New Topic, Old Existence: The Influence of Globalization on the World - Report Example

New Topic, Old Existence: The Influence of Globalization on the World New Topic, Old Existence: The Influence of Globalization on the World Introduction Globalization is the act or process of worldwide integration happening due to the interchanging of ideas, products, worldviews, and other features of culture. Advances in telecommunication and transportation are key aspects in globalization that are generating interdependence of cultural and economic activities. Even though the origin of globalization is traced to modern times, it has a long history. Its origin is before the European voyages to the new world and the age of discovery. Some people point its origins to the third millennium BCE. In the late nineteen-century and early twentieth century, the integration of the world’s culture and economies grew quickly. Thesis Statement Globalization is a familiar word to us. We often hear about it from TV, newspapers, Radio and other media channels. It has accompanied human beings for several centuries. Globalization is new but old; it exists within and beyond people’s daily lives at the same time. Most people cannot live without experiencing the effects of globalization; many people even live for globalization. Globalization Since 1990s Globalization has existed in the human society for centuries. However, since the proliferation of the internet in the 1990s, globalization has gotten faster and stronger. Advancement in technology is a key reason for the quick growth of globalization. Innovations in communications and information technologies made movement of people and exchange of ideas quick and accessible. Developments in communication and information technology have altered the way people live at work, school, leisure, or at home. The advancement of computer-based technology or digital technology and the internet made key significant influences in the area of communication and information in the last decade. Information Technology The internet is an association of computers across the globe linked by global telecommunications. The defense personnel in the U.S originally utilized the internet. However, the easy accessibility of computers and associated technology has made the utilization of the internet a widespread activity in the recent times. The World Wide Web (www) is a compilation of interconnected documents. It enables individuals from several parts of the globe to access information in approximately any topic from weather forecasts, music, movies, shopping, and others. Apart from the internet, the global media networks including media and television companies that have several branches in various countries have allowed easy accessibility of information all over the global. Currently, it is possible for a person in any part of the world, like in Japan and Africa to access information like fashion ideas in the United States. Nonetheless, the global media utilize the internet to spread their information and news throughout the world (Aneesh, Hall & Petro, 2012). Communication Technology The last two decades have seen remarkable expansions in telecommunication technology. Communication had improved since the days of snail mail when mails took several weeks to arrive from overseas. The internet has significantly played the role of connecting of people. It allows people from different countries to connect instantly with each other through email, video calls, and chat programs. The instant communication has revolutionized social and business lives. The internet, voice mail, text messaging, mobile phones have allowed instant contact across countries and states. For instance, 304 million people used the internet in 2000. In 2003, 31% of children aged 10 to 14 owned mobile phones. Half of the children aged 10 to 14 in Australia sent messages every day in 2003. Information on aspects of life like dressing code, music, movies, and other have been spread more widely and easily during these two decades. Satellites have gone beyond the original use in research and government activities. Today, many people are using satellites in various ways. Global Positioning System (GPS) utilize information by the satellites to proffer accurate information on the location in seas, on land, and in the air. Satellites have thus improved the safety of movement of individuals in several parts of the globe. Satellites are also utilized to track and give information about the weather patterns like tropical cyclones and hurricanes around the globe. Satellites help meteorologists make improved weather forecasts. They are thus able to warn people of dangerous weather patterns, and thus improve and encourage movement of people from one place to another. Transport Technology Improvements in transport technology have played a key role part in globalization. Industrial Revolution altered the nature of transport with invention and introduction of the steam and combustion engines. Since that time, technological improvements in the transport industry have influenced the transformation in rail, road, air, and sea travel. Personal transport has improved dramatically. Cars built to be safer, fuel efficient, cheap, faster, and environmental friendly are now available. Airline transport has expanded trade and tourism across continents. Even though, passenger planes started moving people about a half century ago; major improvements have been done most recently. In the last 20 years, airline travel has become more affordable. It is also faster. In mid-1930s, air transport from London to Bangkok took eight days. At the same time, only eleven people could be carried in an aircraft. By 2002, about 400 passengers carried from London to Bangkok in just ten hours. In addition to quick movement of people, transport has altered the way trade is done. Supertankers have heightened the scale or level of trade between countries. Huge container ships that can carry massive quantities of goods like grains, clothes, mobile phones, oil, and others have improved the exchange of resources between cultures and countries. Trade has thus become more international. Communication and information technologies are utilized in transport innovation. Large container ships and aircrafts utilize satellite information in navigation systems, computers, and GPS to function. Attempts are being made to ensure that transport is affordable and environmentally friendly through utilization of electricity, ethanol fuel, and solar power (Chanda, 2002). Radical Change in People’s Lives Technology has enabled a quick and widespread exchange of ideas, information, behaviors, and other features of social life. Communication and information technologies have made the world a village. Through them, people from different regions of the world have developed similar tastes. People have thus experienced rapid changes, as societies are no secluded. Through various technological advancements, people can choose different ideas, information, and opinions, which then shape their lives. For instance, the internet has enabled people from different parts of the world to learn. Online learning has enabled affordable and convenient