The cultural impact of globalisation: economic activity and social change

Abstract

The term “globalisation”, although ubiquitous, has lost precision due to the fact that it can be applied in diverse ways. Here, multiple implications of globalisation are discussed in order to clarify its impact upon modern business and vice versa. In specific, the concepts of homogenisation, polarisation, and hybridisation are examined. By comparing these models to earlier paradigms (such as those provided by the Enlightenment and the Romantic Movement), more precise discussions of globalisation result. The concept of dialectics, furthermore, provides a valuable tool to use when analysing the process of hybridisation.

Has Globalization Failed to Alleviate Poverty in Sub‐Saharan Africa?

“…Hay and Marsh (, p. 1) claim that the term globalization has become a “sociological buzzword” and as such is now largely empty of any analytical or explanatory value. But it has, as noted by Osterhammel and Petersson (, p. 1), become a “popular buzzword for explaining today's world.” The blurring of a precise meaning has, as observed by Asgary and Walle () and Hartungi (), caused confusion, as it is used in so many different contexts. Table contains some of the many descriptions and definitions that have been used to describe or define globalization.…”

“…Globalization rests on a technological infrastructure (Castells, ). Cohen () estimated that thousands of years ago, technology spread at an approximate rate of three miles per year, whereas today such spread is limited only by access to and speed of Internet connections (Asgary & Walle, ; Castells, ; Nadrag & Bala, ). I concur with Kolodko (), where once we heard comments about the “world getting smaller,” we now witness the “world of business” expanding.…”

“…Creating and feeding a consumer mentality is also inextricably linked with homogenization, whether that be an individual, a household, or a government finding itself the target of heavy marketing, particularly of American symbols and culture (Asgary & Walle, ; Holton, ; Malik, ; Nadrag & Bala, ; Weckert & Adeney, ; Wittmann, ). Asgary and Walle () go so far as to refer to this cultural homogenization as “McDonaldisation.” Garfolo and L'Huillier (, p. 587) argue that “globalization deals with global exports, the goal then is to sell as much as you can, export as much as you can and in doing so making as much money as you can.” The result is a “new” breed of global citizen for whom religion, ethnic nationality, and cultural uniqueness are marginalized in favor of their newly constructed identity (Barber, ; Leung, Bhagat, Buchan, Erez, & Gibson, ; Perkins, ; Rumbaut, ).…”

“…A third factor that sustains and exacerbates poverty is that of cultural genocide, where individuals lose the social context from which they draw their identities as globalization leads to a homogenization of culture and identity in favor of Western cultures (Asgary & Walle, ; Holton, ; Malik, ; Nadrag & Bala, ; Weckert & Adeney, ; Wittmann, ). Research by Kirmayer and Minas () determined that globalization negatively affects the bio‐psycho‐social‐spiritual balance of individuals.…”

IDENTIFYING CULTURAL DIFFERENCE IN R&D PROJECT FOR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT: A FIELD STUDY

“…With the rapid development of a globalized economy, international projects characterized by cross-culture have been unprecedentedly growing (Asgary and Walle 2002;Oertig and Buergi 2006;Zwikael et al 2005). The essential feature of international project management is the diversity of culture and therefore, it is important to exercise cross-cultural management.…”