Cara DeCoste
Globalization Essay
5/1/12
“Globalization is inevitable and irreversible.” Yes – at least, for as long as we keep on talking about it. Globalization, like any other cultural trend, is self-perpetuating primarily when it is an active force in the minds of the general population – which it is at the moment, whether they realize it or not. As Steger points out, many (if not most) political speeches, news articles and broadcasts, and other definers of the general understanding of world events, are shot through with messages about and assumptions of globalization. And so, globalization spreads.
The standard process of formation of a cultural identity on a
given issue, drawn from my studies of history, is as follows. Of course, it is
rarely purposeful (though, in some cases particularly useful for analysis, they
were – such as the carefully engineered change of opinion regarding the gay
community). First, inform. Spread the knowledge, opinion – repetition,
repetition, repetition - place it in the public eye. Second, create a controversy,
if one doesn’t naturally emerge, and ensure that everyone hears of it. Once this
occurs, it almost stands on its own legs. But additional steps will ensconce
the idea in the collective mentality even further. For instance, study it – this
will probably be a natural result of the controversy. Give it some good
scientific credibility – and make sure any results that aren’t either positive,
or able to be spun to be positive, are marginalized (controversy is still good –
but as always, make sure the opposition looks stupid, or intolerant, or if all
else fails, in opposition to the flow of history). Finally – and this also will
naturally occur as a result of the study – teach it. This ensures that the
ideas will continue to propagate, and eventually become a collective
assumption. The idea is now firmly associated with the cultural atmosphere.
It is easy to see how globalization has followed these steps,
whether intentionally or unintentionally is not mine to judge. Nevertheless, I
think it is true that globalization will continue to occur, for like any good
metanarrative, the globalization metanarrative begins to explain life. And when
it explains life, it creates behavior,
and when it creates behavior, it causes itself to become true.
