GLOCALIZATION:

The politics of  Globalization and Local Culture

INTRODUCTION

Globalization is an idea whose time has come. From obscure origins in French and American writings in the 1960s, the concept of globalization finds expression today in all the world’s major languages. On the contrary, still it is difficult to define globalization in words, thus there have been numerous definitions given by different writers. Sociologists Martin Albrow and Elizabeth King define globalization as “all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society.” One can only discern its features. In the initial stages, globalization was perceived largely as an economic phenomena but now it has come to be established that this phenomena has reflective and at times immeasurable impact not just on markets and trade but on communities, governments and its citizens, constitutional objectives, environment, labour and on almost anything and everything one can visualize. C. T. Kurien, a leading Bangladeshi economist, has described globalisation as “the celebration of the triumph of private capitalism and its pervading influence in the world.” According to him three main suppositions have fuelled globalisation. Firstly the like minded consumers play a very significant role in the global capitalism as it is the consumer only based on whose demand the goods are provided in the society. Secondly the globalisation loses it value when there is fiscal reticence. Thirdly, globalisation cannot be justified without its moral association to American values of liberty and opportunity. According to Mr. Kurien only those economies can flourish in this globalizing world which has adhered to these three suppositions. Globalization, as we know today, is not a new phenomenon. Perhaps the most extreme proponent of a deep historical origin for globalization was the economist Andre Gunder Frank who argued that “a form of globalization has been in existence since the rise of trade links between Sumer and the Indus Valley Civilization in the third millennium B.C.

Glocalization is the c0ncept or the phenomenon that in global or international market, everything or every aspect has more probability to succeed when that particular concept is customized with  local culture or locality or customs where the product or services is sold.

Thomas L. Friedman, the Pulitzer Prize Winner, divides the history of globalization into three periods: “Globalization 1 (1492–1800) which involves the globalization of countries. Globalization 2 (1800–2000) involves the globalization of companies and Globalization 3 (2000–present) involves the globalization of individuals.

 

 LITERATURE REVIEW

The close reading of secondary source material drawn from the library and internet database for research on this topic following attempt is made to review the literature:

• Manfred Steger, Globalization: A very short introduction( Oxford University Press, 2003)
• Girish Mishra, “Globalization and Culture: Some aspect” Mainstream(2003)

The above mentioned authors described the concept of Globalization very well but still there is a loose framework or set of intellectual, empirical and political orientations towards problems and harms and there is gap  on how globalization is affecting society socially, economically, and most importantly how it is affecting local culture.

• David Held & Anthony McGrew, al, Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture1 (Polity Press, 1999)

The above mentioned authors describes the globalization as concept extremely well and in very simplified form but they have focused on the west nations and  eastern part of the world.

• Dr K. Somasekhar, “ Impact of Globalization on Indian Agriculture and Challenges:A critical review”
• Martin Albrow and Elizabeth King (eds.), Globalization, Knowledge and Society (Sage, 1990)

The above mentioned authors describes the globalization as concept extremely well and in very simplified form but they have focused only on the one part of the world that is eastern world and mainly India but they lack to show the impact of Indian culture and many other aspects on the world.

HYPOTHESIS

Glocalization is leaving its impact in both positive and negative manner on every aspect of society, the blending of the local culture and globalization has more pros rather than cons.

 

Cultural changes and its proliferation in contemporary globalization

Globalization is increasing its speed day by day and a situations  are moving towards positive advancement and many  towards negative. Contrary effects are relocation of poor individuals, development of new classes like rich and poor, distance of families, disengagement among everybody are the clear loses now-a-days. Be that as it may, there are some constructive effects likewise like nationalization and balance of production lines and rise of organizations, improvement of systems and direct control over the conduct of the general population and government by checking the outcome by a study and test.

Samuel P. Huntington in 1992 in a lecture said that the main source of conflict in the contemporary world is people’s cultural and religious identities worldwide. The interconnectedness is moving towards uniforming the world into one globe. It is said that clash of civilization and Mcdonaldization are two main concept of modernism. Clash of civilization means a citizen which is govern by law of his own nation.

Huntington in his thesis argues that civilization identity is based on cultural beliefs, norms and customs on which they governed. Today, the economic and social change in the life of individual changes the culture.

