Culture And Economy
Culture and economy are inseparable and are often by-products of each other. While economics generally refers to the production and consumption of goods and services, culture is a more difficult term to define. It refers to the general pattern of human behavior and its meaning. It can explain why certain group of people behave the way they do. It can also classify people into distinctive cultural identities. Yet, regardless of interpretation, people generally agree that culture is valuable and it needs to be protected.
With the emergence of globalization and its collection of supranational markets and global goods, distinctive cultures are becoming harder and harder to recognize. Faced with the competition from American entertainment and business activities, local governments are complaining that their cultures are being eroded. Artisans around the world are faced with the choice of “getting a corporate sponsor or fold.” (Barlow 2001, 45) Neo-liberalism is the best approach to examine the issue because it recognizes the effects of complex interdependence and how it shapes cooperation which in turns fosters a shared culture. From a neo-liberal perspective, globalization is has increased economic growth in many parts of the world and has allowed consumers to have more choices, consequently creating a more homogenized global economy and culture. This however, has often been followed with critiques of “Americanization”. Upon further examination of food, movie, television, retailers, and cross-cultural exchanges, the fears of Americanization seem to be over exaggerated. Indeed, trans-national corporations haven’t taken over the world at all, they have instead adapted themselves to suit local cultures, and those cultures are very much alive.
The biggest American export is arguably the English language. As the most widely spoken language in the world, English is the “langua franca of the modern era.” (Graddol 1997, 4) It is the dominant...
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