process and changing of identities because of allowing easy communication and interaction between people with divergent and distinct lifestyles and from varying forms of cultures. For instance, Photo sharing websites is a great feature of allowing interaction across borders even where language barrier would exist as bringing down the communication. Identity change is also prominent in urbanization of significant regions across the globe. Looking back to over 20 years ago, big cities across the globe were holding a lesser population that the locals of the same region. This aspect has been experiencing change over the years owing to the element of globalization. Industrialization is a part of technological developments across the globe. Industrialization features almost in every part of the world mostly in urban areas. Because of this, people are shifting to urban areas with a hope of seeking for employment due to the changing nature of economies. Because of this, populations globally are now concentrated around the prominent urban areas leading to the urbanization process. Additionally, the increase in population across the urban areas constrains the resources equally in the regions including shelter. This has changed the identities of the urban regions characterized by high-class houses and clean environments in the past and there is an emergent of slums in almost everywhere in the world. Slums are dominating the urban areas because the cost of living is on a high in respective urban areas forcing the labor force to seek for alternatives. In the global world, the urban areas need labor force but the providers cannot manage the life of the high-class calling for cheaper and accommodating lifestyles. Walking past every urban area globally, it is apparent that the clean, salient and accommodating urban area is now overcrowded and polluted. Talking of population, globalization has changed the identities of regions and caused some of them to list among the high-polluting regions globally. Taking for example the case of China, some few years ago, the country was salient and very conducive for living. In the current state, China is one of the greatest sources of pollution across the globe. This is not only the alarming change globally. Other regions including African cities and European are also adopting the trend all because of globalization processes for instance industrialization and migration. A classic culture aspect in any region is food. Because of globalization, food is soon changing in identities across the globe. Some few years ago, India’s identity lay in its curry as well as exotic spices, France was famous for its cheeses, America famous for burgers and fries and many other regions have their identity. Due to globalizations, these identities are slowly draining away. McDonald's is one of the American food companies, which has gone global with 31,000 locations across the globe. From their reports, the identities are no longer staunch as they used to be. Nowadays, having an American request for Japanese noodles as his favorite or an Australia ordering Italian meatballs is very common5. The spread of such global hotels is one common feature, which causes cultural influences globally and changes identities. Anywhere across the globe, getting a similar type of food is very easy and common. Another practice commonly brought about by globalization across the globe is the Chinese kanji in tattoos usage. These tattoos have become very popular especially with today's youth. The youth have adopted the tattoos as their way of lifestyle and it is common to get tattooed individuals anywhere in the world6. This is regardless of the lack of social acceptance of such tattoos across many cultures in the world. Globalization facilitates the influence and youths tattoo themselves without even knowing the meaning inscribed in respective tattoos. There is an alarming change in the production of food in many regions. Genetically modified foods are now all over the globe. There has been replacement of routine way of food production, which involved plating normal seeds and depending on seasons to harvest the produce. Globalization involving new technologies and innovations in agriculture has spread across many regions globally and genetically modified foods are emerging as the common identity of many countries in the agricultural field (John 2004, p. 29-30). Even if many countries practice the old ways of agriculture, the seasonal disappointments and low production is forcing these regions to seek for better agricultural practicing and genetically modified foods are now the prominent identities of respective regions7. Globalization is not leaving the religious aspect and identities across the globe. Traditional religions have changed and there is widespread increase in changes of identities owing to the element of globalization. The Church for instance has been on the frontline of condemning gay practices across the globe. The main claim has been that gay practices are immoral and illegal as per the church doctrines8. With time, there has been a global reform of the church and some part is compromising of the doctrine and changing perception of gay marriages. Within a short period, the church identity is changing not only in the aspect of gay marriage stand but also in other aspects as per its doctrines. So many other identities have changes because of globalization process and the process of interaction. Behavior including terrorism, gangs and other criminal activities has taken shape in many regions globally (Braun 2007, p.78). It is evident that criminal acts are a daily identity in every part of the world with such behaviors across the globe influencing identities of safe and moral communities. Watching news in the modern day or reading the respective copies of newspapers, in any part of the world it is clear that criminal activities are on the increase and this is becoming an identity of every part of the globe, in fact, it is now a global crisis9. Conclusion It is apparent that globalization has featured as a great impact on identities across the globe. Some of these changes are positive while others influence the identities negatively. The fact remains; globalization is a major cause of changes in identities. Many regions globally strive in adjusting to the changes but they cannot manage to maintain own identities in the fields of architecture, communication, foods, dressings, and many others fields involving the individuals in respective regions. It is apparent that globalization brings new elements in identities of respective regions and changes them completely. With the current trend in globalization process, it is evident that more changes of identities are expected because the main aim of globalization is to make the world literally a global village. References Bhagwati, J 2004, In Defense of Globalization, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, p.56 Braun, J 2007, Globalization of Food and Agriculture and the Poor, Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.78 John, M 2004, the Eastern Origins of Western Civilization, Cambridge University Press, p. 29-30 Sheila, L 2004, Globalization and Belonging: the Politics of Identity in a Changing World, New York: Row man & Littlefield, p.10 Annotated Bibliography Bhagwati, J 2004 The book In Defense of Globalization details the entire process of globalization highlighting how it spreads to affect identities of respective regions. It defends the infrastructural development as well as how it is similar from region to another giving credit to the process of globalization. Braun, J 2007 The book Globalization of Food and Agriculture and the Poor reflects on globalization trends in the agricultural field including the introduction of genetically modified foods. It looks into some of the developments in agriculture over the past decade and how they spread to influence agricultural practices across regions. John, M 2004 The Eastern Origins of Western Civilization is a book based on the reflections of how western civilizations have spread across the eastern region affecting their identities differently. It details how the changes have happened in eastern regions resembling the identities of the western region in various sectors including infrastructure, food, and other elements of culture. Sheila, L 2004 The book details globalization processes with a bias in economic globalization. It presents the process as an integration of economies in the international economy through foreign direct investment, trade, migration, capital flows, and the spread of technology. The processes detail changes as well as how they spread globally to effect changes in identities of respective regions. Read More