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.