Globalization and Cultural Imperialism

In the broadest sense, globalization began with the advent of ships that could travel between continents; carrying foods, textiles, animals, and people, to places they could not have gone otherwise. From our class lecture, globalization is a process of increasing interconnectedness among nations, cultures and people. To me globalization is something that is dynamic that cannot be defined in just one sitting. Globalization consists of intricate networks of social capital, developed online and offline, through airlines, telephones, cell phones, communities, nationalities, trends, popular beliefs, consumer patterns, consumer needs, consumer desires, this list goes on and on. Most consider globalization to be a mixed blessing, and this is absolutely true. While this ability to have every commodity at the tip of your fingers is very useful, someone had to foot the bill. These are the players who will suffer the most. We are all culprits of buying in to this machine. No matter how elegant it may seem to those who live with privilege, it runs on a mechanism that subjugates and stratifies humanity. I believe that while globalization is a wonderful thing, there is an underlying mode of corruption that controls the largest share of the resources on this planet.

Cultural Imperialism is evident in many patterns of consumerism. Something that makes the global market uneven, is the fact that there are no global rules and regulations. We like to think of ourselves as progressive human beings, but capitalism is not a person. Businesses and corporations make money by ripping people off. All they care about is finding the best way to make money, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. As we can all see, those few who are in power, are very successful at what they do. Cultural Imperialism just sounds negative, but one thing that is most disturbing is that the West has set some kind of standard for other countries to ascribe to. America may have been successful at making and spending money, but we cannot keep our books straight, and are in great debt. Our priorities are focused on football and American Idol, and IPhone accessories, not the millions who go without water, food, and life. One good aspect about cultural imperialism is that it has not succeeded in diminishing other cultures.  In fact, people are able to learn about other cultures and ways of life. Hybridizing cultures can lead to more open minded thinking and this will eventually lessen the gap in cultural bias and negativity.

After having see a documentary called Life and Debt, directed by Stephanie Black, I was awakened to the saddest outcomes of governmental and political interference, and their control of globalization. When Jamaica became free of the English rule, they found themselves in debt. They were forced to sign into high interest loans, only to eventually be denied the right to trade their own crops on a global scale. To such an extent, that the food that was produced naturally on their own island, was being replaced by imported goods from overseas. The tourists in the hotel and resorts were eating, authentic local cuisine, minus the local ingredients. It was simply easier and cheaper to consume imported goods than to pay a living wage to the local farmers. One scholar said that by the 1970's, Jamaica owed $400,000,000.00 to the International Monetary Fund. In this way, the IMF indirectly controls the fate of the native people in an internal, and all encompassing limbo of debt. The documentary also points out the fact that Jamaica is so beautiful, tropical, and wonderful but still there is a side of the island that most tourists don't see, a world of poverty and corruption.

Another thing the documentary touches on is underwear. There is a free zone, where global big name brands have strategically established businesses where they have to pay no tax. They set up shop, paying local women $30.00 American dollars per week, to sew clothing and underwear. These women, who make up most of the workforce, are pressured very hard to meet quotas. They are subject to unethical working conditions; for instance they are not able to talk, eat or go to the bathroom.  They are also taxed heavily on their already low wages. Then companies like Hilfiger get to sell their product worldwide for much more than what they are worth.

A good idea to take away from this documentary is to appreciate everything about globalization, not only the ease of accessibility, but the blood and sweat that goes into those many things that we enjoy so freely. Question were the products you buy are from. Only through knowledge can we break this cycle of abuse.

View Life & Debt instantly on Netflix.


 

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