The concept of globalization has changed the way in which the world interacts with objects and ideas progressively. It is imperative that the unrestricted diffusion of goods and ideas causes changes in cultures and economies which become exposed to new ideas through globalization. The change is constant. This means the future of globalization that our ancestors imagined is different from the future we can envision. This can be attributed to the advent of technology that simplified connection and communication of people bridging barriers of distance.
Economically, the present times are simpler from the past because with global trade, the U.S is receiving cheap goods and services from third world country. The future is very bright from our perspective. However; before speculation of the future can be made there is a need to examine what global trade has achieved thus far. Most economists are optimistic of the future looking at the pace at which the U.S is growing. On the other hand, others are skepticism is brewing when the statistics are given a closer look. Edward Alden of the Council of Foreign Relations is not convinced that the future in the globalization of trade is pleasing. He argues that globalization is responsible for income stagnation in the country as well as unemployment. He cites the works of various scholars to support his argument. Michael Spence is one of the Authorities Alden refers. According to Spence, net growth of job growth is experienced in areas where there is little to almost no global trade activity. The second Authority he refers to are economists David Autor et al. who examined the effect of Chinese competition in America. The results of their finding indicate that areas exposed to Chinese competition have high levels of unemployment, low labor force and low wages. Lastly, Alden cites a report by the Council of Foreign Relations task force on U.S Trade and Investment which shows that from 1999-2009; multinationals in the U.S terminated 3 million jobs within the country and created 2.4 million jobs abroad. The argument from the above statistics is that globalization spells doom for first world countries in the manufacturing industry but shows promise in the manufacturing industries to third world country.
Interestingly, the world is moving to a knowledge based economy where the U.S has an edge over most countries in the world. There will be a high level of schooled migrants in the U.S. Job security will be hard to afford to the local population in the absence of special knowledge needed to run a knowledge based economy. Hence, in my opinion, globalization will still affect job acquisition in the country,
Globalization of culture and the economy is often towards one direction. The ideas of the first world countries get transmitted to third world countries, but hardly vice versa. Little knowledge from Africa, India and Latin America has made its way into the U.S over the past years. Examples are yoga, salsa dancing, tantra and martial arts. However, the transfer is not in large volumes enough to create a ‘buzz’ or a significant change in the way the western concepts of education and cultures have changed first world countries. Slowly, the world is conforming to one definition of culture and education, a definition someone in the Middle East can understand if they travel to Europe. Indigenous knowledge will still apply, but lose its cultural worth. Bull and Watson talk of how European elites who settled in India rediscovered some of India’s languages and religion. The natives had forgotten some of their vernacular knowledge and some of them had that knowledge, it had lost cultural worth. Western civilization has been embraced by third world nations. The future of cultural expression will start with the total emancipation of women from strictly patriarchal communities such as Afghanis and Pakistanis to the western equivalent where women contribute in the economy and numerous day to day decisions. Children from third world countries will be exposed to similar knowledge as those from Europe. Conformism is the key word to use when imagining the future of education and culture in the world.
Religion is a central part of culture. For example, the Somali community of Somalia and Kenya is predominantly Muslim. Globalization will not alter such pre-existent notions but will improve and enhance them. New concepts of spirituality are flooding all corners of the world and most definitely globalization has influenced laws which promote freedom of choice and freedom of expression. We are going to see schooled individuals of a particular culture choosing opting for a different religion from the pre-existent one in his or her community. An example is the increase in the number of Catholic Indians who were predominantly Hindus. Globalization, in the long run will liberalize how people connect and express themselves.
In conclusion, it is important to note that what will inform the effect of globalization on the future is the trend which the world is conforming to currently and how it shapes up daily.
References
Alden, E. (2012, August 29). Behind The New View Of Globalization. New York Times.
Bertho, M., Crawford, B., & Forgarty, E. A. (2008). Impact of Globalisation on thr U.S:Culture and Society. New York: Greenwood Publishing.
Capello, R., & Dertino, T. P. (2012). Globalization trends on Regional Development. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Naveen, K. S. (2012). Globalization Effect on Education and Culture: An Analysis. Bikaner: Government College Engeneering.
