The Globalization Effect

The waking of the “Giant” during World War II, gave way to the palpable strength of an American society that was felt throughout the new, post-war world. The democratic mission of America was brought forth and the words carved into the Statue of liberty “Give me your tired, your poor, your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free..” or the “American dream” showed once again to be the mission of the American/Western society. Post-war America, a more industrialized nation by then, started the globalization movement of a renewed capitalist society.

After the war, America had a foothold in each corner of the world; this was the first time in history that the whole world could be impacted by the ideas of one nation and its allies. With the increase in globalization; new, postmodern issues presented themselves to western civilizations; issues which were not encountered since the Romanization period of Europe. The new, postmodern world was a macro view of an older, more micro world which was dependent on “states” being independent of the world around them. The more liberal views and tolerance towards religious freedom and the American integration of the world and same sex marriages was proven to be the catalyst for a new more expansive world in the 20th and 21st century.

Integration of cultures is not unfamiliar. American and Western societies were based on an older practical model that had been used since Sumerians, one of the first civilizations of the Neolithic period. The Roman Empire perfected culture integration in order to make the Empire stronger and more diverse. A fact easily proven by the fact that most Holy Roman Empires from Germany spoke Latin which was a language taught to Roman Aristocracy from Greek educators.

Western Societies use integration in a few unique ways. The industrial revolution in Europe and America clearly lead to a time period where advancement and industry was expanded on a scale never seen before. The effect this had on the rest of the world in the last 70 years is evident by the use computers, information, and new ideas today. Eastern societies are where globalization seems to have had the most impact. These are cultures that are not used to the idea that the general populace should be allowed to be taught freely and influenced by outside world. We have evidence of this in Russia, China, and most Middle Eastern countries.

The advancement of information technology in the West let people have a voice for the first time. Popular websites such as YouTube and social networking sites such as Facebook, let people stay anonymous and let them have a voice in Fascist or Communistic societies. This created greater insatiability in a postmodern world. The idea of freedom in authoritarian governments was something new. In response to this instability, rulers of these states used an old tool to corral the uneducated by use of ‘mob-mentality’ in order for leaders to stay in power. Western Countries started being targeted as corrupt and inferior by use of propaganda

America, one of the most religiously fervent countries in the world, is at the same time, one of the most religiously tolerant. Generally, societies are one or the other. For example, Iran is very religious, but is not “tolerant.” Likewise, Scandinavian countries are very tolerant but one wouldn’t call them “religiously fervent.” Pew Forums’ work on Religion and Public Life calls it “religious bridging”—that is, having friends and acquaintances of a different faith. According to the data, out of five of the average American’s closest friends, two-three “are of other faiths.” Half of all Americans are married to “someone of a different faith from the one in which they were raised.” This may not be the case in the east; members of different religions or different sects in the same religion do not associate or hesitate to do so in some religions of the world. For example, Hinduism, which originated in India, classifies its members into classes -called castes. One is born into a caste. The upper-castes deem the lower-castes ‘untouchables’. The caste system is still alive and well in rural India today. Hindus do prefer not to marry out of their caste or sect. Religion, while it produces a sense of compassion, brotherhood and concern for others, also has a dark side that produces intolerance and violence. Aside from intolerance and hostility toward sects within a religion and among religions, most religions condemn same-sex re-lations/marriages. The “Queer Movement” as Plato called it, has been around for decades in America. Beginning in the early 1960's, a new generation of liberal Americans was formed with the help of new-age technology in bringing people closer together. The movement of “free love” and acceptance which was opposed to the traditional social norms started. This is similar to the rising movement in the Middle Eastern countries today. Many social groups today are gaining momentum and using technology just as the Americans had done before. The Gay and Lesbian community started to gain support and created a broader social movement that was built on equality and freedom of personal choices. America, being a religious country founded on Puritan beliefs in the early 17th century was set up in the beginning as a State against anything deemed “wrong” or “sinful” by European theologians like Martin Luther or Jan Hus who were Protestant Reformation leaders or leaders of the Catholic Reformation. Early 20th century Americans failed to question social issues as most of the issues were considered a taboo socially. The expansion of the broadcast system in America gave them an inside view for the first time on world issues. Racial inequity, the Vietnam War and Homosexuality were for the very first time important and pressing social issues. The effect of this turned America upside down, on all social inequalities that were prevalent then. In America's search to find itself in these social issues, scholars and the well-educated thought that it is important to look back on how history found its way through these problems. If one were to ask Plutarch-a famous Greek historian of his views on homosexuality he would respond saying, “the noble lover of beauty engages in love wherever he sees excellence and splendid natural endowment without regard for any difference in physiological detail.” This was his view on homosexuality in 40 A.D. Across the sea, however, at the same time, states such as Ionia had laws governing against such acts. The Roman Empire started to raise its voice against homosexual acts about the same time a huge Christian movement started around 300 A.D. Homosexuality was seen as “unnatural” not necessarily a sinful act against god. The early Christian movement sought out to persecute Jews, Muslims and Homosexuality on the stance that they were an abomination against God. The next 1000 years saw very little social impact from homosexuality as more pressing issues from the Black Death created a void on such problems. It wasn’t until the 18th century that Scandinavia started a campaign against sodomy which rejuvenated this social issue. In the late 18th and early 19th century a more secular movement started against sodomy. Doctors were being called into sodomy court case hearings around Europe and the Americas. The effect of these cases hurt an initial starting movement of equality on sexual orientation. For better or for worse, the “American experiment” has changed the whole world more than any other nation before it. It’s the unique way that America is set up and in a time where technology has given information an easy way to be disseminated around the world. America's integration of having hundreds of military bases around the world and NATO or NAFTA agreements is bringing in huge returns for the country. Because of these programs, thousands of people flock to the American military every year. This is similar to what the Romans had done to Germanic tribes, Gaul, and to North Africa. Eventually, we start to see a cultural exchange and the lines that separated America from these nations start to fade. It’s a military strategy that is not new; it is now on a bigger scale than ever before. These blurred lines give America's idea of Religious freedom or tolerance an avenue to seep into other nations.

Most countries view the Globalization Effect and embrace it, the countries that do not, are left to deal with major social issues with great repercussions. The repercussions include government regime changes, civil wars, economic instability and genocide of their own citizens. Countries where religion or the Church is the government tend to be of a fascist nature. In these countries, change is usually seen as a front against God, and is dealt with swiftly by mass executions. They horde the uneducated and use their ignorance as a tool to aim them at their own people and the “Great Evil.” America will only profit from such issues, because most of their economic strength comes from an industrialized military on a massive scale never seen before. This great strength is also one of America or Western Society’s greatest weaknesses. The social issues on integration, religion and homosexuality give this society a distraction to larger issues within their own nations.

Reference List

B.A. Robinson, (2011). World Wide Religious intolerance. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/relintol.htm Elizabeth Anderson, (2010). The imperative of Integration: Princeton University Press

Nice Fraser, (2014). How the world was won americanization of everwhere. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/02/how-the-world-was-won-americanization-of-everywhere-review-peter-conrad Pickett, Brent, "Homosexuality", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
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