IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON SOCIETY AND CULTURE - MARCH 18, 2014 1

Impact of Globalization

on Society and Culture

Assignment No. 01 prepared by: Shaheer Khan. Section –C, Class Number 106, 6th Semester.

Assignment Submitted to: Sir Iqbal Arif Utman.

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON SOCIETY AND CULTURE - MARCH 18, 2014 2

“Oh human! A piece of universal sphere!

Seek yourself to find the infinity woven into your body”

The human body is a wonderful creation of God. It’s filled with a plethora of blessings unique to its

existence. These blessings make this piece of creation stand out among all other creations that exist

or existed in this universe. Social Integration with like creations is one of such blessings. Know that

the social collaboration attribute over the years has not seen borders as its obstacle but has accepted

it as an opportunity to evolve itself into an unstoppable plague. This plague is then termed as

“Globalization”.

Of all the definitions proposed by different scholars, the following provides a more vivid picture of

its explanation.1

“..It is the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of the world can interact, to mutual benefit, with somebody on the other side of the world.”

The term globalization has itself become globalized over the past years and has reshaped our lives to

an extreme extent. Economically, culturally and socially whether knowingly or unknowingly it has

slowly crept inside our life veins and dominates our ideals. Culture is never static. It is dynamic.

Every moment we are being transformed, always growing - like the cells in our bodies. It changes

exactly the same way as human beings change. We cannot romanticize our culture. In my days, I

would never dare say a word against my parent’s ‘NO’. Today, the generation would go into

meaningless arguments over petty things with their parents. Numerous examples can be quoted

here.

“Adieu! O life adieu! For times faded in silence. Colors disguised in crimson snow, wine

in worthless frosty dew. Music collapsed; as for years

my ears beg to hear, Eyes sigh for lights that dim

now”.

This transformation is so gradual and not sudden or

abrupt. Culture is a continuous process of change but in

spite of the change, culture continues giving a community a

sense of identity, dignity, and continuity, security and binds

society together.

Consider globalization a garden of diverse flowers. Every

flower has a unique fragrance and beauty which is intrinsic

to its creation. None of the flowers share the same

1 Swedish journalist Thomas Larsson, in his book The Race to the Top: The Real Story of Globalization,

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON SOCIETY AND CULTURE - MARCH 18, 2014 3

characteristics. But they all belong to the same soil. Such diversity blooms the garden – gives it its

beauty it never dreamt of. That time is not far when there will be no borders, no boundaries, no

flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart. Where only hearts will be the basis for

interaction and that’s where globalization will reach its extremity.

Positive Influences

Dr S.Vijay in his paper titled “ Economic , Social and Cultural impact of globalization” states 2

“Globalization has made countries to realize that nations can no longer be cocooned in their own cultural or

economic nests but invariably be part of the larger picture which takes into account the competencies, interests and

the dependencies of economies world -wide. The zeal of globalization has even forced Governments to be tuned to

the merits of a Global economy”.

If we for a moment come outside of the balance of busy life and observe our ideals, we would at

once realize the drastic change that has occurred in our culture and social values.

As for the cultural aspect of the globalization impact is concerned, it has infused quality ideals and

expanded our horizons to a great extent. The foremost impact on culture it has is on dress fashion.

Our dresses are markedly changed and incorporate Western design inputs. This has undoubtedly

revolutionized the fashion arena, be it dress or glasses or shoes, and brought versatility in our art.

With the advent of globalization came media factor which instantly clutched our culture in tight

hands. Media acted as a catalyst for evolution of unique and indigenous ideas that were latent in our

society. It changed somehow the existing perceptions by showing the people best of the both worlds

content so that they weigh their perceptions in different lights. The access to the television and

broadband facilities has grown to a remarkable extent thus bringing change in our outlook,

language dialects and preference, more inclination towards easy going life and recreational

2 National Seminar on “Globalization: New Challenge to Indian Society on March 6”.

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activities, preference for modern activities and majority of population now interested in

music and dance forms.

