What is globalization?——chen zhitong

  1. Summary of the Reading 

 Globalization means the world's nations and regions are becoming increasingly interconnected. Whether it's purchasing goods, cultural exchange, technological development, or collaborative problem-solving, these activities no longer remain confined within national borders. For instance, the smartphones we buy may feature components sourced from Japan, assembled in Vietnam, and ultimately sold in China. The movies we watch include both Hollywood blockbusters from the United States and Korean dramas. When facing major crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, countries share vaccine technologies and coordinate response strategies together. From daily life to major events, cross-border cooperation and interaction span every domain, gradually forming an interconnected whole.

2. New, Interesting, or Unusual Insights

 Despite the common belief that globalization would make the world uniform, the reality is quite the opposite. Instead, we witness numerous fascinating instances of mutual influence. For example, Chinese brands beloved by the younger generation—such as clothing and skincare products featuring Chinese characters and traditional patterns—are not only popular domestically but also exported overseas. Some foreign brands have even emulated this trend—for instance, prominent European and American labels embroider dragons or phoenixes onto garments or incorporate Chinese red as design inspiration. Take Southeast Asian nations as another example: they collectively established the “ASEAN” bloc and unified tariff policies. This allows, say, Thai durians to reach Malaysian markets at more affordable prices. Subsequently, they engage in commercial negotiations with Europe and America, wielding significantly greater bargaining power than individual nations. In the technology sector, countries collaborate on vaccine development while independently pursuing chip and artificial intelligence research. They not only cooperate but also diligently pursue their respective objectives, demonstrating remarkable dynamism.

3. Identify at Least One Question or Concern

 A real-world issue is this: Recently, certain countries have chosen to raise taxes and restrict the introduction of foreign advanced technologies in order to safeguard their industrial security—for instance, to prevent foreign automobiles and mobile phones from encroaching on their market share. However, globalization inherently implies mutual dependence and shared benefits among nations. For instance, China relies on foreign chips, while foreign countries similarly need Chinese home appliances. Such “every man for himself” strategies risk disrupting previously smooth cooperative relationships. For example, future prices for foreign products may rise, or certain technologies might become inaccessible for joint development—ultimately adversely affecting everyone's daily lives. Another concern is that globalization may exacerbate inequality between the rich and poor. For instance, developed nations can manufacture high-end smartphones and aircraft to generate greater profits, while certain countries may only assist in component manufacturing—limiting their income and potentially causing environmental pollution. Furthermore, our attention often focuses on popular culture from Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, potentially leading to the gradual disappearance of traditional crafts and dialects in smaller regions. If this trend persists, might more people begin viewing globalization as a negative force and withdraw from participating in it?

4. Conclusion

 Overall, globalization isn't about making the world uniform; it's a process that brings nations closer together and increases their mutual influence. It has brought us many benefits, such as access to products from around the world, exposure to different cultures, and the ability to tackle major challenges like pandemics together. For globalization to remain beneficial, the key lies in nations moving beyond self-interest to collaboratively establish rules—ensuring fair opportunities for all to prosper rather than allowing certain countries to maintain perpetual advantages. It also requires safeguarding local cultures to prevent their erosion. Only then can globalization truly serve everyone, rather than becoming a source of trouble.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is globalization--Kim younggyun

 1) Summarize From what I understand, globalization is not merely an economic trend. It is a broad concept in which the world becomes increasingly interconnected on cultural, social, political, and even individual levels. Because globalization is such an all-encompassing idea, it is only natural that debates continue over its definition. This is exactly what made studying the concept of globalization difficult for me. That is why, like Robertson and White, I tried to understand globalization mainly through the two dimensions of increasing connectivity and growing consciousness. I find their approach persuasive. When internet, transportation, and trade expand, the connections between countries grow stronger, and naturally, people begin to perceive the world as a “single place.” 2) Interesting point What I found particularly interesting while studying globalization is that it does not simply lead to “one-sided homogenization.” I used to think of globalization only as the expansion of...
Read more

What is globalization? (TRAN THUY NGA/ 짠 튀 응아)

What is globalization? 1. Summary of the Reading Roland Robertson and Kathleen E. White’s chapter “What Is Globalization?” offers a careful, multi-layered attempt to describe a phenomenon that has become both a powerful reality and an intensely debated concept. They begin by acknowledging that  globalization is an essentially contested concept : scholars from different parts of the world and from different disciplines approach it with varying assumptions and no single agreed-upon definition. The authors trace the word’s rise in public discourse: although the processes we now associate with globalization long-distance trade, migration, cultural exchange stretch back centuries, the term itself only became widely used after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the partial collapse of communism. This historical moment gave globalization a new political and economic resonance, yet its roots are far older. Robertson and White emphasize that debates often split between those who see g...
Read more

What is globalization? | Yun Shinji

1.   Summary It is difficult to define the concept of ‘globalization’ with a single meaning, as the term is used in various contexts with different implications. Sociologist Roland Robertson describes globalization as “the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole". Robertson and White further elaborate it as two main trends “an increase in global interconnectedness” and "an increase in global consciousness". In this way, globalization is a complex phenomenon in which the world becomes closely connected across borders, and it is used in multiple ways in different contexts. Globalization can be broadly divided into three dimensions cultural, political, and economic. Among them, cultural globalization is the phenomenon we experience most directly in our daily lives. For example, a cultural content that becomes popular can spread worldwide and be shared globally. However, this phenomenon also raises concerns about cultural hom...
Read more