How Are National Identities Changing Within The Context Of Globalization - Essay Example

How Are National Identities Changing Within The Context Of Globalization? Background Individuals in any given country are usually willing to keep their cultural distinction from different societies in further regions of the world. National aggregate personality is an expansive title for identity of every country which recognizes that country from others. Identity is a matter of progress through the time, and there are diverse sorts of characters (Crystal, 2003). Globalization acquaints new social viewpoints with the local ones some of them adjusting the nearby personality. There are three principle arrangements toward globalization: determination, adjustment and dismissal (Shavit, 2009). Every general public chooses which approach or a specific blend of these approaches to be connected with it. Globalization hence, both homogenizes and fragments. On one hand, it permits countries and citizens of the world to impart basic occasions, qualities, and learning, frequently momentarily because of advances in information transfers and data innovation. Its defenders tout globalization as a vehicle for developing individual all inclusive objectives of the administration, financial participation, and conventional society. Preferably, globalization ought to be an enclosure for a broad range of streams and exchanges in which the local is synergized with the worldwide and the vice versa. Globalization has additionally divided personalities and revived ethnic divisions once lethargic under the control of country states (Habermas, 2001). Ernest Gellner, a dominant scholar on the social measurement of nationhood, once contended that for an offered society to continue, it must be one in which its kin "can breathe and talk and produce… the same culture” (Deirde, 2003). However, presently "in the time of fracture of the world system," ideas of society that were once built on the premise of the "national" must be surveyed. This new "crisis of identity" influencing both the focal point and outskirts of the world framework, mirrors the shaky origination of a limited idea of society and the thought of a homogenizing national character the envisioned unity of the country state community and its rather static, elitist and conflated origination of identity (Sreberny, 2000, p.43). Summary This essay, therefore, tries to investigate the complex interrelationships between discourse on and battles of personality and the various procedures connected with expanding globalization in the current generation (Bauman, 2001). Globalization is frequently only connected with overall monetary coordination and the development of a borderless worldwide business sector. Notwithstanding, globalization likewise includes far-reaching changes on the social, cultural and political landscapes (Shavit, 2009). Globalization moreover, involves clearly opposing methods of, among others, homogenization and universalization from one viewpoint and localization and differentiation on the other (Habermas, 2001). Different experts bringing up that the frequently opposing methods of globalization has prompted wide-ranging changes in the techniques of identity arrangement that have, thus, came about not just in a prospering of discourses on personality, additionally in battles of nature including different minority and marginalized groups (Capozza & Brown, 2000). Besides investigating different meanings of identity, discourses of and conflicts of life are examined on five levels, specifically the individual, subnational, national, supranational and worldwide levels. Consideration is beside given to the role of the media and communication and information advances in these battles and the suggestions for policy-making within the media sector (Stevenson, 2003). Introduction The changing of every century is often accompanied by various changes in the human lives as the emergence of new technology also leads to the invention of different machines and gadgets that helps mankind in accomplishing different tasks and find solutions to various societal problems (Barucco, 2006). One of the greatest turning points in the 21st century in the human lives is the globalization which has been facilitated by the advancement in technology. This has led to the changes in economic systems of various countries, cultural practices and norms of different communities and changes in the political terrains (Habermas, 2001). Globalization can be taken to mean the integration and interaction processes that exist between people, firms and governments in different parts of the world often promulgated by the existence of international trade which is facilitated by the use of modern technology in information transfer (Radhakrishman, 2003). According to Deirde (2003), it can be defined as the transformation of the temporal and spatial limitations which involves the reduction in the distance as a result of the reduction of the time needed to bridge the spatial differences, thereby leading to the gradual political, economic and socio-cultural integration between different nations of the world. Globalization, as noted, has cleared like a surge tide through the worlds differing societies, annihilating stable territories, displacing individuals, bringing about market-driven homogenization of socio-cultural experience, in this way obliterating the distinctions between region characterized societies which