Does globalisation destroy culture?
While globalisation promotes the integration of societies and has provided millions of people with new opportunities, it may also bring with it a loss of uniqueness of local culture, which in turn can lead to loss of identity, exclusion and even conflict. This is especially true for traditional societies and communities, which are exposed to rapid ‘modernisation’ based on models imported from outside.
Watch and listen to the video discussion about the impact of globalisation on local culture and answer the question.
Which country is featured in the video?
Listen to the video again and complete the ten gaps in the transcript with NO MORE than TWO WORDS:
One could argue that the large bastions of global communications, globalised communications, are ones which push a sort of secularised, _________ view of the world. Now, that is a threat but you know what, it's also an opportunity because it's an opportunity for cultures which are let's say more _________, more family oriented to say,
"Well, you know what? Instead of complaining about globalization, let's actually use globalization to fight back and push our view of the world."
A related concern about globalization is its effect on indigenous cultures. I mean even if we grant that global ___________ markets create prosperity is it worth the fast-food chains in the big box stores that we see everywhere we go. And what about a sense of vulgarity and bringing things to the lowest common denominator. And perhaps most important, does globalization destroy local culture?
I mean, the question of globalization... I mean obviously, it can destroy local cultures. I mean there's simply no question about that and it can create an unfortunate homogeneity. As you go around to various countries around the world you're discovering have become more and more ___________. At the same time as people see that happening they often, you know, react by trying to say,
"Hang on, what here is actually worth holding on to? And so it can actually lead to a resurgence of some traditional forms of identity."
So the Irish language has grown. It has been taught in __________ actually across most of this part of Ireland where people where maybe the language had been lost for three or four generations or sending their children to be educated into the Irish language, Irish music, traditional dance you've seen the Riverdance phenomenon all over the world. That's Irish culture.
In Ireland we've actually used globalization to sell our culture around the rest of _________. So you've got great Irish rock bands like U2. You've obviously got Guinness and you've got Irish culture, poetry and film and that shows how a small country can use globalization to huge __________.
This also happens in developing countries. Just think of all the products that you can find from Africa, Latin America, Asia, whenever you go to a store in the US or Europe. Many of these ________ are also finding ways to hold on to aspects of their culture that they value. For instance, there's an interesting study by UNESCO on music in Ghana and even though they had access to music from the US and Europe, over 70% of their news was bought and produced locally. So, most of the music that they're actually listening to is _______ in Ghana.
"Man cannot live by bread alone. It's very important that developing countries do not see the global market and the opportunities of a global market as a substitute for their native culture and values."
It's extremely important to know who you are and what your culture is but it's also in a strange kind of way it's what gives you, what David Ricardo called, the __________. It gives you that unique selling point that you have on world markets.
Research the eight words and phrases in red. What is their meaning?
When you are ready, enter your answers in the sheet below:
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