Globalization and Culture

Global brands from Coca-Cola and Starbucks to McDonaldÆs and an increasing number of services are uniting nations in a global marketplace that makes each more interdependent upon the others. While many point to the positive effects that stem from globalization, others continue to debate the merits of what is a process as well as an ideology. For it is the Western world that primarily leads globalization, making many argue that the phenomenon is merely an effort by the West to impose its ideology and lifestyle worldwide along with its products and services. As Sowinski (2003) explains, ôWhile debates over globalization generally assume that cross-border trade in pro

. . .
English in the process of globalization. English is not the language spoken by the majority of the worldÆs peoples, yet it is the official language of organizations that promote globalization like the United Nations, the WTO, trade blocs like NAFTA and the EU, and media like BBC World, CNN, and Hollywood entertainment. The dominant role of English in international politics and commerce is viewed as one more imposition on cultures where English is not spoken. As Phillipson (2001) argues, ôEnglish is integral to the globalization processes that characterize the contemporary post-cold war phase of aggressive casino capitalism, economic restructuring, McDonaldization and militarization on all continentsö (187). The above example illustrates that many of the values or aspects of globalization are situated to better serve the interests of some than others. It is such an inclusion and exclusion aspect of globalization that creates opposition toward it in many nations and cultures. Such organizations as the Initiative Against Economic Globalization view the process as unfair, exploitative of foreign cultures, and as an eroding cultural force. At the fifty-fifth meeting of the IMF and World Bank in Prague, the Initiative staged a ma
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Companies Starbucks, Roland Roberts, Economic Globalization, Middle East, Hardt Negri, Indeed Muslim, B9 Conclusion, Fears Americanized, Starbucks McDonaldÆs, Organization WTO, legrain 2003, worldÆs cultures, proponents globalization, 2003 maintains, diverse cultures, argue globalization, opponents globalization, developing nations, impact culture, values institutions, reactions 2003 48, legrain 2003 maintains, hardt negri 2000, negative impact culture, impact culture due,
Approximate Word count = 4172
Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Globalization and Culture