had constituted our identities (Bauman, 2001). Globalization is taken to be two-fold and a very complex phenomenon. This is because on one side it aims at bringing synchronization, unity, homogeneity, localization and universalism (Habermas, 2001). On the other hand, globalization leads to individualism, desire for localization, differentiation, diversity and heterogeneity. From these, therefore, we get the full idea of globalization that it demonstrates different contexts differently under various instances (Crystal, 2003). From these complex contradictions of globalization, struggles for national identity among countries have been viewed as one of the key features of the political, cultural and social scenes. One such important characteristic is the relative decency of its emergence and proliferation as noted by Sreberny (2000). Due to globalization it is certainly difficult to understand what we are, as social humans. As people feel debilitated by the new society, new sorts of identities toward oneself emerges. These are attributed to the increased streaming of the triad of innovation, correspondence and services making individuals meet certain dangers since they need to adjust to new circumstances and environments (Habermas, 2001). For instance, the privatization and the expanded stream of products were intended to make a steady and secure market though at times the inverse happened; job shakiness extended a considerable measure (Bauman, 2001). Discourse on Identity Identity is taken to have originated by the works of Erikson (1968) who defined identity as the act of personhood with sameness or continuity of the self across time and space (Bauman, 2001). Erikson held the view that this uniqueness is what differentiates a group of people from the rest of the others in the world. He then referred to those who had lost the sense of uniformity as having “identity crisis” (Shavit, 2009). From other viewpoints, identity can be taken to mean both the distinctive characteristics of a group of individuals in a given country and an individual’s moral attachment to a particular group where they share common feelings and features. The feelings of attachment to groups range from family, nation, ideology to homeland (Stevenson, 2003). According to Arjun Appadurai (1987), the rise of identity crisis is as a result of the enormous migration to different parts of the world and the fast revolution of the mass media due to the advancement of technology. This therefore makes the national identity of countries be diluted and according to him, these are the forces that leads to the emergence of new post-national imagination which he termed as “new diasporic public spheres transcending the boundaries of nation-state” (Sreberny, 2000) Narrowing to national identity, it encompasses the whole country and the individual’s national feelings. National identity include those such as that which takes into account ethical rule, particular to nations where the greater part of the populace is portrayed by a common coexistence created by dialect solidarity, society, common progenitors, social creations ,religion and so forth., and there another in light of citizenship rule of a particular country (Sreberny, 2000). In the international context, we can have the European identity that involves the whole continent. Here, the individuals are identified using moral identity based on the human rights and the general democracy (Radhakrishman, 2003). These moral rights must be globally accepted and they should be very dynamic. According to Bauman (2001), there is a significant change in the development of identity in the current century. Circumstances in the contemporary world have changed the procedures of identity arrangement, as well as have added new measurements to both individual and aggregate identity. Besides, though the expression identity suggests congruity, which is a strong premise in which individuals stay themselves, the fast changes that describe the period of globalization, disintegrated the majority of the bases on which individuals used to grapple their identity (Stevenson, 2003). Bauman (2001) further argues that the new centrality of the identity talk is an impression of the way that identity issues are not as fundamental and direct as they used to be. In fact, it has become a struggle, a mission. These battles are pursued on different levels, from individuals to the local and global (Habermas, 2001). Notwithstanding, the actions on various levels are nearly interconnected and frequently speaks to diverse aspects of the different homogenizing and differentiating courses of action connected with globalization (Shavit, 2009). The interrelationships of the individual and national identities and struggles are highlighted below; Discourse on Individual Identity and Globalization In an inexorably globalized world, societal cultures has developed to be one much-heated topic not only just is it one of the principal warriors of globalization, by which current qualities achieve outer populaces, but also it affects a considerable measure of the individuals and national identity. Generally speaking, globalization and modern innovation implied the breakdown of a feeling of belongingness to a particular ethnic group or particular community (Stevenson, 2003). This loss of the protected feeling of belongingness to a community usually prompts an apprehension from which a new individual identity is born. The accentuation on