Cultural Globalization: Fear of the Unknown
Cultural Globalization: Fear of the Unknown Cultural globalization is a term often used to describe the influence of one national culture on another. This is perhaps more prevalent in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Although America is often viewed as the villain with regard to globalization, it is clear by the diversity of cultural groups in America, that this nation is also the recipient of global culture. With such a diverse cultural population it’s foreseeable to think there will be differences of opinion when it comes to discussion cultural importance. For every society believes it is their culture that sets them apart and makes them unique. Differences in cultural beliefs often leads to the “Us vs Them” mentality, but it is also cultural beliefs that unite Americans.
Over the last few decades there has been much discussion about the effects of globalization with regard to world cultures. Mostly there is the concern that through globalization the world is becoming homogenized. The idea of singularity is being erased by the influx of a multiple cultures. People directly relate their identity to their specific culture. So naturally when their cultural beliefs are threatened there is a tendency to resist change. Franklin Foer wrote about the emergence of soccer in America and how there has been resistance to acknowledging it as a sport. The foundation for this resistance is most likely because soccer is a world sport and not “Made in America”. The sport did not originate in this country, so therefore it cannot be allowed to become part of our culture. After all it’s not baseball or football; well it is referred to as football everywhere else in the world, just not American football. As an outside sport it is certain to be ridiculed by Americans, but not all Americans feel this way. Remembering that America is a multicultural nation, leads me to believe that a great number of people in this country embrace soccer and other
Over the last few decades there has been much discussion about the effects of globalization with regard to world cultures. Mostly there is the concern that through globalization the world is becoming homogenized. The idea of singularity is being erased by the influx of a multiple cultures. People directly relate their identity to their specific culture. So naturally when their cultural beliefs are threatened there is a tendency to resist change. Franklin Foer wrote about the emergence of soccer in America and how there has been resistance to acknowledging it as a sport. The foundation for this resistance is most likely because soccer is a world sport and not “Made in America”. The sport did not originate in this country, so therefore it cannot be allowed to become part of our culture. After all it’s not baseball or football; well it is referred to as football everywhere else in the world, just not American football. As an outside sport it is certain to be ridiculed by Americans, but not all Americans feel this way. Remembering that America is a multicultural nation, leads me to believe that a great number of people in this country embrace soccer and other
Cited: Moussa, Samir. “Culture and Globalization." Globalization101. (2012) State University of New York 26 February 2012 http://www.globalization101.org/uploads/File/Culture/cultall2011.pdf Friedman, Thomas. “The Lexus and the Olive Tree.” Farrar Straus Giroux, New York: 1999. Foer, Franklin. “How Soccer Explains the World.” From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. Stuart Greene, April Lidinsky. New York: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2001. 332-352. Appiah, Kwaime A. “Moral Disagreement.” From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. Stuart Greene, April Lidinsky. New York: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2001. 332-352.