What is Globali(s/z)ation?
– The Global view
In Globalization, Knowledge and Society by Albrow, Martin and Elizabeth King: Globalisation is defined as “...all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society." Be that through the interchange of worldviews, products, ideas or other aspects of culture. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified four basic aspects of globalization: trade, capital movements, movement of people, and the spread of knowledge and technology.
– My view
Globalisation to me is a difficult concept to grasp fully. Words like nationalisation and privatisation carry defined expectations of what is happening and are carried out on purpose and with economic, social and political consequences that can be predicted and modelled. Globalisation does not carry a distinct definition for me, it is not something put into motion by a government or a company; it can be encouraged but not more than that. Unlike privatisation or nationalisation, which can affect countries, globalisation is something that affects everything and nothing, something that plays out almost invisibly but with great effort. The computer I am typing on? Designed in the USA, manufactured in China with aluminium mined in Brazil and finally sold in the UK. The coffee I am drinking? Colombian beans prepared in an Italian perculator I bought in France. The wine I had last night? Chilean. Even where I am and where I have been has contributed in some way to the phenomenon known as Globalisation.
What I mean by saying that this is invisible, yet powerful; it is almost completely ignored until the veil breaks. Immigration has become a hot topic because it is so visible but the fact that almost all our products are manufactured overseas and flights to the USA can be bought for the price of a 3-course dinner for a large family, these things are normal, and invisible. Craziest of all: I can access information placed on the Internet almost instantaneously wherever it was uploaded by whoever cares to do that. I’m subscribed to Australian, German, British, Canadian, American and Costa Rican Youtube channels. I can buy music from almost any artist in the world if they have an online store. Art, recipes, articles, news, my friends and family – it no longer matters where they are, if you can digitize; borders no longer exist. That is what Globalisation means for me; it means a certain freedom of information, a growing freedom of movement and an ever-increasing global market for international goods and services, these things are almost invisible to us and are thus, often taken for granted.
What are the consequences for me?
- Education
Globalisation has had (and will continue to have) a massive and unpredictable effect on my education. High school in the UK with all the ups and downs of British culture, IB in Costa Rica where I met hundreds of people from all over the world and shared a harmony for 18 months, University in the Netherlands, where I am discovering what it means to “fit in” with my bilingualism and my common culture (although I feel remarkably British at times); what holds them in common is that they should have been inaccessible without Globalisation. It means my Project group members come from a different culture to mine, one where people are more frank yet more forgiving. It means that my teachers can have a wildly different worldview to me, the stories they have to tell inspire differently to textbooks and familiarity. In a whole it means that my education is more diverse and balanced, but also more challenging; unexpected cultural challenges must be met to move forward.
Miscommunication becomes a bigger problem as people struggle to be understood in the bureaucratic mess that can accompany globalisation. Even body language can be misunderstood. A spring in your step in France can be interpreted as a cocky swagger in the Netherlands. Shaking hands, saying hello, giving kisses at greetings (give a Parisian 3 kisses like you do in Holland and awkwardness will ensue) saying no the first time you are offered food (in Canada this means no food) are all way in which our cultural habits differ. Learning to deal with this, and making the most of these differences is becoming a huge part of education.
- Future Career
As a budding Creative Technologist, the trends toward universalism and globalisation are very important. Markets become bigger and react faster and production scales up internationally. It opens options into working abroad and to having colleagues who see the world with a completely different perspective. This different perspective combined with collective genius is a perfect catalyst for the work I would make for myself.
Globalisation in the 21st century has also sped up the growth and spread of technology exponentially. Billions of brains working together is a possibility with the world wide web and this is leading to a new technological revolution. A revolution, which I will have to stay on top of if I am to ride the waves of innovation and discovery to make products better, cheaper and more applicable to the billions who have no access to what you and I take for granted.
If globalisation is a force for good or ill, I don’t know. I’d better learn to deal with it though, because it’s impacting my life. And its here to stay.
