Globalism has developed in the recent decades as a result of better communication and transport technology. Improved transport means have facilitated the movement of people around the world within a short period. The movement of people has resulted in cultural exchange never experienced before in history. The internet is the most potent driver of globalism. It has connected people from different cultural backgrounds and geographical locations. Additionally, it has made communication across long distances happen at lightning speed. It is used to push for agendas and offer support for causes that appeal to the masses. As a result, globalism has had a significant impact on cultural identity.
Strengths of Globalism on Cultural Identity
Globalism has caused homogenization of cultures to form composite ones that include the customs of all the cultures in the mix (Lechner 218). On the other hand, globalism driven by better communication hasenabled immigrants in the developed countries to keep in touch with their relatives back at home. Staying connected to relatives at home helps them maintain significant parts of their cultural identity. The immigrants use the internet to learn about the customs at home through by communicating with the experienced relatives at home. This communication has made it impossible to assimilate foreign people into the dominant culture. The immigrants maintain their unique identity and might be unwilling to take up the customs of the host nation.
Weakening of Cultural Identity by Globalism
Globalism tends to promote the dominant culture at the expense of the others. The dominant culture in the world in the Eurocentric one which is actively adopted in the developing countries. This has the effect of diluting the cultures in those countries. Some concepts such as equality, apathy to religion, gender fluidity and medicine are slowly but surely becoming universal (Peters and Besley 63). These were originally unacceptable in most cultures but are now embraced because of globalism. The effect of globalism on the conservative cultures will have them completely transformed in the near future.
Opportunities Provided by Globalism
In the context of cultural identity, globalism provides a lot of information and allows the concerned parties to evaluate their culture. As a result, they can determine which components of the culture are valuable and which ones are hindering the progress of the nation. Better still, information about other cultures is available, from which comparisons are possible (Peters and Besley 61). This knowledge makes it easier to sculpt the culture by infusing customs that are up to date and progressive for the society.
Threats of Globalism to Cultural Identity
Globalism has put various cultures in contact with each other. They mostly associate in trade and communication. One of the major cracks to cultural identity that has been caused by globalism is tolerance of practices that were considered evil in the past. Some of the practices include human trafficking and pornography. These two vices have become huge industries because the drivers of globalism facilitate them. Access to drugs and other illegal goods such as weapons is possible through the dark web. These are vices that threaten the cultural identity of the persons involved.
Conclusion
Advancements in communication and transport technology have facilitated globalism. Globalism is not intrinsically good or bad but depends on how the people involved use it. The capabilities offered by globalism make it a tool to either promote the cultural identity or make it deteriorate.
Work Cited
Lechner, Frank J. “Imagined Communities In The Global Game: Soccer And The Development Of Dutch National Identity.” Global Networks 7.2 (2007): 215-229. Web.
Peters, Michael A., and Tina Besley. “Globalism And The Experiment Of Openness.” Knowledge Cultures 5.1 (2017): 50-67. ProQuest. Web. 27 Sep. 2018. https://search.proquest.com/docview/1906045840/A4250BD1634A4B62PQ/2?accountid=1611