Localized Cultural Traditions and Globalizing Forces

“The tension between localized cultural traditions and globalizing forces has produced much cultural conflict.”

During class, we discussed several implications about global cultures integrating into local areas. Whether this clash is helpful in building new cultures or detrimental in destroying old cultures, the debate is still in question. However, it is safe to say that the spread of different cultures can bring about conflict in localized global cities. These ideas follow the theory of glocalization, a process by which established cultures both shape and are damaged by the emergence of a new culture whose values and ideals derive from globalization’s demands.

In Saskia Sassen’s article about Global Cities and Survival Circuits, she makes the point about the emergence of women in global cities becoming popular. She argues that women are important for building new economies and expanding those that already exist. As women enter global cities, they bring their values along with them. And since these women were mostly caregivers and maids, they brought the value of the home to the big city.

Most of the women moving to the big cities were immigrant women. These women primarily served the white middle-class professional women, causing a sharp tendency towards social polarization. These immigrants migrated from all across the world in search of a better life, bringing values and traditions from their home cultures in doing so. As they became employed with other immigrant women, cultures began clashing and spreading.

Globally, the spread of American culture has caused several problems in many countries. Manfred B. Steger commented on the vast expansion of American culture. He argued that Americanization is becoming domineering and may soon overpower all other cultures. This brings about the theory of cultural homogenization. If all cultures become too similar, there would be no diversity or traditional values left. The world would no longer be culturally separated; it would be more like a cultural Pangea. While I do believe that eventually this could happen, I also believe that there are some people in the world that will stay true to their natural cultures.

Using Americanization as an example, the spread of this Western culture to other areas has created conflict. Western culture prizes consumerism and individual luxuries. In foreign countries like Japan, for example, which values the group over the individual, this Western ideal has the potential to corrupt traditional Japanese values. Locally, in areas where cultural diversity is booming, there is the chance of each separate culture wishing to dominate over the other. Each culture has its own beliefs and values, and when they do not match those of other cultures, conflicts can arise.

Lane Crothers discusses cultural hybridity in the sense that it does not always result in equal cultural exchange. Some cultures are able to spread widely and attach to other cultures easily, while some have a more difficult time catching on. These cultures may provide a small influence on other areas, but are still in question as a whole. Before the spread of American popular culture, Western ideals were deemed corrupt by Soviet leaders. They labeled American products as meaningless and degrading, and thus banned any American influence from entering their country. However, this ban only made the influence grow as Soviet citizens were enticed by Western culture.

Ziauddin Sardar brings up the interesting fact that in other countries, American popular culture is more prevalent than in America. For example, in Singapore and China, most of their populations consist of adolescents, so the cultures in those areas shift to attract the younger generations. America’s Hollywood serves that purpose. The shows and movies we see here in America that we may think are not all that popular are top-rated shows in other countries.

These shows are sometimes the sole resource that foreign countries have of learning about American culture. So, what they see on television that portrays “American” lifestyles is what they believe to be true. However, we know that Hollywood like to exaggerate the American dream and the lifestyles that we share, and we think it is humorous. In other countries, though, they see no irony or exaggeration in what Hollywood sells to them. This leads to misinterpretation of a culture, and can cause conflicts between cultures. If someone came up to me and tried to fit in with the “American” culture as portrayed through Hollywood, I would be slightly offended. These social barriers can cause many conflicts, and can lead to culture discrepancies.

             

       Overall, localized cultures and globalized influences can play a major role in how a person views a culture. With the spread of new cultures and the desire to keep traditional values, the world is becoming a melting pot of diversity. However, this can cause conflict in the fight to be the strongest culture with the most influence.

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        Crothers, Lane. 2010. “Globalization and American Popular Culture.” Globalization 3:1-36.

Sardar, Ziauddin. 2001. “Cultural Homicide, Ayoh!” Globalization: The Transformation of Social Worlds 166-70.

         Sardar, Ziauddin. 2001. “Cultural Homicide, Ayoh!” Globalization: The Transformation of Social Worlds 166-70.

         Sassen, Saskia. 2002. “Global Cities and Survival Circuits.” Globalization: The Transformation of Social Worlds 196-211.

         Steger, Manfred B. n.d. “Global Culture: Sameness of Difference?” Globalization: The Transformation of Social Worlds143-146.