The Emergence of Globalisation

There are 3 main catalysts which can be identified when considering the emergence of glabalisation:

1) The end of The Cold War
2) Modernism
3) The development of new technologies

These are three aspects which caused globalisation to gather pace through the Twentieth Century.

It is crucial to remember that there are two opposing viewpoints on this topic; those of Western Academics (in the UK / USA), ans contrastingly, those of the victims of globalisation.

What is Globalisation?

Globalisation can best be described as economic transactions taking place over a growing distance. This leads to the coming-together of different races in an economic sense, and can often lead to restrictions on migrants being lifted. Another positive outcome of globalisation is the spread of Western values and business throughout the globe, which can often lead to freedom and democracy - thus making the process worthwhile.

However, another point to consider is this sense of CULTURAL MERGING, which is often referred to as MCDONALDISATION - a derogatory term which suggests that the aesthetic of the West is beginning to take over the world - and local culture is being phased out. This spread of the familiar transcended into previously exotic locations. Therefore, globalisation can be recognised as economic, cultural and HISTORICAL.

How does this process of Globalisation occur? / What accelerates it?

Globalisation began millions of years ago when people began to move out of Africa and trade with one another. These processes of interaction, seduction, empire building and the emergence of war involved conquest, control and acquisition.
The end of the Cold War in 1989 saw the defeat of Russian ideology and the rise of a new political process, known as capitalism. There was no longer a conflict of interest.
Modernism offered a means of informing people of Western thinking and values, which was crucial to the rise of Globalisation.
The growth of of new technologies offered a new way of managing time and space, which was at the heart of capitalism. Another innovative change within society, which brought about new conditions and offered more solutions to more problems. This led to a reliance upon the development of technology (eg cure for cancer) and suggested, perhaps wrongly, that technology has the potential to solve ANY problem we face as a society. Here we can see the technological platforms which trade our cultural values converging.

The Concept of the Global

When the first images of Earth came back from Space, we were able to grasp a clearer understanding of what GLOBAL actually means. We inturn aquired a sense of belonging / ownership with 'our' planet.

'The Other' is something we compare ourselves with - something which we hope to achieve. This brings with is aspects of difference / exotic / sensual / a site of fantasy / normalisation?

Myths about other cultures are set up / circulated to enforce the idea that OUR culture (western) is 'the norm'. It is always 'them' / 'the other' which is strange / different. This can be seen as a promotion of Christian moral values.

As a side point to this; black sexual prowess still has a place in the values of the porn industry. This is critised by many as nonsense / a myth - mediated entirely for the purposes of Western culture promotion. Are we marginalising foregn culture?