Just as the word assumes, globalization impacts all the individuals and states across the globe. Globalization has made the world to be interdependent, not only economically, but also culturally and politically. Just as Clare Short said, people shouldn’t accuse her of favoring globalization because the world cannot survive without globalization. She said that accusing her of favoring globalization is like blaming her because of supporting the rising sun. In her point, she meant that globalization is inevitable. The review, therefore, focuses on how globalization fosters the political ideology of nationalism.
A global market enables nationalists in thinking differently. Checking the supermarkets’ shelves helps us to understand this point. Through globalization, people can purchase products from different countries; this, as a result, leads to change in cultures (Greenfeld, 2012). Previously, before globalization, some people didn’t know that fruits and vegetable could be cooked. However, after globalization, the new cultures were imported making the people literate. A few years ago, the “Pokémon” game became a global hype, and every young individual wanted to have an encounter of the game. Although the game was translated into multiple languages, some parts of it were left some Japanese contents, cultures, and attitudes. Those people that watched the game encountered these Japanese cultures. After its creation, it was shown in various countries across the world.Nationalism ideology is, therefore, influenced by a different culture.
New technological developments pose a threat to nationalism. Individuals from different states across the globe can now interact freely in the virtual world without limitations. Itis only globalization that has made this possible. People can now talk to different individuals that they couldn’t otherwise meet in life.Worldwide social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter among many more bring people of similar interests together to share their beliefs and ideologies (Chen, 2012). Although there are tendencies of these platforms using the local languages which aren’t spoken by most individuals in the world, the general internet language isEnglish. Most schools around the globe currently, teach the English language. This means that English is a universal language usedby many individuals across the world.
Globalizationenhances people to understand the cultures of different individuals. The internet has created a “global village” that weakens the xenophobic tendencies of individuals from diverse cultural and historicalbackgrounds (Lule, 2017). The internet has helped in the creation of a new society that is not limited to culture, history, and boundaries. It is evident that the global community undermines and challenges how the nationaliststhink.
Other factors challenge and influence national attitudes and culture. Books have played a role in this case; some of the articles are translated into more than 100 languages; an example is the “Harry Potter.” This is a book that has fascinated over five hundred million across the globe.The songs also influence the attitudes of individuals. Some of the composed songs convey a political message that influences how individuals think. Some songs can manipulate the people mind and make them think about global issues affecting them. Songs like “my father was killed in front of me” makes people have sympathyabout what happened in the Sudanese killings.
The film industry is also eroding nationalism across the globe. There are various films created which change the livelihood of different individuals across the world. Series such as “friends” shows the western viewpoints of interaction. Since this film is watched globally, people who may view it can end up adopting the culture in the movie (Burgoyne, 2010). The same case applies to movies made in Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood. Through the use of these movies, the audience absorbs culture extended through the films. The people adopt the lifestyles of these people acting in the film.
It is evident that globalization is the highestcontributor of nationalism. Previously, people were restricted to move from one place to another due to lack of transportation channel. However, with globalization, cars, airplanes have been invented. These enhance easy maneuvering from one location to the other and in a few hours or days. While tourists travel to different countries for a short period, the immigrants and refugees also plan to walk out of their land for a short period if it is not forever. This movement, therefore, brings individuals of different cultures together leading to mixed cultures (Holton, 2011). Some of these mixtures cultures lead to the emergence of national states. An excellent example of this is the “melting point” in the United States. This means the development of a multi-cultural country that immerged from different cultures but later formed one unified nation created out of different cultures. Melting pot can also lead to a global society where the people share a common culture.
Although there are various threats to nationalism, globalization can lead to nationalist ideology. In times of mass migration, global terrorism is likely to increase. People are always afraid of individuals who are from a different race or culture. Sometimes,one may feel secure when close to another individual who speaks his/her language (Conversi, 2010). Many nationalists fear to lose their cultures; sometimes strangers may come into the nation and change the culture of a country. This is the reason why there is a broadly supported renaissance of restricted migration. In these ways, the nationalists’ ideas are fostered.
The protestors of globalization fears for their cultures. Sometimes, it is believed that globalization comes with losing the cultural beliefs and norms. Taking an example of Russia and Estonia; the Russian culture has almost taken over the Estonians. The Estonian government has even set some policies to make sure that their culture is maintained and developed. The government feels that losing the culture would pose a severe threat to its citizens. Emigration and immigration also play a significant role in this because people migrate to other places and are replaced by other individuals from different cultures.
The presence of transnational corporations also fosters socialthinking. The variousmultinational corporation created are bound by multiple jurisdictions such as “the right of workers.” A symbiosis is established in the case where the properties of nations are secured via the TNCs. The formation of these corporations has created a national interest where differentstatesact on behalf of its people interests (Tsui, 2017). The people interests can now be represented in the international world through these corporations.
Sometimes, globalization doesn’t only account for an ever-growing economy, but it sometimes accounts for recessions in a nation (Taylor, 2009). The credit crunch and itsinfluences promote nationalism across the globe. For instance, the British national party passes an economic nationalism policy. In times of political and economic problems, individuals tend to turn back in their boundaries to solve the issues within limits. The recession may sometimes refer to increased employment and political influence in the country. When these issues arise, the government have to deal with its affairs; it can decide to cut welfare services in the country.From the above report, it is evident that political and economic problems in a country can cause nationalist ideology; this is as the people try to turn away from harm.
In conclusion, globalization significantly impacts nationalism; a global market has been created to link all the individuals’across the globe. One can now easily purchase the product via the social linkages despite the area he/she is located. Various technological innovations such as the internet, books, and films have also played an essential role in extending the culture to remote places across the globe. People who follow various series of films may end up adopting the lifestyleportrayed in those particular movies. However, an essential characteristic of globalization is migration. Globalization enhances movement from one place to the other; this can lead to global culture. Participation in the international market erodes national ideology. On the other hand, globalization fosters xenophobia among individuals; in this case, different culture mixtures make it difficult for people to trace their identity. Globalization can also cause various issues such as the recession in the country. During the times of downturns, individuals turn to their country as their last help resort. In the case of problems, one only trust an individual of similar background. From the above review, it is evident that nationalism is positively and negatively impacted by globalization.
References
Greenfeld, L. (2012). Nationalism. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Globalization.
Chen, G. M. (2012). The impact of new media on intercultural communication in a global context.
Lule, J. (2017). Globalization and media: Global village of Babel. Rowman & Littlefield.
Burgoyne, R. (2010). The epic film in world culture. Routledge.
Holton, R. J. (2011). Globalization and the nation-state. Macmillan Education UK.
Conversi, D. (2010). The limits of cultural globalization?. Journal of Critical Globalisation Studies, (3).
Tsui, A. B., & Tollefson, J. W. (2017). Language policy and the construction of national cultural identity. In Language policy, culture, and identity in Asian contexts (pp. 11-32). Routledge.
Taylor, M. (2009). Understanding local growth: Regional science, globalization, and recession. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 1(2), 129-140.
Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?