Academic English: Writing 1
First Assignment
<student_name> 


The Effects of Globalization
 Are People becoming more the same?

 Nowadays globalization and its impacts on cultural identity is an issue that is often discussed. It is sometimes argued that due to advanced information technology people are integrating more and give more things the same meaning. The consequence is the world becoming smaller in a sense that people are becoming more the same. But this is not the only possible point of view. On the contrary, also the opposite is likely to be true. By being regularly confronted with other cultures, people become aware of the differences between cultures and subsequently of their own identity and uniqueness.
 Different definitions of globalization have to be taken into account when evaluating the effects. According to Rantanen (2005), due to the process of globalization, economic, political and social relations have become worldwide increasingly mediated across time and space since it is possible to stay in contact with people from other parts of the world via Internet. As Baylis and Smith (2001) point out, this leads to an increasing interconnectedness and therefore makes events in one part of the world having more and deeper effects on people and societies in other countries and continents. However, it is also this contact with people from different cultural backgrounds which make us more aware of our own cultural identity. By comparing cultures and their values, one will subsequently identify those values that are different to the ones learned. So is it for instance in Spain a sign of politeness to appear late at a meeting whereas in countries such as Germany or the Netherlands punctuality is highly valued and a sign of respect. 
 As these two theories depict, there is something true about both possible effects of globalization. Whether there is a tendency into one of these two directions has to be further investigated. Nevertheless, it is difficult to judge the impact of today's information technology on increasing cultural sameness without taking both theories into account.


Literature
Rantanen, Terhi (2005) The Media and Globalization, Gateshead: SAGE, pp. 1-18
Baylis, John and Smith, Steve (eds) (2001) The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations Oxford: Oxford University Press