Cultural Globalization: Australia's Economy and Social Identity

This essay delves into the multifaceted aspects of cultural globalization, focusing on its profound impact on Australia's society, economy, and the formation of global social identities. The introduction establishes globalization as a process of interconnectedness across social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions, highlighting its rapid expansion in the 1990s. The discussion section explores the economic, political, and social effects of globalization on Australia, emphasizing increased international trade, employment opportunities, and cultural diversity. It also addresses the reactions against globalization and its negative impacts like environmental concerns and labor exploitation. The essay further examines how globalization plays a significant role in shaping global social identities, fostering interactions between diverse cultures. The conclusion synthesizes these points, reinforcing the positive economic impacts of globalization while acknowledging its challenges. The essay references various scholarly works to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive analysis of globalization's effects on Australia and its contribution to a globalized world.

Running head: CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
Introduction
Globalization is the process in which different parts of the world becomes connected
socially, culturally, politically and economically. The 1990s saw a rapid growth of the process
where people became aware of the growing causes of globalization. Globalization tries to capture
how the states connect and expand all around the globe. People were living their lives before
globalization but the process of globalization helped individuals to connect and interact with
various other individuals globally (Dunne & Reus-Smit, 2017, p. 3).
The thesis statement aims to discuss the various aspects of globalization and the impact it
has on society. It also aims to discuss how cultural globalization plays a significant role in
developing global social identities.
Discussion
Globalization as a process has been very useful, as it has brought individuals closer to
each other. The citizens of Australia has witnessed several revolutions where one such revolution
is that of Globalization. The era of globalization has had various impacts on the country
economically, politically and socially. The cultural characteristics of globalization are considered
to be dominated by the economic impact. Globalization as a process makes the matters that
would have been hidden otherwise come into light. (Beck, 2018, p. 2). Globalization as a process
has proved to have a constructive political effect on Australia. Globalization has been associated
with an alien concept which has its own separate quality which is considered to go beyond
politics and other agencies that is a storehouse of societal developments which cannot be
scrutinized in a noteworthy way (Holmes, et al., 2003, p. 408)

2
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
The economy of Australia depends on various factors, which rise due to globalization.
The countries due to increased connectivity among different nations have the facilities to import
and export goods and carry out international trade. Australia also exports various commodities
and goods like coal, wheat, clothing materials, gold, cars and several other things. Due to the
exports of these goods and commodities, Australia also has the ability to purchase goods from
other countries in the form of import. Thus, Globalization has had a positive impact on the
economy of the country. Due to globalization there has been an increase in the employment of
the country where several foreign companies have been set up which creates employment for the
people living in the country. The growth and increase of industries have led to a positive effect
on economic globalization. (Holmes, et al., 2003, p. 409).
Australia is considered to be a multicultural nation which means it has cultural diversity.
There are different diversities of individuals who are coexisting together. The process of
globalization has made it easier for individuals to connect with different cultures of people and to
interact with them, which would give them the chance to become aware of different cultures and
learn about them. Though globalization has had positive effects there were reactions against it.
(Croucher, 2018, p. 3). In the era of globalization, where everyone and everything is so closely
connected it is difficult to not be aware of the ideologies of different cultures. It creates
opportunity for individuals to know more about different cultures and the difference between
them (Beck, 2018).
There are various side effects to globalization. Though, it has been able to create many
opportunities for people and increased the connectivity globally it has also have had its fair share
of negative impacts. The immigrants are given jobs in the country whereas, most of the natives
are left unemployed which are creating rift among people. Globalization has helped in

3
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
facilitating trade and provided better economic facilities that improved the economy of the
country. Due to growing industrialization, there has been various employment opportunities for
people living in Australia and it also opened up the scheme of free trade agreements. Although, it
has positive impacts there are several consequences, which the nation has faced due to
globalization (Sorrells, 2015). There needs to be availability of land or property, in order to
create or build an industry. To create the industries the environment is being hampered. The trees
are being cut down and the forests are being burned to make place for a land where there will be
a creation of the concrete jungle to keep the population growing. Another point, which needs to
be taken into consideration, would be the industries, which are being instituted and created. The
industries throw off several chemicals, which affects other species, and it also creates pollution
which is dangerous and life consuming. Therefore, it effects the environment tremendously.
Apart from these issues there are other issues where one such issue is that of labour
exploitation. In the era of globalization due to its widespread connectivity, availability of labour
is becoming cheap, the countries which are developing provides with cheap labour, to the
countries, which are developed. This in turn affects the economy of the developing countries.
Exploitation of these workers are a common phenomenon, which have led to significant impacts
in globalization and it effects the poor ;people more. (Lambin & Meyfroidt, 2011).
Globalization has a significant role in identifying global social identities. Globalization is
a process, which helps in bringing the world closer. It has made the world connect. Australia is a
country where people of different cultures live or cohabit together which differentiates and
defines them from the other people. Thus, this process helps in interacting with people from
different ends of the world. Social identity is considered to be an identification of the group
(Dervin & Machart, 2016, p. 1). Therefore, in a country where there are different groups of

4
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
individuals living together to cater to the needs of just one would be unfair. Therefore, this can
also be a reason for exploitation and it could also be subjected to criticism. Social identities are
considered to be the identification or recognition of being a part of a group where the individuals
in that group cohabit and coexist together. Thus, Globalization plays a significant role in
identifying the global social identities. It also helps the world to be connected and it influences
trade practices and the import and export of countries. It helps the world to connect and share
their sufferings with each other, which would bring them closer. Therefore, it is a process by
which the individuals in the world comes closer and tries to respect each-other’s privacy and
enjoy the cultural diversity. The process is powerful and it is beneficial for the economy as it
creates a wider aspect for people to connect (White, 2015, preface, xv).
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion, it can be concluded, that globalization is an
increasing trend in the world and it helps individuals stay connected. Globalization also provides
with several opportunities that helps the individuals live a better life. It also creates job
opportunities for people because of the industries being set up. It also plays a significant role in
identifying the global social identities. In this paper the various advantages and disadvantages of
globalization has been discussed. It also states the various impacts globalization has on the
Australian economy. Thus, to conclude, Globalization has a positive impact on the economy of
the country.

5
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION
References
Beck, U. (2018). What is globalization?. John Wiley & Sons.
Croucher, S. (2018). Globalization and belonging: The politics of identity in a changing world.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Dervin, F., & Machart, R. (Eds.). (2016). Cultural essentialism in intercultural relations.
Springer.
Dunne, T., & Reus-Smit, C. (Eds.). (2017). The globalization of international society. Oxford
University Press.
Holmes, D., et al. (2003) Globalization (Ch. 13 p.421-435) Australian sociology.
Lambin, E. F., & Meyfroidt, P. (2011). Global land use change, economic globalization, and the
looming land scarcity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(9), 3465-
3472.
Sorrells, K. (2015). Intercultural communication: Globalization and social justice. Sage
publications.
White, R. (2015). Cultural Differences and Economic Globalization: Effects on trade, foreign
direct investment, and migration. Routledge.