Globalisation and Cultural Assignment - Coursework Example

Running Head: ASSIGNMENT ON GLOBALISATION AND CULTURE Globalisation and Cultural Assignment Name: Institution: Lecturer: Course: Date: Question 2 “The salience of intercultural communication in the present period is both a form of globalization and a response to globalization: that is, the discourse of intercultural communication is itself an aspect of globalization, and, at the same time, it is a response to globalization” (Piller, 2011). There are a number of ways through which globalisation can be defined. This is in reference to political entities, intercommunication and or economic relationships. First, globalization is defined as a way through which industries and corporations interrelate; without emphasis being given to geographical locations. Secondly, globalization is defined in economic terms as the primary integrative structures. Thus, defining globalization in the economic context means that both local and national governments relinquish control of overall policy to global institutions. The institutions in this case include multinational entities, non-governmental firms, regional and international firms such as the World Bank (Kraidy, 2002). Despite the economic nature of globalisation, the ripple effects make globalization to be felt both socially and culturally. Widespread ideas, cultural movements as well as customs follow closely with the exchange of products across international boundaries. For instance, the international trade has proved to be the driving force through which divergent religions have stretched (Stier, 2009). This includes Buddhism in the Eastern Asian region and Christianity in the Eastern Europe, Asian regions and America. The changes that have been felt across the globe has been magical, such as emergence and existence of Hello Kitty coupled with the rise of religious, political and cultural movements, with an example of the Falungong movement (Chinese spiritual movement). The latest Davos Economic Forum held in Switzerland heralded the difference between factual globalization and valuable globalization. Factual globalization encompasses real economic ties, organizations, plus the realities which underlie new economy. Valuable globalization is the extent of seeking extensive integration of markets, capital pools as well as industries. However, a number of people perceive factual globalization as a tool of cultural-social integration (Kraidy, 2002). Despite the immeasurable benefits of globalisation, it has received opposition in equal measure as evidenced in the 1999 riots in Seattle. The opponents of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) forwarded their displeasure that globalization has created poverty, brought destruction to the ecosystem and at the same time favouring the multinational firms over their interests. The magnitude through which globalization has influenced economic, social and cultural relations can further be explained through ‘informatization’. This refers to the process through which information technologies, with an example of the internet as well as other advanced communication technologies, have yielded radical transformation to economic-social relations and hence curbing cultural-economic barriers. According to researchers, technological innovations have proved to have fundamental cultural-social changes which eventually change the status quo. Researchers further argue that during the post-industrial times, information-based society, information values and the overall knowledge will crop to be the driving force within the society than industrial technologies. However, informatization has been viewed by many as a phenomenon that uses information technologies to an extent of becoming dominant forces to command economic, political, social as well as cultural development. Informatization has further magnified the speed, quantity as well as popularity through which information is produced and distributed. Thus, informatization has been used as a tool through which both information and communication-technologies have shaped cultural as well as civic discourse. This does not only cover computers and the world-wide-web, but also other technologies with the same characteristics prudent to make information transferable such as television and films (Kraidy, 2002). The concepts of globalization and informatization intertwine. Despite the fact that they explain different phenomenons, they both overlap in their social, cultural, political as well as economic functions. The economic integration embraced by globalization is amplified via economic channels. The international trade cannot be referred as a new phenomenon. However, communication-technologies have catapulted scope of trade. In the traditional times, it took substantial time for ideas and technologies to be disseminated across the globe. However, via the new electronic communication tools, ideas and communication about new events can reach the world in an instance, hence causing drastic changes to the global financial markets. Thus, a trillion dollars flows around the international business arena via the electronic networks. Globalization mandates the influx of information technologies, creates global market as well as concise strategic initiatives through which information technologies are adopted (Leidner & Kayworth, 2006). Leidner & Kayworth (2006) asserts that both globalization and informatization contains far reaching consequences beyond economic context. The two contains profound impact as far a cultural and social influence on the society is concerned. Apparently, globalization has caused global consciousness which make both political as well as economic issues stretch far beyond their borders. The human rights, environment as well as workers’ rights have gained considerable international constituencies. This can be illustrated by the Tibet’s status occurring under the Chinese rule. According to Stier, (2009), post-industrial society will feel the same impact as was felt by Europe during the eighteenth century industrial revolution. The industrial revolution led to a boost in urbanization, social dislocation as well as development of fresh economic forums. Just as the effect was felt, information revolution will cause an emergence of social context which include surfacing of information communities and spirit of globalisation. Thus, scholars predict convergence of the technological capacities with development of globalization (Stier, 2009). The overall impact of the forces revolving around globalization has been difficult to discern. In a number of ways, globalization coupled by the concept of informatization has presented a divergent of merits to the human society. However, a number of challenges have arisen making the overall effect subject for speculation. On one side, globalization has empowered individuals participate successfully within the international arena seeking economic, political as well as cultural resources (Scollon, Scollon, & Jones, 2011). Furthermore, forces of globalization have mandated flow of information up-to those places where individuals have been sealed to receive information. According to scholars, advancement of technology has yielded information democracy across the globe. There has been an overall improvement in the transfer of information