individualism, on self-development and choice toward oneself in the globalized society has brought about a change of personal identity (Habermas, 2001). This has made it quite difficult for individuals from various communities and ethnic group around the world to merge and develop their identity and to discover their rightful place in the society (Bauman, 2001). This entirely differs from the traditional practices where information on individuals’ identity were given but in the current societal settings, identity is personal. It is important to highlight here that, in the current societal contexts, identity can no longer be fixed, and this negates not finally even the idea of identity itself. Since space and time are compressed and with the spreading of mass-communications and technological innovation, individuals finds it harder to identify themselves with a particular idea or to stick to a particular group of community (Capozza & Brown, 2000). As proposed by Arnett proposes in his article "The brain science of globalization", it is realized that individuals need to face the test of adjusting to their local culture as well as to the worldwide society due to the ever advancing technology of mass media and communication (Bauman, 2001). He contended that, as an outcome of globalization, many people in the world, and most specifically the youths, now adopt a bicultural identity: one established in their local culture, and the other is credited to the global circumstance (Radhakrishman, 2003). The conceivable outcomes the youths have these days are so expansive and are still expanding globally, thereby giving them the chance and opportunity to explore various cultures and identities. Global access has expanded in terms of mobility, capital, innovations, and communication; these have changed individuals’ perception of the world. However, as globalization improves individuals with a more individual perspective, it dissuades our identities in the meantime due to the vulnerability of the part we could play in this world (Poole, 2003). Firstly in light of the fact that it’s ever changing, and furthermore in light of the fact that it challenges our local and customary identities, and ourselves which are credited sure values and standards as per which we operate. Globalization is attempting to reset these instruments, making them so adaptable in a manner that they at long last get to be so frail it couldnt be possible to hold together, and crash (Bauman, 2001). Discourse of National Identity and Globalization The fundamental inquiry here is whether national identities are liable to remain an essential highlight of our social orders in the advancing decades. Some researchers have contended that national identities are declining, because of expanding globalization, the development of supra-national associations, for example, EU (Bauman, 2001). It is also due to the expanding multicultural nature of our social orders, and, in multi-national nations like the UK, the vicinity of separatist developments with generous political backing. On the other hand, the survey of the current confirmation and present practices proposes these factors: national identities are liable to stay vital in the coming decades (Crystal, 2003). Notwithstanding the affirmed fragmenting impacts of globalization and advances in technologies of communication; European mix and the conceivable advancement of European identity are unrealistic to prompt the vanishing of existing national identities (Capozza & Brown, 2000). Globalization also has many ramifications for the position of any state which can be medium sized, regional or centralized system of government. It can also include the sovereign type of governance that has proved dominance as that which was witnessed in the 1789. In the current century, the executive of modern state governances is usually on the basis of economic, political and cultural identities (Elmsley, 2003). The ability of any state to fully function and implement their policies is much vested in its ability to defend fully and protect their territory from the internal and external attacks and challenges. Any given state in the modern settings, is therefore mandated to update their economic books besides their socio-cultural characteristics so that they should uphold their identity that distinct them from other nations of the globe (Habermas, 2001). Therefore, it is noted that for any nation to maintain their stability and fulfill their moral obligations, the notion of national identity plays a very vital role to ensure the formation of national unity and policies. It acts as a basis for the formation and the production of individuals’ obedience and loyalty to the authorities and the basis for ideological mobilization that ensure the smooth operations of the country’s affairs such as the protection of the citizens’ rights besides protecting the country’s boundaries (Shavit, 2009). This hence gives the natives the sense of togetherness where they could freely share their ideas and interact. As noted by Crystal (2003) in nation building, the nationalist viewpoint indicates that the various methods available to the government which includes political institutions and national symbols are often used to fight towards attainment of the national identity. In such fight, it is a common practice that the varieties of a country’s languages are replaced by one unified language that has unified affiliation. The country’s diverse