There are various theories of cultural convergence some of them are:-

• Clash of civilization
• McDonaldization
• Hybridization
• Americanization/Europeanization

McDonaldization is an idea which demonstrates the moving of culture from customs or traditions to present day idea of culture. Today fast food eatery are commanding everywhere throughout the world. It demonstrates that today everybody is moving for minimization of time.

Hybridization implies blend. Presently  there is improvement cultural exchange and in social talk which is seen everywhere on the planet. Hybridization likewise happens inside the social circle in expressions, create, sustenances, music and so on. Globalization makes a mélange in each circle. It infrequently makes new structures and makes new associations with each other.

Globalization depends on Americanization, and to bring social consistency, America which has a solid armed force and well off economy depend the world to think like an American. Today entire world is wearing American style pants, shirt, tie, shoes and so on., drinking coke and cola, convey American IBM portable PC, listen American music. These all demonstrates the impact of American culture. Media also plays very important role in order to promote the concept of Americanisation.

Hennessey Kissinger a previous U.S. Secretary, said that the America has made strikingly a great amount of wealth, amplified the capital and found new innovations and made an open door for work which rise wages and he additionally include that today U.S. is overwhelming in world and entire planet is moving towards Americanization. This kind of social control prompt increment the request of American merchandise especially in creating nations like India and individuals ends up plainly insane for American brand.advertisements has a vital part for expansion of requests for merchandise on the grounds that the item which is made in America now-a-days turns into the matter of status instead of utilization or highlight of items. Individual’s spending is increasing step by step and these wants is detailed to request to keep up the status. There is a tremendous contrast between genuine item and the item which is reflected in notice, its quality is expanded by promoting it through actor or actress performer and on-screen character or by sportsmen or models.

 

Reason for Social and Cultural proliferation of Globalization in India

After India got independence in 1947 many arrangement have been made for improvement in the field of infrastructure under open segment (public sector) endeavours and many advance is being made in the field of food production and space research. Government and public sector were ruling and participated in trade policy. In 1991 the central Government of India takes help of World Bank and International Monetary Fund which opened up the market for the private area and bit by bit the private parts are dominating over the Government.

With the approach of globalization there is a dread of cultural imperialism which implies that the developing nations like India are in dear that the marvel of cultural imperialism may weaken their customs and they expect that if individuals goes behind western models or styles then it is simpler for bigger organizations to put there hand in strong position and to offer their items which destroyed the local culture and customs. The financial effect of data innovations is that by and by there is administration of western culture over third world creating nations.

Socio-economic impact of globalization in India

Impact of globalization on caste and classes in Indian context

Ramification of castes is dynamic in Indian strata in which there is possibility of change in the caste system and their magnitude. In India the dynamic social division makes changes in social mobility. Group is the basic of caste system which is never stable.For a long time caste have been only overarching principles for determination of status of people. Depending upon the social and economic changes in India caste, group and system is also fluctuating, because of which caste has always acquired a new forms and functioning in Indian History. Indian society is characterized by the reservation for middle castes and low caste groups.

Globalization makes new adjustment in society and culture. It is found that there is no uniform cultural pattern for caste groups on which reservation is made. It has created a new space which is taken by middle class and the vacant space is filled by new class. But, the question which remains unpacked is which is the group or the class of people who get adversely affected and who are the static group which is to be privileged due to the social change of globalization? Whether it is poor farmers, landless poor, the labourers or the women?

Globalization and its impact on Indian Agriculture

During 1990’s when Indian Government has undergone policy changes that is liberalization , Privatization  and globalization that was turning point for the social  and economical growth of India. With the advancement of ventures and organizations the development rates of national income from agricultural division have been decreasing. It happens everywhere throughout the world, however in India a few issues like population, it isn’t conceivable to move such a substantial number of population from rural division to other part and furthermore India is a vote based nation(Democracy) where privileges and rights of each individual is to be secured or protected. The strategies of liberalization and globalization during 1990 require opening of all segments for worldwide market which prompt a total social prohibition of rural and agrarian segment. This theory of neglect likewise influenced to poor and landless workers which were subject to agribusiness.

Second step is Green revolution which presented a business culture and changed the social connection which already depended on shared commitment however last it changed to the logic of market fundamentalism. After this the proposal of individual cultivators were developed. Consequently the new idea of Green revolution and individual cultivators are depends on new technology developments.

