"Emigrants ... we are hybrid creatures; and such creatures have a tendency to be happier because they feel at home in several worlds, they feel at home wherever they are, but do not have the need to feel at home anywhere."
("Fly Away, Pigeon", Melinda Nadj Abonji)

Is globalization a blessing or a curse for the people of today?

Maria Fellner - 03.01.2020 @ 21:27

Globalization: Blessing or Curse?

by Valentin Innerbichler, BG-BRG Kufstein/Austria

Have you ever thought about taking it for granted that in your free time before afternoon lessons you can just go eat sushi at a Chinese or a pizza at an Italian restaurant? How is globalization influencing our daily thoughts and actions?

Globalization: a worldwide network in the most different of areas, for instance economy, politics, culture and many more. Nowadays you couldn’t imagine the world without these ultimate connections. Technical progress and the increase of global trade contribute to the fact that you can e.g. order anything any time on the internet, chat via messengers with friends over long distances, buy a coke in even the remotest of areas or find a McDonalds anywhere.

Now the question arises, if globalization really brings everybody the improvement desired. Especially in the western world a spoiled society crystallizes, which is used to always being on track of everything. However, with the refugee crisis it can be seen that progress in some countries is much slower than in others and that wealth is distributed unfairly, besides, often human rights and environmental cases are neglected in favour of the economy of “the strong”. Furthermore, today there’s no rest in people’s minds, there must always be something better, bigger and faster; every human is pressured into improving themself, or at least into adapting.

In H.G.Wells’ book “War of the Worlds” aliens attack the earth and slowly try to take possession of it. Despite the connection, the weapons and the combined politics nothing can be done about the invasion, until nature itself finally steps in and solves the problem.

With globalization you can’t just distinguish between black and white, between blessing or curse, you always have to take a closer look and decide for yourself, if it wouldn’t be an idea just to stop by the second-hand shop, or if you really need the new T-shirt (made in Bangladesh). Now the big question is: Will this development have an end someday or is this progress/regress boundless?

            photo: pixabay.com

Valentin Innerbichler - 05.03.2020 @ 18:49

A very interesting take on globalization! It is interesting to consider how globalization might be a cause of consumerism and a dysfunctional form of capitalism in the western society - though I believe the reason for that is not globalization but innate greed amongst already wealthy people. That said globalization leads to absurdly wealthy people - the human equivalent of dragons hoarding gold for no logical purpose - being able to use more people for their own gain and growing their riches. But globalization also means more people can unite and demand rights, freedom and change across the geographical borders. In the end, I think globalization is a good thing - though it is important to consider all possible consequences, both good and bad.

Smilla Sundén Pettersson - 15.05.2020 @ 10:57

Hello Valentin,

Thank you for this interesting article. It made me think what impact globalisation has on our modern world. You focused on inequality between rich and poor countries in case of distributing wealth or neglecting human rights. I looked at it from a different angle.

With the help of globalization, developing countries are able to reap the benefits of current technology, which will result in production of better quality products.

On the other hand, when people emulate traits of cultures they do not completely understand and abandon their own, it can be argued that a nation loses its values. But culture has to change for a society to survive as everything else around us changes. Therefore, young people are raising their incomes and living standards in places like Africa.

Another advantage of globalisation is that advances in communications allowed uniting people around the globe. For example, communications satellites allow global television broadcasts to bring news of faraway events, such as wars and national disasters as well as sports and other forms of entertainment.

In my view, globalisation is blessing in our modern world not only for the sake of rising living standards in developing countries, but also for developing areas like transport, communication technology or trade.

Joanna Stolarska - 24.05.2020 @ 22:25

Hello Valentin! 

I find your article about globalization very interesting. The title consists of the question “Blessing or Curse?” and I wanted to share my thoughts on this subject. 

I think that globalization is a blessing. As you mentioned, today we can eat food from all over the world in restaurants at a street in our hometown. Some people may think that this takes away one of the amazing things with travelling. Nowadays the new cultural experiences we get while visiting other countries may not be so new after all. But it makes it easier for those who, for some reason, are unable to travel to experience other cultures. 

There are probably some bad things about globalization as well but it has created opportunities to get to know people from all around the globe, through the Internet or travels. Today, the human race feels more like one people because of the cultural exchanges and connections we have to each other. Although there are conflicts, I think that we are closer than ever. 

No one can say for sure how it’s going to be in the future, if the development will end or if it truly is endless. But I think it will continue for a while, if not forever...

//Nathalie Färm

Nathalie Färm - 31.05.2020 @ 17:55

Is globalization a blessing or a curse?

Well, you made some really interesting points on the subject. For example, when you mentioned that in the western world people take pieces of other cultures that are in their favour but when it's about refugees (the people they ''borrow'' culture from) they turn the other cheek. I think that statement is very accurate and describes a lot of western countries today. To me globalization can be both positive and negative. You mentioned yourself, it's not just black and white, you have to take a closer look to see all aspects. While I think it's amazing that globalization allows us to share parts of our cultures worldwide, thus bringing people closer together, I feel that cultural appropriation is becoming more distinct. Also, since culture usually takes up a big part of one’s identity, I fear that if globalization (on a cultural aspect) continues in a rapid pace, it might lead to cultures actually vanishing and people’s identity with them.

I agree with everything you mentioned in your article but this was simply my take on it and some of my opinions!

Maria Oguz - 05.06.2020 @ 12:55