Globalization

Globalization has become the buzzword for contemporary political and academic debate.  Globalization covers political, economic, and cultural trends. It is the pursuit of a free market in the world economy.  It is characterized by a growing dominance of western forms of political, economic, and cultural life.  These ideas have spread around the world because of the internet. 

 

Globalization is not new.  The Silk Road ran across Central Asia from China to Europe.  People have been trading for thousands of years at great distances.  The Age of Exploration continued this globalization.  Countries raced to explore and claim distance lands.  These countries invested in a global economy.  What has changed from centuries ago according to Thomas Friedman is that today globalization is "farther, faster, cheaper, and deeper." 

 

Globalization is controversial.  While some argue that it allows poorer countries and their citizens to develop economically, others argue that international free markets benefit corporation in the Western world at the expense of local enterprises, cultures, and people

. 

World Without Walls shows just exactly how far reaching a corporation can be.  Focusing on McDonalds it demonstrates just how global McDonalds has become.  It uses McDonalds as an example of how far reaching a corporation can expand.


Globalization has impacted most of us in some way or another.  Every time we go into a Wal Mart we can see evidence of a global economy.  All you have to do is look at where a product is made to realize that we are a world dependent upon others.  My parents have seen the effects of globalization in their poultry farming in the past two years.  The company they grew for was bought out by a Brazilian meat corporation and this has effected their business.    Social media has directly effected my life.  This is probably the best example of a world without walls.  You can almost instantly connect to anyone anywhere around the world.

                                  

Cultural Awareness

Cultural awareness is being aware of cultural values, beliefs, and perceptions.  This means we need to be aware of our own culture as well as others. There are four levels of cultural awareness. The first is the notion that the way I do things is the right and only way.  In the second level, people are aware of others ways but insist that their way is better.  The third level accepts both ways and are willing to work together.  In the fourth level, people come together from different backgrounds to create a culture of shared meanings.

In order to become a more culturally aware person, you have to recognize that we are not all the same.  Our similarities and differences make us both important.  People have to learn to live and work together with these similarities and differences in the best possible way.  In order to achieve these, you must be able to admit you don't know everything and maybe your way is not necessarily the right way.  In order to understand others, you must put yourself in their shoes.    Learn to be more comfortable with change and celebrate being different.

The Iceberg Model of Culture is meant to give us a deeper understanding into learning about others culture.  The surface culture that you see above the water are foods, holidays, art, language, music,  and history.  These cultural traits are what most people use to define groups of people.  It's what you don't see below the surface.  Deeper and hidden like an iceberg might be in the ocean.  Norms, values, perceptions, religious beliefs, ethics, traditions, and gender roles are a few of the things we don't see.  We also don't consider social or economic status.  We have people living in the United States who can't even notice or recognize the differences in their own communities. 

I am trying to be more culturally aware of both Ireland and Scotland.   The history of both counties obviously goes back further than American history, and they are not considered a melting pot of cultures as we are in the United States.  I found out there are differences in deep culture.  Ireland is a past oriented country rooted in deep tradition.  There are also tensions and differences between the different classes of people in both countries.  I am posting two websites that examine cultural diversity of both Scotland and Ireland.

Countries and Their Cultures: Ireland                                    
Countries and Their Cultures: Scotland
Heavy Metal Scottish Bands