HS103-Lect 1 introduction to global problems

Globalization, a process that has grown in prominence increasingly in the past decade. Its interesting that this phenomenon is able to affect so many people in so many different places in the world. Its powerful enough to unite while at the same time dividing us, the human race. Strong enough to form commonality between the many civilizations while at the same time powerful enough to wedge new divisions.

When the topic of globalization is raised, McDonald's is the first thing that comes to mind. Not so much due to the for digestive whims of a thinking individual but rather the effect McDonald's has brought onto the world. I believe McDonald's in many ways symbolises the opportunities presented by globalisation. This fast-food restaurant has brought with it a physical form of commonality between different regions. If a poll was done on familiar foods by people of varying regions the results would place the "Big Mac" would earn a higher standing as compared to the "Nasi Lemak". Food aside, this commonality though physical in nature has provided people across the world an avenue to discuss important topics that relates to everyone in the world. Problems such as obesity in young children has come into the fore for many developing or developed countries. No doubt this is related to the rise of fast food as an adopted staple food in many developed regions nonetheless this has resulted in the issue being recognised as a problem in more countries and regions. This is possible due to the common features, effects and implications noted from other regions with a similar demographic. Hence through the identification of this problem as an issue that is not isolated to one particular society it becomes easier to receive a wide range of possible solutions primarily due to the fact that more academics and scientists as well as stake holders are looking at the same problem. This obviously leads to more ideas being floated around and new solutions being discovered. Although it must be noted that no solution fits all, it is still a positive phenomenon that a solution or a range of solutions exist to be adopted or tweaked to fit the respective demographic facing the problem.

Globalization however has brought about new divisions between societies as well. Every society or group of people who have lived together for a particular period of time would like to protect certain aspects of their lives to ensure that their traditions and beliefs are not eroded with time. As globalization presents an opportunity for societies to streamline thought the presentation of many avenues to do so, it also produces by-products of societies adopting the values held by each other, and occasionally the values that were once held by the particular society becomes watered down or even worse forgotten altogether. This streamlining inadvertently leads to a common system of beliefs and values needed to make progress under globalization a reality. It has become more of a necessity to change values to fit the changing times rather than the desire of the society to develop to a higher level of sphere of evolutionary thought. The streamlining of values in this manner is not a negative effect. In fact it helps the society adapt to the changing times, but, there is a trade off which results in the "special" factor of being in a particular society to be eroded. As society is an entity involving many individuals it is expected that some individuals will reject this phenomenon and this develops into a kind of resistance. Although resistance could bring about more dialogue within a society resulting in it becoming a hybrid of ideas, a mixture of young and old values of beliefs, it can also result in feelings of uneasiness especially when the external newer beliefs attempt to impose themselves onto the society. As in the case of Afghanistan where a western styled democracy was installed to bring peace and order to a country that is already steeped in tradition and history, as the change of such a big idea was brought upon the society through force not all the members took it in readily. Hence a splinter group emerged with views that were considered radical in the newly created environment. This resulted in terrorism to still ravage the country as they attempt to look for a solution to their current predicament. Overall it might result in a feeling of resentment to the west the longer this drags on as people seek to return to life before turmoil. The values or systems or problems faced back then becoming less important as they seek to regain some balance within their lives. Though its probable that even prior to the War there were critics within that society but there was a sense of order as there was a group that was in control. The methods employed by this group is of course not being discussed here, rather only the effects produced from it.