Some people think the increasing business and cultural contact between countries brings many positive effects. Others say it causes the loss of national identities. Discuss on both sides and give your opinion.
ESSAY #336 FROM OUR BOOK
Globalisation has resulted in more business and cultural contacts among different nations. Some people hold the opinion that globalisation is advantageous, whereas others think it is diluting national identities. In this essay, I will discuss both perspectives. I believe that this connection between countries is very beneficial.
There are many reasons why some people see the good side of globalisation. To begin with there are more jobs because of globalisation. Multinational companies have opened in many parts of the world providing jobs to thousands of people. Secondly, there is more efficient trade between different countries around the globe thereby improving the economies of developing countries. What is more, today people have more choices of products because of globalisation.
On the other hand, those who say that national identities are being lost, give their reasons as follows. Firstly, people eat the same food, watch the same TV programmes, listen to the same music and wear the same clothes. They have also started speaking one language, English, in many parts of the world. In fact, English has become the lingua franca today. That is why they say that the whole world is looking similar and the diversity is being lost. They also say that weak cultures are on the verge of extinction.
I believe that cultural identity is based on far more than just the films people watch or the clothes they wear. For example, Indians may wear any clothes, but they never take the names of elders and always address them with respect. In the west, it is quite okay to call anyone by name. In fact, they appreciate it more. I believe that after knowing about other cultures, people learn to respect their culture even more. So, some very deep-rooted national identities will always be there.
To conclude, there are many advantages of increasing trade and cultural contact among nations. Whatever similarities seen today are only on the surface. Total loss of national identities can never take place.
