Globalisation

Globalisation is perhaps one of the most overused words in academic and public debate. However, it is important for us to confront it if we are to truly understand modern society as it is becoming increasing apparent everywhere. 

My local high-street for example, where there is a halal meat centre, Polish corner shops, Chinese/Indian restaurants and an international food store. In addition, there are a few supermarkets which sell food from all around the world. Gone are the days when importing produce meant waiting weeks for ships to arrive, and even then a limited selection would be fit for consumption. We now have a massive and INSTANT selection, which is a result of globalisation; it has opened the doors of countries, so we can have easier access to one another’s goods. 

Ex UN Secretary General Kofi Annan once said "The main losers in today's very unequal world are not those that are too exposed to globalisation, but those who have been left out."  This to me suggests that it is those communities that isolate themselves from global activities and trade that will suffer most. It is also countries with comparative advantages to trade that can benefit most from globalisation, this is because they can produce a certain good(s)/service(s) at a lower marginal costs thus prompting trade, even if other countries have an absolute advantage. Hence the world is moving towards becoming a global community that is interdependent on one another for survival.  

Stuart Hall (1993) said that ' the present intensified phase of globalisation has favoured the tendencies pushing nation-states towards supranational integration- economic, and more reluctantly, political and cultural: weakening without destroying the nation state' This would suggest that globalisation is destroying a nations uniqueness in them all integrating, however Hall does add that whilst this is happening globalisation is 'strengthening' the local allegiances and identities within nation states' suggesting that they are holding onto their identities. 

Globalisation is evident in many areas like literature for example, The Alchemist a book written by Paulo Coelho in Portuguese, has been translated into 67 different languages. Enabling authors to reach a vast audience and have huge cultural impact. Unsurprisingly, it is The Bible that is the worlds most translated book (Over 2500 in at least one book of The Bible) showing that globalisation has helped the spread of religion.  

Also, in regards to language, I have always found it strange that when British people go on holiday, most of us just kind of expect everyone to understand English. It is the ‘global’ language. When I travelled across Europe with my friends, we didn't speak/understand the native language of a single country we visited, we just had the expectation that we would get by. We acknowledged that it was an ignorant mind-set, but we could do nothing to change it. We got by just fine everywhere with only just a bit more difficulty in Budapest, where there were barely any English signs. I had to quash the feeling of anger in me when we used to get lost, and remind myself that it is not their ‘fault’ and perhaps I should have taken the initiative to learn Hungarian. 

I find that the UK schooling system is very different to other countries when it comes to teaching modern languages. Not nearly enough emphasis is placed upon it. Foreign workers are better candidates for jobs because they can break communication boundaries. In society today, where the Far East is becoming increasing powerful, economically and politically, perhaps the UK government should introduce teaching reforms similar to those in Australia, in which children are taught Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese and therefore increase their future prospects.  

Globalisation evidently has led to huge income disparities around the world. Here's a graph taken from the World Bank in 2008. And its said to think that the inequality has probably increased quite dramatically 5 years on.

Here is a picture of Portswood High-street in 1937. How things have changed!

Source:
Hall, S. (1993)  'Culture, Community, Nation' in Cultural Studies. vol.7(3), pg 354.

Earth's Children

Earth's Children is a series of books I read a couple of years ago. When I first started my Intercultural communication in a global world module, I was instantly reminded of these books, so I recently re-read them and LOVE how what I'm studying links into it.

The books are basically a pre-historic fantasy series by Jean M. Auel. Its set 30,000 years ago and is based on the period of coexistence between Cro-Magnons (early modern humans) and Neanderthals. It follows the story of Ayla, a Cro-Magnon female and her life amongst Neanderthals.

She at a young age becomes separated from her human family and is found and raised amongst a clan of Neanderthals (the clan). Now, it is not conclusively known whether neanderthals and humans actually coexisted together; but whether or not this is the case, these books are an awesome read about the clash of cultures between the two species.
Ayla is exiled from her clan and forced to give up her half human-half neanderthal son. A few years later, she comes across some of her 'own' and from here we read about her struggling to find her own identity. She belongs, yet does not belong. Although she looks like these people, she is vastly different from them, even unable at the beginning to communicate vocally like them, but instead communicate via sign-language, hand gestures and body language. Her customs, beliefs and ideologies were totally different, yet these were her people.

Evolution and the migration bought the Cro-Magnons into Neanderthal territory, and it was the Neanderthals inability to change and innovate the way they lived that eventually led to their extinction. Auel speculates that the Neanderthals reluctance to change is a 'function of their cognition' and are dependent upon 'racial-genetic memory', this basically means they can't help it. Its in their DNA. For example they continue to chase animals with spears when hunting, whilst the Cro-Magnons came up with projectile spears. When the Clan comes across this, they still refuse to change their ways even though it would seem to make their day-to-day life easier. Perhaps if they had changed, the race may have survived although they would have had to adopt some of the ways of the humans, thus loosing some of their identity. Contact between the two species was very limited and they both sort to keep it that way, having negative conceptions of each other.

The Cro-Magnons thought of the Clan as animals (largely due to their inability to communicate vocally) so would not ever voluntarily mix with them. Whilst the Clan see the humans as 'Others' who's spoken language is useless babbling and highlights their limited intellect. Both however are distinct and fluent forms of communication, where you can convey everything you need to 'say'. It shows that communication and language is not just verbal, the Clan communicates with hand-signs, body posture, facial expressions and physical gestures. They do add in the occasional spoken word to emphasise a gesture, although this is limited and 'grunt-like'. Each species separate language makes up a large part of their cultures and is unique to them. So when Ayla first joined the Clan at age 5, she learned how to communicate non-verbally, and joined a new culture, so much so that when she encountered her first human- Jondalar, she had lost the ability to 'talk'. There are also other cultural differences, including attitudes towards sex, reproduction, religion, social hierarchy and etiquette.

They go through a process of mutual learning, teaching each-other about themselves, with a mixture of surprise at their similarities and confusion/shock at the differences. Jondalar begins to question his prejudices against the Neanderthals and is fascinated to learn of their 'intelligence'. That they can actually communicate rationally had been up until then inconceivable and bought home truths about the two species's similarities. It is the preconceived stereotypes about the Neanderthals such as that they are no better then animals that has led to their persecution.
The books continue to see Ayla really grow as a character and a person, discovering who she is- a mixture of all influential parts of her life, she for me defines multiculturalism in this fictitious world.

I really do recommend these books if you get a spare moment, enjoyable and very informative!

Southampton's Turtle Bay

Last week, I went out to eat at Turtle Bay with a few friends. Turtle Bay is in central Southampton, so next to the civic centre and Solent University. It was around 7ish when we got there and as per usual it was p a c k e d. When it first opened I was sceptical as to how well it would do in the still sluggish economic climate. However, it has shocked everyone with its success. When I ask myself why, it’s not that Soton lacks nice restaurants; I mean take a stroll down Oxford Street, so maybe then it’s the type of food. For those of you who don’t know, it serves Caribbean food & drink. The music there is pretty perfect and for perhaps those few hours you’re there, you are transported away from Southampton and can almost….almost envision sunshine as you look out of the huge glass windows.

Turtle Bay is bringing a little bit of Caribbean culture to the Southampton and we seem to love it, this is a clear example of when cultures mix well. Although it’s obviously different to say The Empire Windrush that came to Britain’s shores in 1948, the first large group of Caribbean’s to come to the UK after World War II. People are more accepting to say an Indian restaurant than to whole group of Indians moving in next door, I’d like to think however we- the UK are past this stage of intolerance. To a certain degree I think there will always be prejudices, I just hope it’s insufficient enough to allow us all to get on and live together peacefully. I love the food here, today I ordered Curry Goat, Jerk fries and a Raspberry Reggae cocktail. Even my Jamaican housemate approves of the food; I enjoy it so much, because it’s so different to the standard Chinese, Indian, Italian, etc.

The clientele here in Turtle Bay are diverse, there are parents coming down to see  their kids for the day, old couples, young couples and like us groups of friends. It’s telling that everyone in here looks as if they can afford it. I wouldn’t say Turtle Bay is high-end; you can get great food for around £15. But that is a price many people aren’t willing or can’t afford to pay.  I remember an earlier conversation with a friend where we discussed that the people who frequent places like this, aren’t like those in our local area of Portswood. No homeless looking people or young mothers dragging pushchairs, why is this? It is because people tend to stick to where they are most comfortable, where they won’t stick out. Its location probably adds to its popularity, central of any city is a prime spot. Do I fit in? I look around at everyone eating; well we are here at the same time eating, so for that reason yes, I feel comfortable.