Evaluate the extent to which cultural globalisation has had a greater impact on the world than any
other form of globalisation (30 marks)
Globalisation is the emergence of a complex web of interconnectedness in many forms, and the
impact it has had on the world culturally, economically and politically is undeniable as this
interconnectedness challenges the state's sole authority to make decisions affecting the lives of its
citizens (state sovereignty) and individual states are no longer able to block themselves from what is
happening elsewhere in the world. Whilst some believe that cultural globalisation has had a greater
impact on the world than any other form of globalisation, economic and political globalisation have
also had a profound effect on the world, with some even arguing that economic globalisation is
more prominent as it has had bigger lasting impact and has stimulated the other forms of
globalisation.
Cultural globalisation is the increasing transmission of ideas, meanings and values around the world.
Due to many factors, including improved communication, increased travel and transformed
technology, the spread of culture has increased rapidly, and some argue that cultural globalisation
has homogenised global culture. For example, the most successful global restaurant chains and the
ten most profitable films in history are all American; this evidently shows the massive impact that
cultural globalisation has had on the world as a monoculture has been created. However, at the
same time, some argue that cultural globalisation has the potential to provide us with greater choice
than before, creating a more globally diverse country; for example, Japanese manga comics have a
global audience and two of the most popular sport teams in the world are Real Madrid and
Manchester United. The spreading and appreciation of cultures around the world show the extent to
which cultural globalisation
However, it is arguable that cultural globalisation is mainly a result of economic globalisation.
Transnational corporations (TNCs) used their global economic power to further their reach and sell
more products over the world by exploiting the benefits of economic development; this is turn led to
the spreading of the same goods and services. Also, the advances in technology, particularly the
internet, and transportation, as a result of increased economic globalisation, has also made it easier,
cheaper and quicker to move goods across the world, spreading culture and ideas from one country
to another more frequently. Therefore, whilst the impact that cultural globalisation has had on the
world is very large, this is mainly as a result of the increased economic globalisation, so it can be
argued that economic globalisation has had a larger impact. Additionally, it is arguable that cultural
globalisation has reinforced nationalist, ethnic and religious identities as reach to homogenisation,
so it could be argued that cultural globalisation has had a limited effect on the world as, whilst it has
spread culture, it has strengthened nationalism and national culture as well.
Economic globalisation has arguably had a greater effect on the world than cultural globalisation; it
is the increasing integration of national economies to create a single global economy of cross-border
movement and trade in goods, services, capital and technology. Economic globalisation has
dramatically increased global trade, which in turn, according to the World Bank, has lifted millions
out of poverty and doubled life expectancy of 100 years ago (as a result of more employment
opportunities and increased wealth and income, and therefore government revenue.) It has also
changed the standing of countries economically , politically and militarily; China, for example, has
grown to become one of the world's biggest economy's as a result of economic globalisation and the
growth of their manufacturing sector. This shows the large extent of the impact that economic
globalisation has had on the world, perhaps even greater than cultural globalisation which has had
impacts on a smaller scale. Additionally, the Washington Consensus has furthered economic
globalisation as it encourages state to establish conditions to make it more attractive to global
investors and warns that acting in defiance to free-market principles in world trade will risk loss of
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