What is the relation between culture and globalization? - Park Jieun

- Summary

Previously, globalization tended to emphasize the economic dimension. Since the transition to a capitalist society began, an environment was created where the world could not be explained without capital. However, John Tomlinson argues that we must move away from this economic perspective and view globalization from a cultural perspective. He views culture not as a passive entity subordinate to the economy, but as an active force that influences people, driving changes in their behavior, and constituting the essence of globalization. Globalization means that each dimension (economic, cultural, etc.) exists, performing its role on an equal footing, and it certainly does not mean that they are all converging into one agreed-upon system. In this process, some regions may clearly be overlooked, and some countries may appear dominant. However, simply adopting the culture of highly influential nations or thinking that only other nations' cultures are superior is inappropriate. Globalization is often mistakenly viewed as a process of unification, leading to deterritorialization, but the difference is that this is the fusion of cultures, not their disappearance. In other words, the attitude of maintaining one's cultural identity while striving to adopt the good aspects of other cultures, along with a sense of responsibility, is considered important. Furthermore, it is also crucial not to lose the humanity that is the core essence of globalization, and a flexible perspective on the cultural dimension of globalization is needed.


- Interesting Point

There is a common tendency to think that the economy dictates globalization due to capitalism. However, the economic dimension is only one element constituting globalization and merely one factor that can influence culture. Culture itself is the lifestyle constructed by people, making it the most active concept, and its role is significant. The reduction of culture's role due to economic reductionism is a shortcut to diminishing globalization. This is a case of micro-level actions leading to macro-level results. Culture, starting from the individual, progresses to the collective, society, and the world, creating the distinct characteristics of that era. This process of cultural globalization ultimately reveals the complex nature of the world. It is impressive that the resulting deterritorialization is a phenomenon that leads to the fusion of cultures.


- Concerns, Discussion and Questions

What methods are there to find a compromise between the extremes of cultural homogenization and heterogeneity? The moment one culture influences another, change can happen instantly. Especially among the younger generation, the perception of accepting foreign cultures is low, making them positive towards adoption, and they are specialized in internalizing it without feeling alien. If the uncritical acceptance of Western culture continues, and its expansion makes people accustomed to it, the trend toward cultural imperialism might strengthen, following cultural homogenization. To prevent this, an effort is needed to re-interpret each culture according to its core values. Furthermore, it is necessary to understand the domains of homogenization and heterogeneity, and to realize that even if a domain appears superficially homogenized, the underlying life values and efforts are still heterogeneous. Would it be important to think of both homogenization and heterogeneity through the word uniqueness?


- Using AI

I used Gemini for the translation and summarization of the answer.

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