Globalization and Its Influence in Middle East Culture - Research Paper Example

GLOBALIZATION AND ITS INFLUNECE IN MIDDLE EAST CULTURE Name Program Year Group number Institution City Date Contents Contents 2 2 Chapter 1: Executive summary 3 Chapter 2: Introduction 4 Definition of globalization with relation to the Middle Eastern culture 4 Chapter 3: Research and methods 5 Survey 6 Questionnaires 6 Chapter 4: Results of the study research 7 Chapter 5: Analysis and evaluation 8 Chapter 6: Discussion 9 Negative effects on the Middle Eastern culture 9 Positive effects of globalization on the Middle East Culture 12 Chapter 7: Recommendations 15 Chapter 7: Conclusion 15 References 16 Chapter 1: Executive summary Globalization is a universal concept that has taken the world in different realms and parameters. All the countries and people in the world have felt the concept of globalization. There is a wide perception and understanding of what entails the concept of globalization. Developed and developing nations have all appreciated the need to develop in different ways. Meeting the frequent and fluctuating changes in the world requires an innate respect towards what brings about global growth and development among many nations in the world. Within the facets of globalization, there are diverse perceptions that either accept or reject the need to develop globally (Bowker, 2010). This piece of study and research has endeavored to explore on different structures of growth and development in the world as relates globalization in the Middle Eastern culture. Development has not affected the economic growth and development alone in these nations. Nonetheless, it has influenced different parameters that define the fabric of life in these nations like culture. The concept of globalization is a wide field of study. Different people and organizations have experienced the effect of globalization in different ways. Therefore, it would be relevant to consider the concept of globalization with reference to companies that have gone global in their operations and at the same time compare with local companies that have not appreciated through the ranks of globalization. The study has endeavored to explore on the Middle Eastern culture and how it has evolved through the different phases of growth and development in the world. Globally, globalization has influenced on the cultures of the people and companies, like in the United States of America. This will become the core of the study. The influence of globalization vary in different respects, including the resistance and acceptance that it faced among the people of the Middle Eastern culture, together with its positive and negative impacts on a society and organizations like those of the Middle Eastern culture and the world as a whole (Hopper, 2007). Chapter 2: Introduction Definition of globalization with relation to the Middle Eastern culture Globalization is defined as a process or experience where life activities, incorporated with diffusion of goods and services together with ideas, gets to a standardized level in the world. The world keeps changing from time to time. The olden means and methodologies of doing things have all faded away, with new ideas and ways of doing things taking place. It cannot be said that everything has been in its state as it was before or during the days of generation. Therefore, the gradual change in the general lifestyle and mode of doing things in the world, with a parameter of sophistication and effectiveness taking place, is what defines the process of globalization. This process is happening all over the world, and hence has been termed as globalization (Wells et, al., 2001). For instance, it is happening in the United States of America, as it also happens in the Eastern and western countries besides African countries. Globalization happens through a number of parameters that are attached to human activities in the world. Communication is one of the mechanisms that have elicited transformation that accounts to globalization. Exchange of information, goods, and services throughout the world has led to an establishment of a single globe with most similarities and mild differences. Communication and transport technologies have changed the entire face of the world from its traditional and rudimentary practices, to the modern sophistication that ushers aspects of efficiency, effectiveness, and more pleasure. The level of human interaction and economic development has increased in the Middle Eastern countries as it has also happened in the entire world. With the focus of the study seeking to relate globalization with the changes in the Middle Eastern activities, one of the aspects that bring out the immediate changes lies with the culture of the people within this region. Apart from economic changes and other activities within the region advancing, culture has hosted a number of changes, most of which are related to lifestyle of the people, economic activities, interaction, among others (Kavoossi, 2000). Globalization has increased within the phases of many nations and regions in the world. There is mass migration because of the spread communication. People are moving from and into the Middle Eastern nations, and hence influencing its culture in different ways. The level of economic activities changes with intense of globalization. The national and international markets are marking a new mechanism of operation that tries to establish best ways of reaching put to the entire world. In the mean time, what is happening within the Middle Eastern culture is also spreading to the entire parts of the world. Global companies exist within and outside the Middle Eastern countries. These corporations are bringing out the best mechanisms of operation that appear to change the phase of the world, and hence transform its ways of operation. There is no mechanistic way in which different activities within the society and culture can remain the same when new and outside mechanisms of working are being introduced. Through globalization, it can therefore be said that the Middle Eastern culture has been transformed from one state to another, as brought out by the corporations that have gone global (Kavoossi, 2000). Chapter 3: Research and methods The study involved a number of research methods. Some of them include survey and questionnaires. Survey Survey involves a physical and theoretical search onto what entails the process of research. In order to execute and get to know what actually entails the designed hypothesis, survey has to be conducted in an exclusive and comprehensive way. Surveys diagnose a clear picture of how a study research is done in