learning, which has enabled people from different parts to acquire education. The utilization of social media Facebook has enabled quick movement of ideas, which have consequently homogenized people’s behaviors. For instance, the social media have globalized American-style pop culture. Today, the American-style pop culture exists in most countries. For instance, it exists in Asian countries like South Korea, China, and Japan. In the last two decades, most people especially young people have been exposed to the Chinese films. The films have spread the Asian cultures. Today, Chinese martial arts like Kung fu have admirers throughout the world. Many people recognize the works of Chinese martial artists like Jet Li, Bruce Lee, and Jackie Chan. Apart from the spread of the martial arts, certain Chinese martial morality like sincerity, humility, trust, courtesy, perseverance, endurance, courage, patience, and will were adopted throughout the world. The films also led to the spread of meditation, which is an important part of basic training in many Chinese martial arts. Many individuals from diverse parts of the world have adopted Buddhism. In the fashion industry, technology has globalized several fashion ideas. For instance, almost throughout the world, suit wearing, has become a common feature. Despite the cultural, religious, and other aspects of the society, people, especially men from different parts of the world have adopted suit wearing. Technology has spread beautification ideas. Even though people had different means of beautification, certain styles are now available throughout the world. The human society experienced rapid changes in the past two decades. The above-mentioned changes and other changes were made possible by the advancements of technologies. Rapid changes in transport enabled people to move from one region to another and thus were able to exchange ideas and views. In addition, improvement in information technology further help people to exchanges various aspects of culture and society. The easy movement of people and ideas led to rapid changes in people lives as particular societies easily spread their cultural aspects. Basic Continuities of Previous Forms of Interconnected Societies Globalization started before Christopher Columbus. Before Columbus, various societies like the Muslims, Indians, and Chinese conducted intercontinental trade. However, Columbus’ discovery produced a prototype of globalization as it instigated movement of people, goods, and ideas throughout the world. The discoveries of Europeans in the 15th and 16th century led to the transatlantic travel. The improvement of transport technology let to the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. Columbus produced a prototype of globalization as his discovery led to the spread of colonization, which affected every part of the world and thus leading to globalization of several cultural aspects. Unlike other intercultural connections, Columbus’ discovery produced a global impact. Following Columbus’ discovery, the global movement of goods, ideas, and people increased. In early 19th century, development of transport like railroads and steamship and telecommunication increased the rates of worldwide interchange. The development of telephones and the use of mails and telefax improved communications between people from different parts of the world. The introduction of airlines, intermodal transport, and road vehicles in early and mid-20th century led to quick transport. Aspects of globalization in the late 20th and the 21st centuries were improvements from those of the previous centuries. In the previous centuries, water, road, and rail transport were commonly used. In the early and mid-20th century, air travel was introduced. The common telephones, telefax, and mails were used for communications. These methods were improved in late 20th and 21st century. Today, people use wireless phones. The internet enables people to have instant contact. There has been improvement in the air transport. Today, larger transatlantic jets are being used to ferry people to different destinations faster than previously. In the both periods of globalization, trade and movement of people, products, and ideas were the key activities. Improvements have been done on the means of trade and in the movement of people, products, and ideas. However, the previous globalization had negative aspects. Previous globalization led to revolutionary transformations in the world. It led to colonialism, violence, and wars. These aspects of globalization are sometimes seen in the modern globalization process. For instance, conflicts in the Muslim world were influenced by globalization of political grievances. Media and Globalization Media lead to the attitude of its audience. It makes many people view globalization as its endless treasure. The media contribute to the development of globalization as its increases acceptance of globalization. For example, the media can act as a platform where individuals from diverse parts of the world can acquire important information about health matters. With the outbreak of Ebola, the media have been in the forefront in calling for more support of Ebola victims. Through various reports of the situations of victims, various governments can be influenced to offer more support. Through this way, people can see the importance of globalization and thus leading them to support it. However, the media can cause resistance of globalization. Through reporting, negative aspects of globalization, the media can lead people to be pessimistic and resistance of globalization. For instance, the report of the spread of Tunisian revolution to other Muslim countries caused suspicion of globalization. Tunisians used Facebook to spread their grievances leading to the spread of anger and consequently revolution to countries like Egypt, Libya, and Syria. The success of Facebook in causing widespread revolution caused some governments like Turkey to develop measures to control the use of social media like Youtube. The control was meant to limit the spread of revolutionary ideas from other regions. The media can thus cause rejection of globalization (Devetak & Hughes, 2007). Conclusion Globalization is running for hundreds of years and cannot be stopped. In contemporary society, because new technology and media that allow rapid and widespread dissemination of information, many processes of globalization are visible and influence our lives largely. Since globalization cannot be resisted, people should hold positive attitudes toward the globalization, to utilize it appropriately to lead human into a new generation of progress and prosperity. References Aneesh, A., Hall, L., & Petro, P. (2012). Beyond globalization: Making new worlds in media, art, and social practices. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press. Chanda, N. (November 19, 2002). "Coming Globalization Means Reconnecting the Human Community." Coming Together. http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/about/essay/.(Accessed 4 Nov. 2014). Devetak, R., & Hughes, C. W. (2007). The globalization of political violence: Globalizations shadow. London: Routledge. Read More