– The Global view
In Globalization, Knowledge and Society by Albrow, Martin and Elizabeth King: Globalisation is defined as “...all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society." Be that through the interchange of worldviews, products, ideas or other aspects of culture. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified four basic aspects of globalization: trade, capital movements, movement of people, and the spread of knowledge and technology.
– My view
Globalisation to me is a difficult concept to grasp fully. Words like nationalisation and privatisation carry defined expectations of what is happening and are carried out on purpose and with economic, social and political consequences that can be predicted and modelled. Globalisation does not carry a distinct definition for me, it is not something put into motion by a government or a company; it can be encouraged but not more than that. Unlike privatisation or nationalisation, which can affect countries, globalisation is something that affects everything and nothing, something that plays out almost invisibly but with great effort. The computer I am typing on? Designed in the USA, manufactured in China with aluminium mined in Brazil and finally sold in the UK. The coffee I am drinking? Colombian beans prepared in an Italian perculator I bought in France. The wine I had last night? Chilean. Even where I am and where I have been has contributed in some way to the phenomenon known as Globalisation.
What I mean by saying that this is invisible, yet powerful; it is almost completely ignored until the veil breaks. Immigration has become a hot topic because it is so visible but the fact that almost all our products are manufactured overseas and flights to the USA can be bought for the price of a 3-course dinner for a large family, these things are normal, and invisible. Craziest of all: I can access information placed on the Internet almost instantaneously wherever it was uploaded by whoever cares to do that. I’m subscribed to Australian, German, British, Canadian, American and Costa Rican Youtube channels. I can buy music from almost any artist in the world if they have an online store. Art, recipes, articles, news, my friends and family – it no longer matters where they are, if you can digitize; borders no longer exist. That is what Globalisation means for me; it means a certain freedom of information, a growing freedom of movement and an ever-increasing global market for international goods and services, these things are almost invisible to us and are thus, often taken for granted.
What are the consequences for me?
- Education
Globalisation has had (and will continue to have) a massive and unpredictable effect on my education. High school in the UK with all the ups and downs of British culture, IB in Costa Rica where I met hundreds of people from all over the world and shared a harmony for 18 months, University in the Netherlands, where I am discovering what it means to “fit in” with my bilingualism and my common culture (although I feel remarkably British at times); what holds them in common is that they should have been inaccessible without Globalisation. It means my Project group members come from a different culture to mine, one where people are more frank yet more forgiving. It means that my teachers can have a wildly different worldview to me, the stories they have to tell inspire differently to textbooks and familiarity. In a whole it means that my education is more diverse and balanced, but also more challenging; unexpected cultural challenges must be met to move forward.
Miscommunication becomes a bigger problem as people struggle to be understood in the bureaucratic mess that can accompany globalisation. Even body language can be misunderstood. A spring in your step in France can be interpreted as a cocky swagger in the Netherlands. Shaking hands, saying hello, giving kisses at greetings (give a Parisian 3 kisses like you do in Holland and awkwardness will ensue) saying no the first time you are offered food (in Canada this means no food) are all way in which our cultural habits differ. Learning to deal with this, and making the most of these differences is becoming a huge part of education.
- Future Career
As a budding Creative Technologist, the trends toward universalism and globalisation are very important. Markets become bigger and react faster and production scales up internationally. It opens options into working abroad and to having colleagues who see the world with a completely different perspective. This different perspective combined with collective genius is a perfect catalyst for the work I would make for myself.
Globalisation in the 21st century has also sped up the growth and spread of technology exponentially. Billions of brains working together is a possibility with the world wide web and this is leading to a new technological revolution. A revolution, which I will have to stay on top of if I am to ride the waves of innovation and discovery to make products better, cheaper and more applicable to the billions who have no access to what you and I take for granted.
If globalisation is a force for good or ill, I don’t know. I’d better learn to deal with it though, because it’s impacting my life. And its here to stay.