the field. Taking a small sample of the study field is one of the immediate ways of having an immediate hypothesis and possible revelations from the study. The study survey was done upon the Middle Eastern countries and economies together with culture. With a selection of the Middle Eastern culture, the study survey focused on its historical generation, growth, and development in the field, together with its challenges in the market as regards globalization. The survey focused on the present and future plans that have been strategized by companies that have gone global in this region, including aspects of reactions from the people and other economic entities in the region. Moreover, the study survey ventured into the present and future problems that are being faced in globalization process together with how it affects the culture of the people in this region, and in the world as a whole. Questionnaires Questionnaires are simple questions that are created in a ray in order to elicit particular information from the respondents. Questionnaires targeted on a number of issues related to the Middle Eastern culture and how globalization has affected its stature and operation. Questionnaires could reveal much within the study. Through questionnaires, information regarding the immediate influence of globalization is realized. For instance, questionnaires are valid and considered accurate. They reveal the immediate reaction of globalization and how people treated it in the first place. In most cases, many people were not concerned with what was happening within the capabilities to work. Nonetheless, what is basic with questionnaires is the fact that there is a possibility to have a generalized understanding with definitive results at hand. Chapter 4: Results of the study research The Middle Eastern culture has a firm culture that has been instrumental in bringing immediate economic and social changes among the people. In the Middle Eastern culture, globalization is referred as “awlaama” meaning the act of spreading global ideas, customs, attitudes, and institutions originating from one part of the world. From the research, this one part of the world that has been a constant source of changes is the western part of the world. According to the Middle Eastern culture understanding, this aspect of globalization has been perceived as a way in which the western nations are trying to bring westernization into the Middle Eastern culture. It is taken as a threat from the outside world other than being an opportunity for growth and development of the Middle Eastern culture. Nonetheless, the spirit and fire of globalization is taking its course within the Middle Eastern culture elements. In the Middle East, unrests and resistances that have given the western nations power and capability to have a more dominion of the region have marked globalization. A violent anti-globalization campaign was started by the Middle Eastern culture with the realization that most sentiments that came with globalization were from the western countries and especially the United States of America. With time, an appreciation of the concepts and mechanisms of work within these sentiments happened and hence globalization continued to have its course. With intense wars and insecurity that came within a negative perception of globalization in these countries, globalization acted as a hindrance or bulwark to works of economic growth and development in the region. Instead of being an impetus to establishment of democratic systems is in the region, it became a block towards creation of wealth within the realms of the Middle Eastern culture. With a negative perception still a big hindrance to the process of globalization, it became evident that the process became highly turbulent with generation of new conflicts in the region. The region then became a hostile environment to the sentimental aspects that promoted globalization in the region (Schäbler, 2004). Opposition individuals have to continue the struggle of trying to maximize on the importance of globalization aspects within the Middle Eastern culture. Global culture and politics get access to the global community through the media networks that relinquish the importance of having to deal with certainty of growth and development in the region. Initially, economic growth and development were perceived to bring a better state of living in the society. What remained as a prospectus of many people was the need to oversee growth without having to neglect on the need for further growth and development for the sake of the people in this region. Adjustment had to be done among the people of the Middle Eastern culture in order to settle the disagreements that had been established by the people from this region. The westerners had no intention to impose the western culture among the people of this region. Nonetheless, it was evident that most people were willing to be part of the globalization process as it sort to bring more growth and development in terms of technology and other aspects that improved the quality of living among the people (Kumaravadivelu, 2008). Chapter 5: Analysis and evaluation Most of the people who lead the Middle Eastern culture were the Arabs and the Muslims. These people have a negative perception of globalization with a certainty that it has its hidden intentions among the people from the western countries. The prospect of having to deal with globalization has not been viewed as a chance to have a changed mechanism of working among the people of the Middle Eastern culture. Jihadists established their own territories and philosophies that tried to oppose globalization with a sole perception that it came from the western countries. With globalization taking its own path on the process of societal change and transformation, jihadists wanted to curb the entire process of liberation among the people of the Middle Eastern culture. According to these jihadists, globalization tends to undermine the prospects and culture of Muslims and the Middle Eastern culture in general. Because of this, most of the Muslims are working hard to ensure they have eradicated it form their process of everyday living. The thoughts and actions of most Middle Eastern culture people are supposed to have a perception of liberal living. Nonetheless, most of the people from this region perceive a state of having to live without influencing the western culture into their own culture. In globalization, most of the Muslims see globalization as a composed of human rights and freedoms, democracy, and freedom being the hidden instruments of power that serve the interests of the western countries with the united