What is globalization—Son Seohyun

 What is Globalization?

1. Defining Globalization

Globalization is basically about how the world is becoming more and more connected. It is not just about money or trade. it reaches into culture, politics, technology, and even the little choices we make every day. Thanks to faster transport, wider trade, and digital communication, distance feels shorter and time moves quicker. When a piece of news goes viral across continents in minutes, or when a product designed in one country is made in another and sold everywhere, that is globalization in action.

2. Dual Nature of Global Flows

What is interesting is that globalization does not simply erase cultural boundaries; it reshapes them. On one hand, global trends create shared experiences as millions of people tune into the same sports event or follow the same fashion craze. On the other hand, it often sparks new forms of local identity. Big companies expanding abroad usually adapt to local languages, customs, or traditions. This shows how globalization is not only about making things similar but also about creating diversity through the mix of global and local influences.

3. Opportunities and Risks

Globalization is full of contrasts. The good side is that it opens doors to study abroad, expand markets, and share knowledge instantly. But it also comes with challenges. Some workers lose jobs when companies move production overseas, and some communities feel their local traditions are being pushed aside. Digital platforms make this contradiction even clearer. While they connect billions of people, they also create echo chambers where biases grow stronger and real conversations get harder. Here, echo chambers refer to closed information spaces where people mostly encounter opinions similar to their own, which reinforces divisions instead of bridging them.

4. Reflection on Ethnocentrism

One concept I found really eye-opening in class was ethnocentrism, which means judging other cultures through the standards of your own, often with the belief that your culture is superior. Looking back, I realize how often we are told as kids that our culture is better than others. But in a globalized world, that mindset is misleading and even harmful. When we casually call another country’s food or lifestyle strange, we are practicing ethnocentrism without realizing it. Globalization challenges us to drop this habit and approach others with more openness.

5. The Human Side of Globalization

What fascinates me the most is how globalization shows up in daily life. A quick trip to the supermarket introduces me to bananas from the Philippines, coffee from Brazil, and snacks from Japan. On social media, I scroll through K-pop, Hollywood films, and European fashion all in the same feed. It makes the world feel smaller, but it also reminds me that every culture adds something unique. Globalization is not just politics or economics; it shapes who we are, what we enjoy, and the opportunities we have.

6. Conclusion

To me, globalization is an ongoing process of negotiation. It keeps changing how communities connect, how economies run, and how power is shared. It is not purely good or bad. it is complex, with both benefits and risks. The real question is not whether globalization should happen, but how we can guide it toward fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability. That means being critical of narrow views like ethnocentrism, while also appreciating how local and global cultures enrich one another. In the end, globalization pushes us to imagine a world where diversity is valued and cooperation is stronger than division.


Thank you for reading my post! ★

※ I received GPT-5’s help only when I had difficulties in translation. The main process of recalling class content and organizing the essay structure was done by myself.


Comments

  1. 박찬희September 24, 2025 at 4:19 AM

    Thank you for explaining globalization. I liked how you showed that it is more than trade and money—it also affects culture, politics, and our daily life. I agree that global trends can bring people together but also help local cultures grow. Your point about ethnocentrism was very useful because it reminds us not to judge other cultures as better or worse. I also liked your examples, like food from different countries and K-pop on social media, which make globalization easy to understand. I think you are right that globalization has good and bad sides, and we should try to make it fair and open for everyone.

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