Cultural, National Identity and Globalization - Essay Example

Cultural, National Identity and Globalization Cultural and national identities are very important for individuals in a given state as they create a sense of belonging and togetherness among members of a particular society. Cultural identity reflects historical experiences and shared social norms and values that unite all the societal members. It is based on the knowledge of the society’s tradition, ideas, practices, or values among others. On the other hand, national identity can be defined as an individual’s identity and sense of belonging to a particular nation. More so, it is the feeling that a person is able to share with others without considering their citizenship status. As the world is becoming more globalized, individual’s cultural and national identities as well as sense of belonging have been transformed. Currently, the impact of globalization on cultures is one of the most controversial issues as it has significantly influenced cultures in the world, that is, it aims at creating a global culture thus destroying diversity of local cultures. While the aim of globalization is to create a single similar culture around the world, it can lead to hybridization among different cultures. Cultural hybridization is a process whereby a unique culture is reproduced by reordering and mixing different cultures (Mondal 2004, p.28). This paper explores the concepts cultural and national identities, and the process of globalization and its impact on different cultures worldwide. More so, it covers the process of cultural hybridization and how it affects an individual sense of national pride and cultural assimilation of identity. Identity refers to personhood with sameness or continuity of the self and so there is identity crisis when an individual loses these. Cultural identity relates to shared values among individuals having a common history and ancestry. Therefore, cultural identity is a reflection of common historical experiences and shared cultural values that unify societal members and provide stability in the society. Cultural identity is rooted in history but it goes through constant transformations and it is also rooted in the present as it provides a framework for different ways in which individuals position themselves based on the present realities and the past narratives. Cultural identity can be defined as self-definition based on the knowledge of the society’s tradition or a set of ideas and practices shared among a given population. A nation’s culture is composed of many aspects, for instance, the background of its people, their languages as well as beliefs shapes it. Moreover, it includes the ways societal members express themselves and spend their time. The significant rise of the discourse on identity is because of human experiences in this globalized world. While identity refers to continuity, a solid basis in which individuals anchor themselves, the age of globalisation has significantly changed individuals identity by eroding most of the bases on which individuals used to anchor their identity. A nation is an imagined political community since the members of the country are incapable of knowing and meeting most of their fellow members (Anderson 1991, p.6). National identity simply refers to an individual’s identity and sense of belonging to a given nation, and it is a feeling that an individual shares with a group of people without regard of their citizenship status. In addition, the term national identity can be used to refer to an awareness of difference or the feeling and acknowledgement of ‘we’ and ‘they’. National identity is something that is not inborn but is a result of various elements such as national symbols, language, the history of the nation, and national consciousness among others (Hall, Held, Hubert and Thompson n.d, p.612). Normally, an individual who positively expresses their national identity are called patriotic while those expressing their national identity in a negative manner are referred to as chauvinists. Arguably, the national identities of members of a state do strengthen especially when the state is militarily, economically, or culturally threatened. Notably, a sense of belonging to a nation strengthens when the country experiences any external threat because in most cases, external threats push citizens to unite with others for mutual protection against that common threat. individuals’ national identities have been interfered with as a result of globalization following the emergence of cultural homogenization. More so, the declining national identities are being replaced by new identities of hybridity (Hall Hall, Held, Hubert and Thompson n.d, p.619). Arguably, nationalism comprises of various paradigms including modernism, primordialism, and ethnosymbolism among others. Modernism argues that nation and nationalism are modern phenomena present in modern societies and that nationalism and its cultural symbols used in building the nation are established using top-down approach. The nations and nationalism are products of major changes in social life in modernity (Mondal 2004, p.29). The industrial age has come with new forms of identity to catch up with the changes in the society brought by shifts in social mobility, for instance, modern industrializing societies need cultural homogeneity in order to be successful. However, this perspective has been accused of focusing more on broad explanations that do not explain how the influence of nationalism is stronger in industrialized countries. Symbols of nationalism are only important when they mobilize and co-ordinate different individuals seeking power to control the modern state. Anderson (1991, p.6) posits that nationalism creates nations where they do not exist. Secondly, the primordialism is the view that nationalism derives from the early roots and sentiments like being born into a given religious community, speaking a particular language and practicing certain traditions and rituals and so on. According to this view, the nation is ancient and so it is a natural part of human experience. Primordialism is usually linked to ethnic attachments such as place of birth and these attachments play a leading role in emphasizing the longevity of nationalism. More so, primordialists perceive nationalism as a product of ethnic and racial ties and that it is one of the many identities to which societal members adhere. They further argue, “ethnic groups and nations are created based on the attachment to the cultural givens of social existence” (Smith 2010, p.56). Many people are familiar with this perspective since it recognizes the need for identification with a particular ethnic, racial or linguistic community. Lastly, ethysymbolism emerged because of the dissatisfaction with the arguments of modernism (Smith 2010, p.3). This paradigm focuses on the significance of symbols, traditions, values and myths in the formation and continuation of modern nations. Therefore, according to this view, early memories, myths and societal symbols significantly help in the understanding of nationalism. Globalization refers to the intensification of worldwide social relations linking distant localities, and it refers to the compression of the world into one village with the spread of the Western culture being the central goal. It is the development of a single economy and culture worldwide following the elimination of various restrictions to international trade, travel and mass