states of America being replicated as the greatest beneficiary of the same (Kumaravadivelu, 2008). Chapter 6: Discussion Negative effects on the Middle Eastern culture Globalization is a wide spread topic that has enormous discussions with no limited conclusions. Globalization has a greater unprecedented access to culture wherever it goes. More people get the chance to access the consequences and feeling of globalization. Apart from the feeling, people tend to get access to earring and experiencing what it entails globalization. A phenomenon that was previously felt and enjoyed appears to fade away with time. Therefore, what remains is the desire and practice to engage in every aspect that is concerned with globalization. In the Middle Eastern culture, there has occurred an aspect of misrepresentation and stereotype that hinders positive effects of globalization. In most of these cultural phenomena, it has been universally accepted within the Middle Eastern culture that globalization is a bad influence from the western countries, and especially the United States of America. Nonetheless, when you relate this with organizations and companies that have engaged and appreciated globalization, it has turned out to be a huge success in terms of economic and cultural growth among the people (Kumaravadivelu, 2008). Stereotypes have thwarted every good plan within the concept of globalization. People and cultures that have not seen the better part of globalization have failed to access the benefits that are accrued through its applications. Stereotypes and misrepresentations within the intention of globalization are like being in need of something but not welcoming its state of entry. Among the Muslim and Arabic cultures, many of the people who have tried to be within the realms of globalization have failed their culture and hence are considered as sycophants to those who spread globalization. Globalization is unmonitored activity that trends globally. In the Middle Eastern culture, globalization is considered a negative facet that works to interfere with the traditional aspects of living among the people. People fear to lose their intellectual property and cultural rights that are considered religious in nature. Nonetheless, most of the organizations and companies that are within the region and have participated in globalization have become a huge hit in shaping the economy of these regions (Doumato & Posusney, 2003). Globalization has mainly affected cultural diversity, multinational corporations, and the innate culture of the people among the Middle Eastern culture. Consumer culture has been exploited with intense changes in the ranks and possibilities of living a better life in the society. Exploitation of workers and markets influences on the societal values that were considered to be of innate importance to the people within the culture. With globalization, people will be forced to engage in protecting and serving one culture that is global and universal in nature. An increasing entry of commercial media and products has outdone most of the products and services from the local people within the Middle Eastern culture. Therefore, the local culture of the people has been affected in different fields. Globalization has resulted in loss of individualism and group identity in the world including the Middle Eastern culture. Globalization has introduced what is called “Western ideal individualism” among most of the people who are pro to the Middle Eastern culture. In the end, a homogeneous set of beliefs and values has been introduced. This is unpredictable to the young who are supposed to posses the innate culture before engaging in the outside world culture brought by globalization. Adoption of western ideologies and culture is a hindrance to the growth and development of the local culture. Western markets are perceived to be the developers and sellers of these western cultures that appear to destroy most of the fabric of the Middle Eastern culture. Financial obligations have made many of these western cultures to be represented and conceived among many people who had installed the Middle Eastern culture as their primary way of living. Globalization appears to have a direct influence on what is happening in the world, right to the traditional ways of living among the people in the Middle Eastern culture. This is why most of these people have developed stereotypes that are against globalization and western culture in general Globalization is considered to allow further colonization of the Middle Eastern culture. First, it is integrated in the education system that leads to modern technology. Children and even adults have a direct influence to liking such culture. It trends all the way to adulthood as used in job places, including entertainment in and out of homes. The Middle Eastern culture gradually fades away with time. Globalization affects intellectual property together with cultural rights of the people in and outside the Middle Eastern culture. Globalization has made it possible for people to access information that has become an instrument in opening up acquisition of information and cultural property. It is out there. In most cases, it is not expensive to access and even use. It is considered by many to be a gist that requires a simple taking among the young and the old. For instance, it is located in songs, rituals, dances, and even artifacts that are commonly used within homes. Therefore, the traditional culture within the Middle Eastern culture will be easily overtaken, as applies to any other culture in the world (Doumato & Posusney, 2003). These are the integral parts of culture that stand out as a heritage to its hosts. They represent and hold the identity and heritage of the represented communities. This means that their interference is a possible crime to communities and people who hold these traditions. Globalization has no consideration for such cultures as happened in the Middle Eastern culture. Culture will fade away with little significance and attention being focused on it. Globalization is spread mostly through the internet. It is hard to track and even block it from intruding into communities and cultures that are subtle to the religious growth and development of some communities. Therefore, globalization, apart from having positive effects in the Middle Eastern culture, also has negative influences among the people and communities (Robertson, 1992). Positive effects of globalization in the Middle Eastern culture Positive effects of globalization on the Middle East Culture Globalization has been considered as an empowering tool in many societies globally. The definition of what