regarding lifestyles, religion as well as cultural issues. For instance, the growth of internet has mandated commerce to happen from anywhere up-to everywhere and to anyone. In yet another example, scholars who make out the highest fraction of books’ consumers can do so at the Amazon.com. This means that such scholars don’t find it necessary to travel to different parts of the world in search of content. The modern Islamic pilgrims can access live video streams with a view of having virtual visit to the designated religious shrines (Stier, 2009). Moreover, the use of telecommunication devices as well as computer networks mandates unprecedented global activism. For instance, the non-for-profit activist group known as Ruckus Society employ technological network in gathering volunteers, train their members about human rights, and publicize events. Such democratization of information boosts potential for global harmony (Howes, 1996). Information technology has been used in empowering marginalized communities. Several resources such as ‘global knowledge partnership’ has been employed to avail information technologies such as computer, telecommunication devices and media forms to the society, for the purpose of national as well as local economic development. In this regard, technological advancement has been used in the provision of health, agriculture, environmental change and ultimately poverty eradication. Scholars argue that it would be compelling to embrace new forces of information within the society; failure to which will make the society lose economic growth. This acts as evidence that access and growth of information has largely contributed to democratization of the society (Kraidy, 2002). On the other hand, the growth of communication technologies has had negative impacts in regard to tradition, local autonomy plus cultural integrity. For instance, the internet and a number of websites have been framed in the English language. This means that the participators within the internet circles must possess proficiency in English language. In the recent times, Japan has been advised to adopt English as its medium of communication if far reaching benefits regarding technology will trickle in that country. Furthermore, one feature of globalization is establishment of a system that allows holders of huge capital to command the global market. However, despite the fact that technological advancements acts as a major factor, it never diminish competition (Howes, 1996). For instance, the United States has for long benefitted from advancement of information technology. This is largely seen by the many number of commercial sites that the United States dominates. Similarly, access to information technology has made it possible for those individual with malicious intentions such as hackers to further their activities. The forces have also been used by international terrorists to exploit and attack others (Piller, 2011). According to the United Nations, globalization has widened the gap between rich and the poor nations. The United Nations asserts that industrialized nations benefit widely from globalization of markets coupled with rising importance of knowledge regarding global economy. Moreover, the forces of globalization and information technology have created conflict between latest global-economic-order and local interests. It is evident that globalization trends have enormous implications on intercultural communication theory and more particularly to culture, society as well as communication. Informatization has a compelling force which makes research consider how culture influences transmission of information via different channels than previously conceived. The overall influence of culture towards communication behaviour is important in regard to telecommunications, cyberspace as well as other new media forms. Despite the fact that literature continue to evolve about the vast use of technology and new communication forms, there has been less analysis regarding the effect of new medium form of communication across cultural boundaries. The emerging issue significantly affect how the intercultural communication is disseminated. A number of concepts which are linked to intercultural communication, for example high and low context cultures tend to be problematic especially if applied to the new communication contexts (Piller, 2011). Another issue that fully converge with global values, technology as well as communication is the overall ability of technologies to fulfil their main purpose. This is particularly in encouragement of the intercultural interaction and effectiveness in development of fresh political, social and cultural movements. In the actual fact, the potential to amplify interaction with people emanating from the diverse cultural backgrounds improves with availability of technology. However, people across the divide look out for diversity during their interaction with technology (Scollon, Scollon, & Jones, 2011). An advanced inquiry related to globalization is the way in which skills of intercultural communication mandates greater effectiveness within personal and professional confines and within globalized-technologized context. The most unique characteristic of globalization and informatization has been ‘new knowledge class’ that is perceived as a class supported by its participation in new information industries without emphasis of traditional manufacturing industries. In this context, possession of communication skills in regard to receipt and dissemination has been taken as a major determinant through which individuals, organizations and industries acquire and apply knowledge to widen chances for success. In this regard, the overall ability to negotiate cultural issues within the communication circles acts as a competitive edge in the international world. Conclusion Globalization has acted as a tool to merge the global societies. This has been achieved through cultural, political, social and economic aspects. With time, globalization will lead to elimination of abject cultural diversity. Globalization and informatization acts as a common ground in which different countries can expand their borders (Scollon, Scollon, & Jones, 2011). The ease through which global communication is tearing societies apart is also felt when a number of societies are bound together than before. Communication theorists have acknowledged that culture acts as a symbolic system which makes the societies understand their lives. Moreover, it is within the framework of globalization that inter-cultural communication is documented. References Kraidy, M. M. (2002). Hybridity in cultural globalization. Communication theory, 12(3), 316-339. Stier, J. (2009). Internationalisation, intercultural communication and intercultural competence. Journal of intercultural communication, (11). Howes, D. (Ed.). (1996). Cross-cultural consumption: global markets, local realities. Taylor & Francis US. Piller, I. (2011). Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh University Press. Scollon, R., Scollon, S. W., & Jones, R. H. (2011). Intercultural communication: A discourse approach. John Wiley & Sons. Leidner, D. E., & Kayworth, T. (2006). A review of culture in information systems research: Toward a theory of information technology culture conflict. MIS quarterly, 30(2), 357-399. Read More