Globalization Vs Westernization

Essay text:

People often feel they are quite different from people of other nation when they are abroad. When we're abroad, whether on holiday or for research, I guess we've all had that experience of finding ourselves attracted to, or indeed revolted by, aspects of a foreign culture. At the same time, we've probably also all occasionally felt that our national origin has dictated the way in which people have responded to us. Globalization ? the growing integration of economies and societies around the world. There are many reasons to think that globalization might undermine the feelings of national identity: * multinational corporations promote a certain kind of consumerist culture and ipso facto create similar lifestyles * modern institutions make nowadays all human practices more efficient, controllable, and predictable, as exemplified by the spread of fast food * the United States exerts hegemonic influence in promoting its values and habits through popular culture and the news media But there are also good reasons to think that globalization will foster the feelings of national identity * nation and its culture has itself become a global value, promoted through international organizations and movements The spread of globalisation will undoubtedly bring changes to the countries it reaches, but it does not make sense to talk of a world of 6 billion people becoming a monoculture...