After the independence of India nearly 11 five year plan have passed but there is no development in the field of Agriculture. It is very tragic for India to face global competition of agriculture because of weak marketing mechanism and less growth rate of agricultural productivity.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS  OF GLOCALIZATION IN EMPLOYEMENT/ WORKFORCE IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

USA

United States of America must be credited to be the most attractive nation on the planet as it draws in a huge number of individuals over the globe consistently. Since it is a standout amongst the most created and capable nation, it gives wide work openings which brings about migration prompting social assorted variety and clashes. Diversity always  helps in a more grounded economy and organizations which enlist various workforce gets the chance to locate the best among the best and one have to compete in an increasingly competitive scenario.

As per data from many surveys , there are approximately 155,163,000 people who migrated in USA(included people of America) in search of jobs in 2016 and its is estimated that it will touch 165 million people by 2020 which will cover workforce in USA and total workforce is from different diversities (Blacks, Non Hispanic Whites, Hispanic Whites, African American, Asian, and many others).

Diversity has many advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

 Companies having diversity in there workforce may benefit from such kind of doings as they create more social network than just one ethnic group. This can create more interest for products and services of that part of the state. And its well known fact that business which is offering good and services that appeals to many ethnic groups likely to contribute more towards that ethnic group and vice versa is also true. Moreover people working from different culture , background , customs work as one team under one roof  which leads to healthy work environment and lots other thing to learn and groom yourself. And the Best example for this is Hollywood Industry.

If go through some HR analysis then we can observe that multiculturalism  at workplace broadens one mind , approach , increases creativity and  induces sense of respect. The employees are open to new idea and creativity , more expression ways . we can say that travelling whole world without spending any money. Employees are  more likely to practice toleration.

Apart from enhanced learning opportunities and prospect to broaden the mind set as well as developing life skills, there are other delicious and entertaining aspects to the concept of multiculturalism. Various cultures imply copious number of different food habits and delicacies. Every country has their own special cuisines and savories that can be shared which is a gastronomical delight. In a healthy multicultural set up, employees share such delectable which not only is pleasing to the tongue but also is a great boosting component for strengthening relationship. Also different cultures celebrate different festivals in which everyone can participate and initiate bonding at personal level too. It is an aspect which is not only “worked together, but also celebrate life together.

Globalization is the concept which is bringing so many goods in day today life and multiculturalism working environment can improve everything about company even they can communicate with there customers easily. a company that operates in various countries can serve the needs of the customers and reach out to a vast spectrum of public if it has employees familiar with the local cultures.

DISADVANTAGES

 Discrimination is one of the possible disadvantage as persistent racial inequality at workplace can induce discrimination . Apart from racial discrimination, many other challenges are faced in an organization having diverse cultural set up functioning under the common roof.

For instance, the 9/11 events and their aftermath marked the tightening of border controls and the spreading of Islamophobic attitudes not only throughout the U.S., but also to European countries. The declaration of the then U.S. President G.W. Bush of a ‘global war on terror’ created a general climate of uneasiness and fear among EU citizens, mainly focused on the concept of ‘new dichotomies’, like the one counter posing Western and Muslim citizens. Moreover, the 9/11 events generated some policy changes constricting civil rights and liberties in the name of more security for all.

Another issue that has cropped up in the present political scenario in USA, post-election of Mr. Donald Trump as President. His slogan “Buy American, Hire American” and his simultaneous policies are causing adverse effects upon the non-American employees. People are now losing jobs as racial tensions have increased. The Indian IT and ITeS industries, which draw a major part of their earnings—60% and upwards—from the US market, will suffer if US companies reduce their outsourcing spends. The Indian IT and BPO industry’s trade association, Nasscom, has also lowered the industry’s growth projections for 2016-17 to 8-10% from its earlier projections of 10-12%. Nasscom also expects hiring in this sector to drop by 20% in 2017. Hirings in the sector have been on a downward trend since 2016. The biggest names in IT industry—Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro—use the H1B program extensively to send temporary workers to the US. People employed in this sector are now susceptible to utmost fear of losing their jobs.