habits and traditions are also replaced by one unified and standard national language that highlights the country’s historical and political background. It is however noted that if the systems applied by the government in nation building to ensure the nation’s national identity is withheld do not yield good fruits, then the governing system of a nation may be forced to result to other measures (Capozza & Brown, 2000). These may be the use of coercion such as criminalization of the identity struggles so as to protect the diversity of the marginalized groups in the country. Any sovereign state therefore, has the entire absolute jurisdiction to assimilate all the variety of the country’s cultural norms and behaviors then merge them into a unified standard national language that unites all the country’s citizens (Poole, 2003). Despite all the effort by nation’s effort in national building and in the fight of protecting the national identity, the rising effects of globalization are significantly thwarting these roles of the state (Radhakrishman, 2003). It is noted that, due to the advancements in technology and use of mass media in globalization, the authority, sovereignty and legitimacy of various nations has been on the receiving ends on their national identities from the adverse effects of globalization. This erosion of the country’s national identities is noted to range from local to global, and transnational and sub-national (Capozza & Brown, 2000). Due to these effects, most countries have lost control in the flow of capital and various information through the mass media and any other form of communication technologies across their boundaries this is because of the lack of trade and media restrictions globally. The general effect of this is the reduction in the economic progress of the nation and the dilution of its national identity and moral obligation (Stevenson, 2003). Globalization has also led to the formation of alliances with other sovereign states so as to retain or maintain their political and trade ties and this further escalates the erosion of the countries national identities as they will be forced to adopt a common and unified identity that can facilitate movement of goods and services across them (Bauman, 2001). As the globalization negatively affects the role of states, the roles of the mass media, and other communication sectors have also been mostly affected. These sectors have in the past been the center for nation building and upholding of a country’s national identity. As noted by Habermas (2001), “National consciousness as a modern form of social solidarity opposed to loyalties to communities shaped by decency, language and history could indeed be regarded as a product of the development of new forms of communication and especially mass communication” (Bauman, 2001). This indicates that despite the advancement in technology, the media, and other communicating sectors should maintain their roles, however, with the ever changing technologies; failure of the media in adapting leads to the irrelevancy of the media in the global setting hence cannot protect the ethnic, national identities (Capozza & Brown, 2000). Conclusion From the various contradictory views of the globalization forces, the fight towards attaining individual identity according to the individual’s cultures has proved to be elusive and individuals have to adopt the global cultures and their identity and this dilutes the roles of the mass media. It is also noted that globalization has thwarted the fight towards nation building that helps uphold national identity of any sovereign state. This, therefore, kills a country’s original identities and moral standards making individuals seek new identities and new ethnic groups to get identified. Globalization has made communication very easy and very efficient worldwide; therefore individuals find it very easy to adopt another identity that exists in a different ethnic group or a different country. This denies individuals their national freedom that they could freely enjoy their national identity which clearly stipulates the rights of the individuals in various countries, and the nation’s cultures are prone to dilution by foreign identities. Therefore, despite the advantages of globalization, it greatly negatively affects the national identities of nations, and this often leads to the mistreatment of the marginalized groups in various societies of the world. References Barucco, A. (2006) National Identity in the Age of Globalization: Changing Patterns of National Identity in India, Harvard, Harvard University Press Bauman, Z. (2001). Community: Seeking safety in an insecure world. Cambridge: Polity. . Bauman, Z. (2001). The individualized society. Cambridge: Polity. Capozza, D. & Brown, R. (2000). Social Identity Processes. London: Sage Publications. Crystal, D. (2003), English as a Global Language, Cambridge, Cambridge University Deirdre, K. (2003) Europe in the Media: A Comparison of Reporting, Representations, and Rhetoric in National Media Systems in Europe. Mahwah, New Jersey: Erlbaum Associates Elmsley, C., (2003), “Chapter 3: Nation, Nation-State, Nationalism and Europe”, in Chimisso, C. (ed). Exploring European Identities, Milton Keynes: The Open University Press Habermas, J. (2001). Why Europe needs a constitution Available: http://www.newleftreview.net/NLR24501.shtml, Accessed on 2003/05/07 Poole R. 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