Glt-1 Analysis

Globalization
Carmen Rivera-Torres
Western Governors University
GLT-1

Globalization
Globalization has had a tremendous impact on our world today due to the inevitable cultural changes that it causes. Some of the changes are vital to the countries but they come with a drastic socioeconomic change. For example, India and Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been drastically changed by political powers and technological advances.
In the 19th century, Great Britain had become the dominant political power in
India. In 1947, India gained its independence as a result of a non violent resistance led by Gandhi and Nehru. (CIA) Although India received its independence from Britain, the social changes that
affected Indian society had already started. Britain improved healthcare, sanitary conditions, roadways and they set up schools and colleges. The course of study stressed English language and culture; and diminished the importance of Indian traditions and religious practices (Rhalter).
Prior to British rule, India appeared to be a very rural country.
The British introduced education, language, religion, democracy and trade to India. It is evident that the direct British changes created positive growth for the country with regards to education and technological advances but it created socioeconomic changes to the culture according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
In addition, telecommunications in India has become one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world. Urban tele density now exceeds 100% and rural tele density is steadily growing. In 1994, mobile cellular was introduced and as of 2013, it has 893,862 million subscribers, and telephone main lines totaling 31.08 million in 2012 according to the CIA database. In 2011, broadcast media had more than 100 million homes that had access to cable and satellite TV.
India’s response to the Western influence has been controversial because the elders believe that the youth are gravitating to the western culture and forgetting their Indian traditions. It is Indian culture to take care of those in their community. They do not have social security and making family bonds is extremely important to them. For example, the youth are so connected to social media sites, smart phones, brand name clothing and partying in night clubs according, to YouTube videos that are circling the World Wide Web. In the past, the youth stayed home and girls married young; however, this is no longer the case.
The western way of thinking has seeped into their culture.
Furthermore, India still has many problems, such as, over population, environmental degradation, extensive poverty and widespread corruption; but the 1991 economic reform has been transforming the country. India has a massive youthful population that’s emerging, driving India to become a regional and global power according to the CIA.
Across the Arabian Sea, you have the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the center of Africa.
The DRC was established in 1908 as a fishing Belgian colony and gained its independence in 1960. In 1965, Colonel Joseph Mobutu seized power, named himself President and changed the country’s name to “Zaire”. Mobutu received financial support from the United States and Belgium. He was able to remain in power for 32 years due to corrupt elections and forced brutality. In 1997, Mobutu was overthrown by Laurent Desire Kabila, an exiled General that also received the financial backing from the United States, Rwanda and Uganda. Kabila promised Rwanda mining contracts in the Congo in exchange for their help. Kabila never kept his promise and in 1998 the United States and British allies Rwanda and Uganda invaded once again to overthrow Kabila; even though they were responsible for installing him in office. Kabila refused to participate in peace talks and was assassinated in 2001. His son Joseph Kabila became his successor and immediately began peace
talks.
The DRC is a nation with vast natural resource wealth, but political corruption and conflict has stunted its global growth. Kinshasa is the capitol of the DRC and it has seen progress and reform since 2003 even though its neighboring towns are living in poverty according to the CIA database. Kinshasa has a population of 8.798 million and it’s the third largest city on the African continent. It has been globalized with many of the amenities of the Western world, such as, shopping and social media. According to an article, in Lonely Planet Travel Guide, “Kinshasa is a huge, sprawling city. It is hectic, confusing and colorful, a sort of New York in Central Africa.”
In a recent BBC article, Africa rising-but Who Benefits? by Alexis Akwagyiram (2013), a Kinshasa, DRC salesman was interviewed and he said he has been able to provide for his family due to the changes. He quoted “I 've been doing this job since 2005 - so, for seven years. There is an evolution. There are more and more customers - Congolese people spend a lot on telecommunications.” Kinshasa has internet cafe’s, shopping malls, telecommunications, and beautiful tall buildings giving the illusion of big city living but outside of its borders lie poverty and destruction.
The communication systems of the DRC consisted of 58,200 telephone lines in 2012 and 19.487 million cellular lines. In 2008, it had 290,000 internet users and 2,512 internet hosts according to the CIA. Although Kinshasa has benefited greatly by globalization and this thriving technological era; its neighboring towns have not. The Congo has been ridden by corrupt politicians for so long that it has caused its country to remain in poverty. According to healafrica.org, the politicians have further corrupted its country for self gain instead of improving the quality of living of its people.
In conclusion, Kinshasa, DRC and India are completely different but similar in the fact that complete globalization and aid can help the DRC’s economic growth and improve its daily living conditions outside of the city. If India keeps changing, it might alter their traditional rituals that they hold dear because the youth are very independent and in control of their future. Research indicates that Tele communications is taking over due to the fact that technology has become more and more prominent in this modern day age that we live in. As evidenced by these less urbanized countries relying so heavily on technology.

References
Akwaagyiram, Alexis. (June 2013). Africa rising-but who benefits? BBC News Africa Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22847118
Central Intelligence Agency. (March 2014). AFRICA: CONGO,DEMOCRATIC RE
PUBLIC OF THE Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html
Central Intelligence Agency. (March 2014). SOUTH ASIA: INDIA. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html
Crisis In The Congo. (2011). Uncovering The Truth (June 18,2011). Friends of the Con go. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9szEu9Ag
Haviland, William. Anthropology: The Human Challenge. 12th Edition. Wadsworth, 2011. VitalBook file. Bookshelf.
Heal Africa. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.healafrica.org
Levis, Kenneth. (2011). Other Side of Outsourcing FINAL Retrieved from: http://vimeo.com/14287759
Moore, D. (2001). Neoliberal globalisation and the triple crisis of 'modernisation ' in Africa: Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. Third World Quarterly, 22(6), 909-929. doi:10.1080/01436590120099713
Rhalter. (March 26, 2008). The Development of Modern India. (2008). Imperialism to the 21st Century. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/rhalter/the-development-of-modern-india
Somerville, Keith. (December 2002). Africa: Globalisation or marginalisation?. BBC News Africa Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22847118