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE):

Presently UAE is the most multicultural state in the world. .  UAE which is located in the GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) region is one of the most distinguished oil-rich nations in the world. Every year millions of labour migrates to UAE in search of better employment opportunities and high standard of living. Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone consist of wide cultural diversities. In 2013, UAE had the fifth largest international migrant stock in the world. It is convenient for people from neighboring countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc to migrate to UAE as economically it is more advanced in compare to these countries. The population growth in UAE has mostly occurred due to widespread immigration. The low and semi-skilled sectors have been dominated by Middle East and North African region whereas high-skilled, banking and oil industry have been controlled by workers of UK, US, Australia, Canada and other European Countries. Along with UAE, the middle countries have always been favorite destination temporary labor migrants from different regions of the world and these flows has kept on increasing. But where there are different nationals in one place, discrimination is quite a common phenomenon. People often complaints to the Ministry of Labour, Abu Dhabi about racial discrimination in workplace which is very difficult to prove and people stays in constant fear of losing their job. The Westerner are given more preference than Asian expats as has been revealed by Gulf Business Salary Survey in 2013 where it has been stated that Asian gets 25.8%  less than what westerner receive because it is believed that western people are more skilled and competent and they are paid more in their home country.

The Anti-Discrimination Law (Federal Decree Law 2015) has been enacted to protect citizen from discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, color or ethnic origin. The religion in Article 1 includes Islam, Christianity and Judaism which indicate that the future of people belonging to other religion apart from this three seems blur which will definitely affect the workforce.

 

INDIA:

India attracts wide number of Multi National Corporations (MNC) due to its diverse market, vast populated, educated unemployed and cheap labour. India provides a variety of group of people which can be included in MNCs to derive benefit out of its diverse culture and knowledge. India is very different from the western countries because the cultural divert lies in it, having different socio-cultural dimensions caste, religion, language, etc. The big corporate houses in India have started to make their workforce more connected to India’s diversity and demographic profile as a result positive discrimination, affirmative action program are slowly being recognized in the private sector. A recent initiative of caste profiling by TATA group has revealed that their company is steadily achieving a multicultural workforce. The survey revealed that the imbalance group has started taking measures to neutralize the imbalances by hiring dalits and put a “positive discrimination” policy which will surely help the backward dalits would find their deserved position in the workforce. A lot of companies in India are going global which imparting s better HR policy to face any kind of challenge. Leading IT companies like TATA Consultancy Services has more than one lakh workers from 64 different nations out of which 9.2 % are foreign nationals. Moreover many foreign national are migrating to India to take up employment in its diverse Industrial sectors specially BPO and Pharmacy which regularly make India more multicultural.

But India’s employment sector is also not immune from harmful effects of multiculturalism like racism remarks and discrimination. In this regard special emphasis must be given to north-eastern people, who are the most ethically vulnerable groups. According to Bezbruah Committee Report, most of the north eastern people face discrimination at workplace in different metro cities across India.

They are paid less as compare to other employees holding similar positions. The north-eastern people live under constant fear of losing their job and harassment. This indicates that anti-discrimination laws must be strictly implemented in India so that nobody faces discrimination on the ground of caste, creed and culture.

 

International  framework offer space for the protection of the local culture, language, religion, and other social norms

 There are laws which UNESCO has given at the international platform “ Law on Protection Of Cultural Monuments and General Principles”, Article 4 of the act says ,

The purpose of the present Act is:

• to preserve cultural monument in in unimpaired and original condition;
• to undertake necessary measures for the regular maintenance of cultural monuments;
• to prevent activities which may directly change characteristics, shape, significance and appearance of cultural monuments;
• to provide conditions for the cultural monument so that they may, according to the importance and purpose, serve to meet cultural, scientific, educational needs of citizens and whole community.

 

CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS( PARIS)

Article 1 – OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Convention are: (a) to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions; (b) to create the conditions for cultures to flourish and to freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner; (c) to encourage dialogue among cultures with a view to ensuring wider and balanced cultural exchanges in the world in favour of intercultural respect and a culture of peace; (d) to foster interculturality in order to develop cultural interaction in the spirit of building bridges among peoples; (e) to promote respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and raise awareness of its value at the local, national and international levels; (f) to reaffirm the importance of the link between culture and development for all countries, particularly for developing countries, and to support actions undertaken nationally and internationally to secure recognition of the true value of this link; (g) to give recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and

meaning; (h) to reaffirm the sovereign rights of States to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory; (i) to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in a spirit of partnership with a view, in particular, to enhancing the capacities of developing countries in order to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

 

CONSCLUSION

As people began searching new lands other than the ones they were naturally introduced to, they were presented to new thoughts and advancements which supplemented and enhanced their own particular ways of life. Potato was transported to Europe on account of globalization. Paper, the kind we utilize today, came into across the board use to some extent because of globalization. We may not understand this, but rather everything from cement to the web would not have been conceivable without globalization.