communication. Cultural globalization is the transfer of social values and ideas to different parts of the world and it encompasses creation of shared norms with which societal members related their personal cultural identities. Cultural globalization fosters interconnectedness between diverse cultures in the world. The circulation of cultures allows people from different parts of the world to partake in extended social relations crossing national and regional borders. However, Pieterse (p.53) posits that “cultural experiences are not moving the direction of cultural uniformity and standardization because the global cultural synchronization”. Cultural hybridization is a process whereby different cultures are mixed due to globalization to form a unique combination (Ritzer 2010, p.255). Hybridization of cultures takes place even among cultural elements and spheres within communities (Nederveen 2009, p.55). However, some argue that hybridization of culture may lead to increased awareness, understanding and cooperation among diverse local cultures (Galea 2007, p.36). On the contrary, some have criticized hybridity claiming that it is theoretically useless because, first, all cultures are always hybrid and that its description of culture is meaningless (Kraidy 2002, p.6). Culture refers to an individual’s indigenous way of life, it comprises of language, moral and social norms, religion, spirituality, and eating habits among others, and this has been really affected by globalization and cultural hybridization. Globalization is sometimes referred to as westernization because it transfers western culture across different cultures in the world. Individuals worldwide are expected to embrace the western culture including the western language, the mode of economy-capitalism, religion, and dressing among others. The world today has been westernized in that the western culture prevails in different parts of the world while other cultures have been suppressed. Globalization focuses on imposing American culture and way of life to accepted or embraced throughout the world. Globalization interferes with cultural imperialism and various communities as well as individuals’ lifestyles. Actually, some people claim that being modern is synonymous with being western (Benyon and Dunkerley 2014, p.27). Many people are afraid that the spread of globalization leads to the homogenizing different societies across the globe. Globalization entails accepting American culture as the dominant one, for instance, American multinationals such as Coca-Coca and McDonald are some of the most powerful corporations that have spread globally and influenced global consumer culture. These corporations have exerted a strong influence on local character and lifestyle. Nederveen (2009, p.53) argues that McDonaldization is a form of inter-cultural hybridization. Arguably, American values have been embraced in various parts of the world, that is, their Hollywood movies, food, clothing, and many more, and this can be described as cultural imperialism. More so, the spread of globalization through global media and multinational dispensations has promoted the erosion of local cultures and traditions, and this has greatly interfered with individual’s cultural identity. Creating a global culture entails the promotion of a particular lifestyle, and globalization has strengthened the dominance of the world capitalism leading to elimination of local cultures and traditions through a global culture. Arguably, globalization brings about a homogenized global culture and the native cultures eroded, and this global culture leans heavily towards the West; therefore, from a cultural perspective, the process of globalization is largely the spread of Americanization. Moreover, globalization facilitates cultural imperialism which refers to the practice of enhancing and imposing a culture especially of powerful political nations, over the less potent societies, and some people view cultural imperialism as the use of both political and economic power to influence other cultures, and spread of foreign values and culture at the expense of a native culture. Therefore, eradication of cultural diversities through globalization, and forcing societal uniformity and homogeneity only benefits the capitalist economies and their multinational corporations. Cultural hybridization is incapable of weakening the existing relations of power or threatening western cultural hegemony (Benyon and Dunkerley 2014, p.27). Globalization is very important since it leads to the spread of multiculturalism, hence exposing individuals to cultural diversity. Furthermore, globalization also comes with some benefits in the cultural arena, that is, increased understanding of other people’s cultures helps in unifying diverse individuals and reduces unnecessary conflicts arising from cultural differences and misunderstandings. A better understanding of other people’s cultures may enhance our confidence and pride in our own culture and heritage, and this way, people will be able to address the issue of cultural differences in a more effective manner for greater mutual understanding. Moreover, exposure to alternative ways of life can help in increasing global awareness and appreciation of diverse people; therefore, it can be argued that globalization is indeed a very significant step towards a more stable world and better lives for people. However, some people view globalization of the western culture to result to the development of a new hybrid cultural form, and it has a homogenizing impact, therefore, according to them, globalization leads to both hybridization and homogeneity in the society. In conclusion, globalization is the intensification and compression of the world social norms to form a homogeneous global culture. It aims at bringing in cultural uniformity all over the world and eradicating cultural diversity. Accepting other people’s culture is very difficult and it takes place slowly to enable a person successfully adapt to the new culture. Indeed, cultural hybridization has significantly affected individuals’ cultural and national identities as they try to fit in to the new culture and avoiding some of their cultural values, ideas or practices. In addition, globalization has affected individual’s perception of their national attachments. However, globalization has also positively influenced culture; for instance, it has facilitated the spread of multiculturalism and increased understanding of other individual’s cultures. References Anderson, B. 2006, Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. London [u.a.], Verso. Benyon, J., and Dunkerley, D., 2014, Globalization: The Reader, London: Routledge. Galea, S. 2007, Macrosocial determinants of population health, New York, NY, Springer. Hall, S., Held, D., Hubert, D., and Thompson K., n.d, Modernity: An lntroduction toModern Societies, New Jersey: Blackwell publishers, p.596-623 Kraidy, M.M. 2002, Hybridity in Cultural Globalization, University of Pennsylvania, p.1-19. Mondal, A.A. 2004, Nationalism and Post-Colonial Identity: Culture and Ideology in India and Egypt, London: Routledge. Nederveen, P.J. 2009, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Lanham, Md, Rowman & Littlefield. Pieterse, J.N., n.d, Globalization as Hybridization, University of Vermont, p.45-68. Ritzer, G. 2010, Globalization: a basic text, Malden, MA, Wiley-Blackwell. Smith, A. D. 2010, Nationalism: theory, ideology, history, Cambridge, UK, Polity. Read More