entails globalization is yet to be realized with the fact that it is based on technology and what people appear to be interested. Technology is an element that holds the truth within globalization. In most parts of the world, technology has been a major force in bringing transformation and change. Change comes with new ideas and mechanisms of working out. Lifestyle is affixed within technological approaches that appear to alter and improve on the general growth and development of human life. With technology, people are able to engage in different activities that will define their truism and state of being. Sharing of information happens through technological applications that are not found in the olden cultures. Through globalization and its technological applications, it has become simple for many people to access and spread helpful information from one part of the world to another. With globalization, it appears as everything has been made to be possible. Portrayals of self-identity have been achieved through the process of globalization among people and companies who have appreciated globalization as part of the Middle Eastern culture. Therefore, everything has been made simple among such companies and people, although they have lost their innate fabric of culture in the making (Wiarda, 2007). Global media have entered into the market in order to promote cultures and distinctive voices that culminate within different cultures in the Middle Eastern culture. Through media globalization, the public globally has managed to access public knowledge and understanding of their culture. They have advanced their acquisition of cultural ways and hence have the capacity to retain their cultural diversity. Such media practices have been made successful within the Middle Eastern culture and the world as a whole. Being in charge of their own media has allowed many cultures and communities to protect their cultural facets like artifacts, signs, and even symbols. These are cultural properties that will be kept secret and with sheer importance for the generations to come. Globalization through media has allowed cultures to control their own public images and hence have an upper hand in protecting them from misinterpretation. For instance, Islam has entered into the modern global media in the Middle Eastern culture. Through this media, this culture advances from one part of the world to another through use of the global media that is a product of globalization. In fact, globalization has assisted such cultures to be united and with similar principles and practices as they enter into periods of growth and development into global brands. Taking an example of companies and other financial corporations that have gone global in the Middle East, many Middle Eastern cultures have tried to execute the same, and hence they have realized that they will not be able to lose their credibility in the world. Nonetheless, they will be able to remain in firm control over their people through use of the global facets of globalization (Schäbler, 2004). Mass media is a global facet that has assisted in the storage and revitalization of cultural preservation ideas that were common in many of the Middle Eastern culture. Technology, which is a product of globalization, has assisted in preservation of customs, culture, and languages that are pillars in the growth and development of the Middle Eastern culture. Through technology that has been appreciated by different cultures in the Middle Eastern culture, people are allowed to have self-representation together with preservation of collective and personal identities through provision of autonomy and empowerment of the public who are the pillars of the culture. Through the mass media, the global identity has been reclaimed among many cultures in and outside the Middle Eastern culture. For instance, Islamic culture has retained its global autonomy because it has trended globally throughout the world starting from the Middle East as happened in many organizations and businesses globally. Therefore, globalization has been a success and likewise an undoing in the Middle Eastern culture (Wiarda, 2007). Chapter 7: Recommendations Globalization is something that is here to stay. A huge force cannot be eradicated by a small society. Its trending pathways are affixed in the general growth and development procedures globally. Therefore, the Middle Eastern culture needs to appreciate globalization and take it in a way that is likely to be of benefit to its culture. Development of stereotypes that are against globalization is not a solution to the negative effects of globalization. Therefore, what remains to be a remedy and a strong recommendation is for all the cultures in the Middle East to support globalization in the best ways possible that are beneficial to its people’s growth and development, as happened in organizations that have gone global in the market. Chapter 7: Conclusion The results that define globalization and its influence on the Middle Eastern culture are valid. They are instrumental towards generation of a society that is focused to use of technology in the world. The research endeavored to explore more on the positive and negative impacts of globalization as seen in the Middle Eastern culture in order to establish the fact that the positives outweigh the negatives. These results from then research benefit all the cultures that are still opposed to the trending of globalization in the world. Businesses that intend to operate globally have access to benefiting from this research material. References Bowker, R. (2010). Egypt and the Politics of Change in the Arab Middle East. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub. Doumato, E. A., & Posusney, M. P. (2003). Women and globalization in the Arab Middle East: Gender, economy, and society. Boulder: L. Rienner Publishers. Hopper, P. (2007). Understanding cultural globalization. Cambridge, UK: Polity. Kavoossi, M. (2000). The globalization of business and the Middle East: Opportunities and constraints. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Quorum. Kumaravadivelu, B. (2008). Cultural globalization and language education. New Haven: Yale University Press. Robertson, R. (1992). Globalization: Social theory and global culture. London u.a: Sage. Schäbler, B. (2004). Globalization and the Muslim world: Culture, religion, and modernity. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Univ. Press. Wells, G. J., Shuey, R., & Kiely, R. (2001). Globalization. Huntington, N.Y: Novinka Books. Wiarda, H. J. (2007). Globalization: Universal trends, regional implications. Boston: Northeastern University Press. Read More