While globalization has taken humankind forward in general, it has likewise been in charge of the misery of numerous individual civilizations and groups. Local Americans, native Australians and the Maoris of New Zealand were totally wiped out on account of globalization. presently its working class of west that have faced issues because of the this concept globalization as there jobs have moved to more cheaper and probably more efficient in Asian countries.

If we can compare globalization then its can be called as capitalism approach in each and every manner. On the off chance that you are effective, you survive, if not you are destined to die. Globalization isn’t really a decent or a terrible thing; it resembles a diversion and the distinctive civilizations and nations are the players. Rather than cribbing about the standards of the game we have to make sense of how best to win it.

It is plausible to say that the dialectical intensities of powerful cultural and social progress cannot be changed or ignored. In India vast changes has been made in social, cultural, political and economic sphere. Globalization and development are related to each other, today large number of civil society agencies and governmental agencies are engaged in working with international organization but there is a need of industrial reconversion. It means there is a need of balance between domestic and international organization.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Manfred Steger, Globalization: A very short introduction( Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Girish Mishra, “Globalization and Culture: Some aspect” Mainstream (2003).
• Jared Lewis , Advantages of multiculturalism at work place.
• “Globalization in the brave new world” available at http://www.insideenterprise.org/globalisation-in-the-brave-new-world
• http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001429/142919e.pdf
• David Held & Anthony McGrew, al, Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture1 (Polity Press, 1999).
• Martin Albrow and Elizabeth King (eds.), Globalization, Knowledge and Society (Sage, 1990)
• “Globalization in the brave new world” available at http://www.insideenterprise.org/globalisation-in-the-brave-new-world/
• Andre Gunder Frank, Reorient: Global Economy in the Asian Age (UC Berkley Press, 1998).
• Thomas L. Friedman, “It’s a Flat World After All”, New York Times Magazine, Apr 3, 2005
• Jan Nederveen Pieterse, “Globalization and Culture”, EPW  (1996).
• What is Clash of Civilization, available atorg/what-are-civilization and how-do-they-clash-21.
• Biswajit Das, “Communicating Culture and Culture of Communicating: A Study of Indian Television” in Kameshwar Choudhary, Globalisation, Governance Reforms and Development in India (Sage Publication, 1^st,2007)
• L. Sharma, “Caste, Class and Globalisation: Continuity and Change” in Kameshwar Choudhary,Globalisation, Governance Reforms and Development in India (Sage Publication, 1^st edn.,2007)
• Surider S. Jodhka, “Globalisation and Agriculture: ‘Crises’ of Farming in Contemporary Punjab” in Kameshwar Choudhary, Globalisation, Governance Reforms and Development in India 263 (Sage Publication, 1^st edn.,2007)
• Dr K. Somasekhar, “ Impact of Globalization on Indian Agriculture and Challenges:A critical review” IJACL2 (2013).
• Dr K. Somasekhar, “ Impact of Globalization on Indian Agriculture and Challenges:A critical review” IJACL(2013).
• Gemma Pinyol-Jimenez, The Migration-Security Nexus in Short, [4 Amsterdam L.F. (2012)]
• The Economic Times, How Trump’s presidency will hit Indians’ jobs, studies and travel,http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/earn/will-donald-trumps-presidency-impact-indias-jobs-studies-and-travel/articleshow/56829959.cms
• Migration Policy Institute,  Froilan T. Malit Jr. and Ali Al Youha, Labor Migration in the United Arab Emirates: Challenges and Responses, http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/labor-migration-united-arab-emirates-challenges-and-responsesIllustradoLife, Racial Discrimination in the UAE: It’s a Two-Way Highway,http://www.illustradolife.com/workplace-diversity-discrimination
• Law on Protection Of Cultural Monuments and General Principle.