Cultural Identity Loss

Corporate leaders are the dominant leaders of globalization; their companies and brands have become international and are now apart of the third world society. Since these companies are so powerful, they have become part of the lifestyle in third world nations. For example, “85% of movies seen in the world are made in Hollywood, whereas on the African continent, an average of 42 films are produced a year. In Africa, Chile and Costa Rica 95% of the films viewed are imported from the USA” (Ornek, Yususf). This quote explains how cultural films of a country are not viewed as often as an American film, which is a disadvantage of globalization. While the nations of the world are now interconnected with each other, we are all becoming a global culture – the culture of developed countries.

Now that the world is reaching homogenization, it will be difficult for cultural products to compete in the world market. Merchandise produced by corporate leaders have dominated the worlds market, making it almost impossible for peripheral countries to compete (Ornek, Yusuf). The most wanted products in the world market are produced by corporate leaders, which allows them to gain the power. “According to the UNDP Human Development Report published in 1999, two-thirds of the world’s population are unable to benefit from global economic growth, based on international trade and developing technologies, and do not have the opportunity to become part of an informed society” (Ornek, Yusuf). The informed society is the society of developing countries, which is the polar opposite of the society in third world nations. This is why it is difficult for peripheral countries to compete with core-driving nations.

Cultural identity is becoming an issue in developing and non-developing countries because the culture of core-driving countries is taking over. For example, McDonald’s has expanded internationally, and can be found in non-developed nations. This demonstrates how western culture is dominating. If cultural traditions begin to break away in a country, and are replaced with western traditions and products, then we are approaching a global culture (Ornek, Yusuf). Globalization has become successful because of the diverse amount of products and services that appeal to consumers. However, if the world reaches a global culture, then there will not be any diversity in products and as a result it will impact the economy. Thus, globalization is a detriment because it diminishes cultures of different countries.

Jimmy Carter

“If you’re totally illiterate and living on one dollar a day, the benefits of globalization never come to you.”
~ Jimmy Carter

The above quote explains how globalization does not benefit third world nations, instead it benefits first world countries.

Corporate Power

Globalization has made an impact on the economies of many countries. In America, Canada and the United Kingdom globalization has had a positive effect on their economy, however nations in southern Asia and Africa do not experience the benefit of globalization. Powerful corporations such as Nike, Coca Cola and McDonald’s are the most dominant in the world. They have expanded globally, reaching even the most remote areas of the world. Since they are the larger portion, developed countries tend to dictate the rules of globalization (CorpWatch). Corporate power is so great, that they have become the dominant governance on Earth, reaching virtually every country in the world and exceeding most governments in size and power (CorpWatch). Corporate power is globalization.

It is evident that corporate countries have the most power, when they invest in developing nations and exploit their cheap labour and resources, and give almost nothing in exchange (CorpWatch). They are not considering the well being of the laborers, but instead the profit they could earn. Some may argue that globalization has provided third world nations with jobs however, these jobs are mostly labour work done in harsh conditions. Globalization has driven third world countries further into poverty, rather than benefit them. It is clear that globalization has a positive impact on corporate leaders only.

While corporate power is making a change in globalization, the result is that there is an impact on national and international wages, downsizing, part-time work, the ‘race to the bottom’, environmental damage, and the overall quality of life (Brinkman, June E). Since corporate leaders have a vast amount of power, they are able to change many things: they are changing the lives of people for the worse. As long as corporate leaders are dominant, globalization will always have a negative impact on third world nations. Thus, the power of globalization needs to be reconsidered.

The Impact that Globalization has on the Environment

The health of the Earth has become a major concern in the twentieth century because of the damage that has been caused due to human activity. Becoming environmentally friendly has become very popular in the business world, and globalization has helped spread awareness. More corporations are becoming green, and the purchase of these products and services educate consumers on the health of the environment. This is one of the benefits that globalization has on the environment, however the disadvantages outweigh the pros.

Trading between nations without any borders and becoming interconnected with everyone, is the basis of globalization. Many countries trade natural resources, like lumber and oil to gain a profit because there is a high demand for them in the economy. Although a profit is being earned, the consumption of theses resources are slowly reducing which is harming the planet in the long run. For example, the Blue Fin Tuna is now an endangered species due to the high demand of sushi in Japan and other countries. Humans overused this resource, and now there is a limited amount of the species left. Globalization allows countries to have access to resources that they do not have; some nations, other than Japan, have demanded for Blue Fin Tuna which has resulted in the endangerment of the species.

Not only are the survival of animals being threatened, but plants as well. The destruction of ecosystems due to human population growth, has become a worry. “11 million acres a year are cut for commercial and property industries” and “in Australia 90% of native forest wood are exported, destroying Australia’s natural heritage. About one half of the forests that covered the Earth are gone” (Allvoices). This demonstrates how the growth of our economy is damaging the Earth, and why globalization is greatly impacting the environment. Forestry plays a major role in the economy as well as the environment: it is a resource that many countries rely on as a source of profit and in the environment, it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Globalization requires products and resources to be transported between nations, however the greenhouse gases emitted from manufacturing and transport of merchandise have risen. The average global temperature has increased by 0.6 (degrees Celsius) since the nineteenth century because of humanity’s emissions of greenhouse gases, and based on the information provided by the Office of National Statistics “greenhouse gas emissions from transport have risen by 47% since 1990” (Allvoices). The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing exponentially, but there are fewer trees to help with the reduction of carbon dioxide. Due to globalization, deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases continue. If there is a sustainable way to transport merchandise, then there will be a decrease in the amount of harmful gases in the atmosphere. As a result, globalization may begin to have a positive impact on the environment, however at the moment, it is a detriment to the health of our planet.

Powerful Brands of the World

Globalization has allowed many brands to become some of the most powerful corporations in the planet. Through this opportunity, cultural identity has become an issue among many peripheral countries.

Nelson Mandela

“Where globalization means, as it so often does, that the rich and powerful now have new means to further enrich and empower themselves at the cost of the poorer and weaker, we have a responsibility to protest in the name of universal freedom.”
~ Nelson Mandela

In this quote, Nelson Mandela clearly explains how core-driving countries, such as America, Canada, and the United Kingdom are benefiting from globalization because of how they misuse third world nations. Since they are powerful countries, they exploit the cheap labour provided from the citizens of third world countries, and take advantage of their resources. The products the third world nations produce cannot compete in the world market, so their only means of making a profit is providing labour and resources to dominant countries. As a result, the rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer.