Globalization and Capitalism
Of the readings, I've come to see that the focus is often on how capitalism is extending its influence throughout the world. It may seem pleasant to some to think that globalization is helping democratize the world, which consequently could result in greater personal liberty. However, like John Gray says, "A global free market presupposes that economic modernization means the same thing everywhere," (p.24) Basically, he is exerting that democracy in other parts of the world will not yield such positive results as it those here in the U.S., since each region will have its own interpretation of democracy/capitalism that could result in belittling personal freedoms instead of extending them. Also, it may in fact hurt the country, such as it happened in Palestine, who held free elections and elected a terrorist group called Hamas. My point is that the focus of globalization, especially with Americans, should be to spread the benefits of technology and medicine to improve the lives of people, not the spread of ideological principals such as democracy and capitalism, since people should be allowed some sovereignty over their nations’ course instead being pressured to fit a “western” ideal. I think that by having a more “laid back” approach people will come to embrace those ideologies more than having them punch on to them.
Comments
Extending on the idea that the “spread of democracy will not yield positive results” as it has in the United States, Huntington makes the point that countries are actually seeking to “shape the world in non-Western ways” (p. 38). This paragraph explains the point of why the issue of increasing “civilization consciousness” is a part of the separation of cultures, which will cause conflict in the future on the fault lines between these cultures. The idea that as the West is at the peak of its power, many countries are moving away from the ideologies and seeking the promotion of their own culture. So, in Huntington’s view of globalization, he is disagreeing with the common idea that Globalization will lead to a homogenous society. He emphasizes this belief on page 42 when he states, “The very notion that there could be a ‘universal civilization’ is a Western idea, directly at the odds with the particularism of most Asian societies and their emphasis on what distinguishes one people from another.” I agree with you, Vanessa, Americans should not impose ideological principles upon other nations, but rather offer technology and resources to help the world as a whole, even if it will never be a “Universal civilization”.
Posted by: Diane Galatowitsch | September 14, 2006 08:18 PM