We have not noticed how fast these have risen. Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of

the nonindustrialized world as well--has better cell phone service. Broadband is faster and cheaper

across the industrial world, and Pakistan is now hastily advancing towards 3G cellular service.

Albeit a third of the country's public schools are totally dysfunctional, there has more emphasis on

high level education and hence the number of functional – fully operative private schools has risen

over the last decades. Access to television has grown from 10% of the urban population in 1991 to

75% in 1999 and to 90% in 20093.Cable television and foreign movies have become widely available

for the first time.

What’s interesting about the impact of globalization is that our dreams and ambitions have

taken new turns. Our dreams are loftier than they were ever before and more people aspire of

greatness now. Our personality traits and achievement of success perception has changed. There is a

greater and faster flow of information between countries and greater cultural interaction has over

time helped to overcome cultural barriers which has led to better understanding contributing to

peaceful earth.

In the era of globalization, everything is interconnected. A problem in one part of the world will

definitely impact on other parts of the globe. Such phenomenon is also valid for defense and

security context. A conflict in a state will bring implications in its neighboring countries or other

countries extended in the same region. Therefore, collaborative efforts in tackling common defense

and security problems are essentially required.4 (Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono_)

Negative Influences

Along with this cross-cultural change in dress designs, the ideology has taken a turn too. The veil

that was once associated with the female form in the pre-globalized Islamic world where the more

covered had spelt more chaste has now changed meaning altogether. Thus, the change in the newly

established preferred dressing style come with a renewed concept of morality that does not conform

with those of our ancestors. The impact of globalization on Pakistani culture is quite visible with

almost all the cultural phenomena now moving towards post-modernism, including film, theatre and

media. Moreover, our cultural renewal has led us to detach ourselves from our true cultural values

which were passed down to us by ancestors. Losing culture is equivalent to losing identity. It should

be mentioned here that excessive reliance on global cultures and norms has been followed

3 Internet URL retrieved on 3/18/2014 from http://vijaysvision.blogspot.com/2011/12/economicsocial-and-cultural-impact-of.html 4 ― Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono

IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON SOCIETY AND CULTURE - MARCH 18, 2014 5

without keeping in view our religious, cultural and moral limitations. For instance, social mixing of

opposite genders has accelerated violating the religious commandments openly. Besides,

uncontrolled and wholly liberal media has acted as the corruptor of healthy minds which are

destined for greater things in life; rather get indulged in unhealthy activities leading to moral

derailment of themselves as well as society.

Economically, the products are being imported from any country whose production potential is at

best. However, in doing so, we fail to realize that we are pushing ourselves to an abyss where we

totally depend on other countries. This makes us weaken our production capacity and hence

severely affect our economy.

While globalization opens doors it also

leads to blending of cultures and the

deterioration of unique cultural

differences. Gap between rich and poor,

reduction in individual sovereignty of a

nation, environmental pollution and

susceptibility of all parts of the world

suffering with recession in other

countries are the anticipated results of

globalization. The youth prefer the

western beats to the local artists and hair

styles, shoes and clothing keep to the

trends on the western fashion scene.

Surprisingly, globalization has strengthened the void between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’.

This will ultimately result in the absolute division of human beings into two classes, and the more

powerful of these classes will enslave the other until the human condition either evolves or comes to

an end.

I’ll wrap by following words said by Swamy Vivekananda in 1893 who perceived the hazardous

coming of Globalization menace years before when he spoke at the Parliament of World Religions

in Chicago.

'Shall India die? Then, from the world all spirituality will be extinct, all sweet-souled sympathy for religion will

be extinct, all ideality will be extinct ; and in its place will reign the duality of lust and luxury as the male and

female deities, with money as its priest, fraud, force, and competition its ceremonies, and human soul its sacrifice.

Such a thing can never be.”