Weathering the Globalization Storm

[Clara T]

Weathering the globalization storm
By Ramzy Baroud
Online Journal Guest Writer

Feb 16, 2006, 20:29


However, one of many realizations that I have also aggregated is the incredible and deliberate conformity that most Third World countries are pressed to embrace, one that is unquestionably forcing the uniqueness of these cultures to disintegrate in favor of imposed and manufactured cultural alternatives. The traditional village structure of the Arabia Gulf cultures for example, has nearly disappeared in its entirety, to be replaced by skyscrapers and housing compounds that neither represent nor relate to the cultural identities of the inhabitants. Of course it is not modernity that is on trial here, but the rash attempt to embrace Western symbols of civilization while disposing of one's own.

In the tiny Arab state of Qatar, for example, abandoned traditional villages following subsequent oil booms starting in the 1960s are left bare. Standing close to one, you could swear you could hear the wailing of a baby or the laughter of children. Scattered like ghost towns in the middle of the vast desert, there seems to be no governmental plans to renovate or preserve them in any way, despite the billions of dollars spent on giant Western-style structures and artificial islands that seem to serve no specific purpose. But more or less, the age of globalization is uncompromisingly insistent on discarding local cultures altogether for failing to present any sort of viable economic potential. Thus, falafel restaurants in most Middle Eastern cities are nearly obsolete, while American fast food joints spring up at enormous speed throughout the region.

<snip>

It comes as no surprise then, that the classic imperialism of the past and the more concealed cultural imperialism of the present were and are adamant in ensuring the slow yet irreversible dismantling of what makes a targeted indigenous culture distinctive and unique, its social and spiritual attributes, its economic pillars, its religious adherences; thus, its way of life. It goes without saying that indigenous cultures are under incessant attack, both literally and figuratively. Some have survived, some disintegrated and others still endure a fateful and decided struggle for recognition, for rights and for a space in an increasingly polarized world.

<snip>

In this growing age of globalization, we must understand that clinging to age-old tradition and heritage is not analogous to backwardness. It remains to be seen whether globalization has left much room for indigenous cultures to negotiate a space for themselves in a world of encroaching global polities and often uncompromising nation-state boundaries.

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_511.shtml

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. This guy is making some very good points

I know some here think that the culture of the US, with its nuclear family, skyscrapers, competition, etc, is the way to go-but not everyone needs or should be like the US. If we liberals truly believe in tolerance and respect and the rights of the individual, then we must be able to allow societies to exist whose culture is different than that of America. Some would disagree with me, saying that, for example, certain Islamic cultures are "backward" or "stone-age". What I say is that is it really our place to judge? I think the only time it is is when someone from a particular culture doesn't like it and wants out-then I think that that person should have the freedom to move elsewhere. This right is the one we should be championing-the right of choice. If the choice is freely made to live in a society that we Westerners might not understand or approve of, we still must give it-or else we are being hypocritical to our own ideals of freedom.

[Clara T]

2. And what do we mean by Stone Age anyway?

Gift economy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A gift economy is an economic system in which the prevalent mode of exchange is for goods and services to be given without explicit agreement upon a quid pro quo, or the concept of "a favor for a favor" in the Latin language. Typically, this occurs in a cultural context where there is an expectation either of reciprocation—in the form of goods or services of comparable value, or of political support, general loyalty, honor to the giver, etc.—or of the gift being passed on in some other manner. It can be considered a form of reciprocal altruism.
Some examples would be:
ther's alot of cultural supremacy inherent in the labeeling of such cultures as primitive, backwards etc.

Maybe they have it right (not that I believe any one group has a patent on what is "right"), sure looks that way from a point of view of energy. And "our way of life is only possible by stealing from these peoples lands.

Anyway I came across this interesting bit in Wiki which is called The Gift Economy, also known as Stone Age Economics:

? Sharing of food in a hunter-gatherer society, where sharing is an egalitarian safeguard against failure of any individual's daily foraging.
? The Pacific Northwest Native American potlatch ritual, where leaders give away large amounts of goods to their followers, strengthening group relations. By sacrificing accumulated wealth, a leader gained a position of honor.
? Offerings to a deity, spirit, intercessionary saint or similar entities.
? A political machine, in which a politician gives patronage and favors in expection of political support or as a reward for such support.
? A "favor network" within a company.
? A family, in which each generation pays for the education of the next: this is an example where the gift creates an implicit obligation to give a gift to a third party, rather than to the giver.
? Religious tithing.
? Charitable giving or philanthropy.
The concept of a gift economy stands in contrast to a planned economy or a commodity-based economy, a category embracing both market economy and barter economy. In a planned economy, allocation of goods and services is dictated by explicit command and control rather than through relatively informal custom; in commodity-based economies, an explicit quid pro quo is established before the transaction takes place. In practice, most human societies blend elements of all of these, in varying degrees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economy

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I have Native friends

who are trying to revive what is left of their culture after the steam roller of Westernism/Christianity nearly obliterated it. Their way of looking at things, seeing all the world as sacred, that they have obligations not only to those living now but those yet to be born, is very different than the rampant consumerism one sees so much of in Western society.

[neweurope]

3. Recommended - very important IMO.

I have long been feeling bad about the Americanizing of the World.

When I was a child Italy, for instance, was vastly different from Germany, and so was France. They still are, of course, but places look more and more alike. And in another generation there will hardly be any differences left. Young Frenchmen meet at MacDonald's or Starbucks as young Germans do; in another generation the French cafés and the German Gasthäuser, both important for those cultures, will be nearly extinct. And I imagine the damage for cultures who differ more from the USA, like Arab countries for instance, will be much greater.

The problem is that with all the superfluous change - like building or food - there also goes a way of thinking and feeling.

But the world needs diversity.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[neweurope]

5. kick

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!