Globalization and Identity in China - Term Paper Example

Globalization and Identity in China Insert Name: Insert Institution Introduction Presently in the entire world, globalization has become a vastly practiced trend. It does not need consideration as an avenue for global instability but as a platform for the existence of unified global markets. It is not only limited to its homogenization characteristic but also affects the cultural identity. Culture is of the people and therefore it can be accepted or denied to result into an influence or not. This has been there for quite long until nowadays due to technology, the situation is changing fast. Cultural differences do not get effects by the development of globalization as it practices the culture of grouping. Currently with globalization, people tend to concentrate more on the originality and specificity of their culture. A nation puts emphasis on having its own cultural identity in order to remain important globally. Globalization actually advocates for cultural identity even through the science and technology involved. The world in its diversity at large should accept globalization as tool of unity and encourage it because of the promising integration results that accompany it (Smith, 2000). The impacts of globalization on cultural identity is quite broad and viewed by various parties differently The development and practice of globalization puts an end to boundaries and creates a new platform for different cultures. Globalization should be considered a development oriented initiative as it causes an improvement to the economy, dispenses information, initiates a global village, and networks the globe. When globalization and cultural identity are related, there results great paradoxes while globalization itself is potentially capable enforcing and developing the society, encourage group identity, enable representation and even provide job opportunities to the society (Moahi, 2007). Apart from this positive impact of globalization, it also has the ability to continue colonization, encourage the loss of cultural identity, and cause misrepresentation. According to Fredric Jameson, the effects of globalization can be divided into two; one, a major causative of pluralism, where many cultures are integrated without political limitations and two, a characteristic monoculture where autonomy and identity of the people is taken away from them. Globalization impact on China’s cultural identity In the current 21st century, globalization is growing strong both politically and economically and therefore china as a country has joined the trend and is transitioning from isolation to a key contributor to the growth. The impacts are spread across various factors in the china i.e. its cities, countryside, government, censorship, culture, future etc. Cities in china have accepted and are practicing western culture. For instance the presence of American hotels like Marriot and even the Chinese acquiring debt from the U.S.A. They have accommodated the foreign ideas making secure recognition both politically and economically. Extending from the cities, the Chinese still recognize their historical culture and ideas. The Chinese in the countryside only feel the impacts of globalization when it reaches them first i.e. forcing them to adapt. For instance, during the Olympics in 2008, people was displaced to allow the construction of hosting venues. On the other hand, people in the countryside can always be employed in the companies brought about due to globalization e.g. foreign corporations. Globalization has also been encourage and criticized by the Chinese government. The government realized that globalization was getting in evitable due to the advancements in technology and therefore granted a platform for the western culture. The grant came with regulations on sectors such as information system technology. China is also practicing material censorship where the various internet search engines follow the censorship regulations set by the government. There are some parts of china’s historical events like the Tiananmen Square Massacre which are no longer available within the country. Information of the same can only be outsourced but this is not encouraged by the government due to the controversies that surround the event. The emergence and acceptance of globalization through the help of American influence in china has made it experience significant growth both in business and in politics. With continued economic growth, china will join the list of the world’s powerful countries (Ames, 2011). Globalization in relation to Chinese practices Globalization in China can also be discussed in the following aspects (Ning, 2007). Globalization: i. As a narration Homi Bhabha considers a nation for a narration point of view. Similarly, globalization can also be considered a collective narration as explained and grouped by various theorists. Local identity of the country is getting more obscure, with individual identity being replaced by non-specific and even grouped identities. The Chinese people in the current era of globalization are facing an identity related crisis. This is seen by existence of the Hai Gui Pai in China who do not possess a specific identity as they move from one place to another all the time. ii. As a cultural development Globalization just like modernization is a developer and restructure of any particular culture including the Chinese one. This creates an avenue for theorists to develop a globalization culture. Chinese scholars and cultural studies have concluded that globalization is important for their concrete interaction globally and for the proper cultural development both on paper and in reality. iii. As a means of the world’s economic operation and growth Convincingly, the increased global capital has surely led to the creation of new labor international divisions. Globalization can lead to the emergence of global markets where goods are sold to the world and prevent repetitive production of goods. The best in the market should survive. This actually shows why China is strongly incorporating and embracing globalization in the past few decades. iv. As a historical initiative Marx and Engel stated that globalization began with the identification of the Americas and the subsequent increase in the global capital by Columbus. This was joined in the 1980s with the particular step of transnational capitalization. But it is not a suggestion to mean the seizing of capitalism, but rather, it is revealing tow views on the same: the internal logical end of capitalism and regeneration of capitalism after restructuring its internal ways of functioning. Today, China’s development of a globalized society is greatly influenced the western countries. China as a country has never practiced capitalism and currently the country can be said to be either in a post-socialism era or a point of Chinese