Globalization and Cultural Impact

This assignment examines the multifaceted effects of globalization on culture. It discusses how globalization leads to cultural exchange but also raises concerns about cultural homogenization, where Western culture dominates. The essay analyzes examples like McDonald's and Coca-Cola as symbols of American cultural influence and explores the potential for counter-movements like nationalistic sentiments to resist this dominance.

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The present era is going through the phase of globalization. With the help of
globalization, the division among the countries and regions get reduced and the whole world has
become a single place. The connectivity among the people around the world also gets enhanced
due to this. However, there are various drawbacks of globalization are also present. With the
initiation of the globalization, market in different countries are getting liberalized and with that
more and more foreign companies are entering in the local market leading to introduction of
various new and unfamiliar products (Thelen 2012). Production is also been done in an unified
approach to cater to the global audience. This caused initiation of similar products and services
around the world. Customer around the world are wearing similar clothing, following similar
fashion styles, driving similar cars and going to watch similar movies (Negrea 2012). However,
majority of the globalization approach is centered towards America. Western and American
culture is getting promoted due to rapid globalization. Thus, traditions and culture of other
countries is getting surpassed. Prominent examples being McDonalds and Coca-Cola which first
originated in America and captured the market of the whole world. The majority of the global
countries are accustomed with McDonalds, Coca-Cola and other brand from western countries.
Moreover, people in several countries made the food served by them as their indigenous food
habit. Due to this, they are about to forget their own food habit. Thus, this is one of the most
prominent drawbacks of globalization.
There are various steps being taken by the governments such as Belgium and Canada to
protect their own culture. Various countries passed laws to prevent these implications. However,
there is also another part of this concept is relevant. For instance, cuisines from Japan and China
are taking the world market by storm. They are capturing the American market more
aggressively. Along with that, the culture of the respective countries is also getting in way. This

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imperialism is also known as cultural imperialism (Mirrlees 2013). However, this imperialism is
not limited to the food and drinks, but also transmits through movies, internet and television. All
of these media more or less promotes the American culture. Thus, the culture of the western
countries is getting promoted around the world. All the other cultural and social background in
different countries is becoming more vulnerable and many of them are already extinct or on the
verge of extinction.
However, it should be considered that, though globalization is an inevitable phenomenon
in the current scenario, but it is should be regulated in a manner that the indigenous cultures in
other countries can survive. The homogeneity of the people due to globalization can only be
prevented with having various languages, religion, cultural difference and national identity. All
of these aspects are on the verge of extinction due to the phenomenon of globalization.
Nationalism is one concept which is just the opposite trend of globalization (Smith 2013).
Nationalism creates individual identity which creates barrier in the path of the concept of one
identity of globalization.

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Reference
Mirrlees, T., 2013. Global entertainment media: Between cultural imperialism and cultural
globalization. Routledge.
Negrea, A.P., 2012. Globalization and the identity dilemma. Theoretical & Applied
Economics, 19(9).
Smith, A., 2013. Nations and nationalism in a global era. John Wiley & Sons.
Thelen, K., 2012. Varieties of capitalism: Trajectories of liberalization and the new politics of
social solidarity. Annual Review of Political Science, 15, pp.137-159.