based socio-capitalization. v. As a process of encouraging democracy in politics and capital marketing Accompanying globalization is a free output on financial movement, with free trade greatly coming in place for the traditional ways of the government’s involvement in foreign trade. Unlike the traditional imperialism, the current globalization causing economic and cultural imperialism gets involved in other nations by slowly improving penetrations. This ensures that the democracy required in politics comes in at the right time when the country’s economy is stable and moving to a higher step. China has proved this fact by its continuous growth and enhancement in both political democratic environment and the capital marketing scenario. Eventually, democracy will be open in China although under global and local influence. vi. As an essential concept In as much as globalization is a topic discussed broadly in the social sciences and humanities courses, it is also an important concept in the society today. Theorists are redefining globalization by getting rid of the traditional concepts of modernization. Globalization is therefore surpassing the previous thoughts on modernization and linking them to the current global status hence removing the differences between the two times. vii. From the theoretical point of view Currently, many scholars are involving themselves with discussions on globalization. They have progressively made globalization to be viewed from a theoretical point. The scholars have a platform to share their ideas broadly. Due to theoriticization of culture, the term globality should be used instead of globalization because globalization preceded globalization. Globality is also relevant for discussing cultural, literary and communication advancement and orientation (Roland, 2002). The Dilemma created by globalization in China China is experiencing a challenging moment of original culture maintenance with the continuous growth in globalization and the different adoption of foreign culture and local identities. There are initiatives in china that are geared towards the maintenance of the original Chinese culture. The initiatives include: the government that insists on developing and enhancing the original culture: the other is the individual and community based initiatives with similar missions of preserving the original Chinese customs, identity and diversity. Even from the past, China has not been moved by the world’s capitalism and globalization. In contrary, presently, China has changed with a fast rate into business oriented and technological society. Due to the long known unique Chinese culture, the current state shows a wide gap between the two situations. This change has been highly inevitable in the Chinese society as it has extended its presence through a wide variety of Chinese culture. This is from local language, manufacturing systems, literacy systems, policies & laws, armed forces, politics to traditions, values, fashion and even family orientations (Giesbrecht, 2011). Modern Chinese people have lost a significant amount of connection with their local identity and culture due to their fast dissociation with their traditions and quick acting interest on economic wealth. In the presence of the current dilemma, the Chinese society is gaining their culture back through the emerging government and communal culture conservation initiatives. These initiatives work together or even differ at time but maintain the major mission that is important to the Chinese people. The reconnection and regain of Chinese culture and heritage is essential to the people. The desire for their original heritage which has been substituted by development with the government is very strong and among the list they have include; the customs of Buddhism, Taoistism and Confucianism which makes them diverse. These initiatives efforts of conservation are in total legal terms with the government’s national development plan with no loop holes that can encourage unnecessary setbacks to their growing economy. Economic growth is a priority the government’s plan and so is original culture identity conservation which has found itself integrated in the government’s strategy for globalization development and growth. For the demolished customary buildings, traditional artifacts and cultural heritage, the government provides clear reasons basing on the country’s entire development. On the other side most Chinese people consider these changes of globalization as a hindrance and oppression to their long established identity with their country i.e. from the local lifestyles, local environment to residency etc. This consideration is also a driving in the initiatives as they also spot their special cultures and work towards keeping them original. The community based initiatives have extensive activities. They strive to preserve the customary housings and neighborhoods as these types of housings are usually demolished in order to allow the construction of modern buildings in the various cities and towns within the country. A good example of an individual initiative is the tour organized by Xu Yong to advocate for traditional housing and encourage the knowhow of local courtyard life conservation. The tour was driven by the appreciation for the country’s ancient alleys. In 1990, Yong photographed the ancient houses, road designs, lifestyles and topography in the city. Currently, with the government’s emerging laws enabling the community to preserve the alleys, many people in the country are increasingly buying the traditional houses as part of their investments. The investments have been identified in Beijing’s Siheyuan as a way of conserving the original Chinese construction design (Giesbrecht, 2011). The Incorporation of globalization in China China has continuously shifted itself from being an opposser of globalization & its driver institutions to being a strong promoter of these institutions and an ambassador of globalization. The Chinese economy more than ever is currently more accessible than its counter parts like Japan. Changes in the country’s civilization trends are also as a result of the adoption of the foreign laws such as rule of law, extensive utilization of the English language, priority of the country’s global competitiveness, foreign system of education. The entire economical breakthrough in China is due to their liberalization and globalization with the globalization part producing even more breakthrough. Quite a large part of employee population in China has experienced increased living standards, a situation that has not been experienced anywhere. Therefore, encouragement of globalization s much practiced in China compared to the neighboring countries. The country has developed effective relations with the western countries such U.S. hence facilitating free trade and business investment better than countries like Brazil, Japan and India (Overholt, 2011). On the other hand, the fast globalization has also initiated demanding adjustments in the country. The adjustments include; decrease in the enterprise employment, loss of manufacturing jobs and also there is fast collection of companies to form fewer of the same courses. Besides, China is spreading its globalization influence to its neighbors for example the country’s more accessible economy characteristics is being adopted by India. The countries with antipathic Asian schooling and ancient protectionism of the Latin American will have to create platforms for foreign investments in order to as competitive as China’s growing economy. This will create investment avenues for international corporations and also change the developing countries ways of pursuing development. Previously, there were unclear fact that China’s globalization would create a disadvantage to its neighbors considering trade and investments but presently it is the vice versa. For instance, China’s economic growth has caused regeneration in Japan’s economy and also prevented the recession of many of its neighbors that would have resulted into a global downturn (Overholt, 2011). The American international companies are presented with new markets because of the Chinese growth in globalization. The movement of financial profits from China to U.S.A is not proportionate. This is the same with the movement of goods. The American populations with low living standards have had it increased due to the affordable products from China. The U.S.’s economic boost, low inflation and interest rates are as a result of the affordable Chinese goods and the deficit financing by the Chinese. At the same time, this has been accompanied by the deficits in trade and social status changes in the country. Companies in the U.S. have undergone losses due to Chinese insensitivity to intellectual property regulations. A significant boost in the construction and transport sectors has led to increased prices in global raw materials, advantageous to producers and disadvantageous to consumers. Generally, Chinese economic success is an important figure in the current history and therefore allegations that the success might lead to inappropriate Chinese world dominance is not necessary. This is because unlike the ancient Soviet Union, globalized China is not geared towards changing any other country’s population lifestyle. China’s economy has integrated banking, urbanization and job oriented challenges. This is creating a future i.e. by 2020, where China will have many people depending on few employed population. Due to this, the best future result of the Chinese economy is a balanced economy with good and bad sectors like Japan (Overholt, 2011). Conclusion In summary, globalization is still very wide even to its influence on particular local culture. It is a fact that China is a good example of some of the countries that have received good fruits from globalization generally. This is clearly revealed not only the country’s substantive economic empowerment but also to the Chinese language which is spreading to the outside world to become a global language. The expansion of their language has resulted into popularization of their culture and international & global cultural identity. Due to this, the country is experiencing the process of post-povertization and post-third-worldization. With regard to this situation, the learned Chinese population is experiencing a challenge of restructuring their national and cultural identities. The known processes of power, worldwide wealth, institutions and the Nation do not stand for the nation and local identities created on autonomy. This crisis affects virtual all countries including the highly developed and power ones like the U.S.A serves as good example after the 9/11 event. Globalization and enhancements of a variety of cultural identities e.g. tribal, topographical, gender, national, religious etc. have taken place over the last more than 15 years (Castells, 2006). This is as a product of the interaction between globalization and identities which is very systemic. Globalization is not also just a process of homogenizing different factors. From the technological view point, the influence of globalization is not passively embraced by many people. People are susceptible and can readily shift the effects of globalization to suit them and their cultural identity. Globalization not only incorporates the theory of convergence through the science and technological applications involved but also enhances cultural identity. Due to the present technological development, people tend to come together and start concentrating more on their actual cultural identity (Deng, 2005). People including the Chinese people are tirelessly looking for their cultural originality. After finding these identities they strive to protect, preserve and conserve them. In the world today, everybody should respect the diversity at in place and different culture. This will ensure a global society joined by pluralism as their strength in unity. The diverse people and culture may not necessarily be the ancient and local ones but still create unity due to pluralism. If this is appropriate observed like in China by all countries, it can effectively result into new type of globalization that is not geared towards homogenization but towards creating a united in diversity world with stability in economic growth and cultural identities. The world will therefore compete healthy for the developed and developing countries. References Ames, T. (November 30, 2011). Effect of Globalization on Chinese Culture. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/facts_6587477_effect-globalization-chinese-culture.html on 30/8/2012 Castells, M. (2006). Globalization and Identity. Transfer. Vol. 1 Deng, N. (2005). On the national literature’s tactics in the globalization’s language environment. Journal of Human Institute of Humanities, Science and Technology, 1, 39-41. Giesbrecht, D. et.al (February, 2011). Globalization and its Effects on Cultural Diversity. Retrieved from http://sites.wiki.ubc.ca/etec510/Globalization_and_its_Effect_on_Cultural_Diversity on 30/8/2012 Moahi, K. (2007). Globalization, knowledge economy and the implication for Indigenous knowledge. International Review of Information Ethics, 7, 1-8. Ning, W. (2007). Constructing Chinese National and Cultural Identit(ies) in the Age of Globalization. Situations.Vol. 1. Robertson, R. “Globality: A Mainly Western View,” a lecture given at Tsinghua University on November 26, 2002. Smith, C. & Ward, G. (2000). Indigenous Cultures in an Interconnected World. Vancouver: UBC Press. Overholt, W. H. (May 19, 2005). China and Globalization. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/2005/RAND_CT244.pdf on 30/3/2012 Wang, Yi. (2007). Globalization Enhances Cultural Identity. Intercultural Communication Studies. XVI: 1 Read More