Impact of Globalization on Societies/ ethnic identity .

Globalization: -

Globalization is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. Globalization has accelerated since the 18th century due to advances in transportation and communication technology. This concept has been emerged from the perception of egalitarianism i.e. believing that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. Most theories of globalization assess the changes in the economy, political system, and sometimes cultural and technological advances. The basis of globalization is the emergence of a single social system, characterized by a worldwide network of economic, political, and social relationships.

 Impact of Globalization on societies: -

The process of globalization usually describes the changes in the overall society or nation, but rarely addresses the impacts on the local community. But, one of the most important impacts of globalization has been on the human habitat-the community. The influences on community and local development are often derived from the global level. Important economic and political powers can come from the local community, creating a change. With the globalization of the economy and changes in communication and transportation, technology reaches their local extreme, city and hinterland will become one: the globe. 

Development planners saw uncomfortable with ethnic diversity because it challenges the homogenizing tendency of economists to reduce the population to quantifiable groups. Professions of interest in indigenous knowledge have not yet led to increased understanding. 

States take it upon themselves to make natural resource management decisions without any consultation with the minority populations. Often the world only learns of the existence of particular ethnic groups when they protest against dams, mines, and logging projects. Globalization is the constant procedure of transformation of regional phenomena into a globalized basis. Globalization destroys regional reorganization & it also erodes individual identity. Due to the process of globalization, micro geographical units lose mental freedom. Globalization generally comes on the central project which has no resemblance with the local environment in structure. It produces an artificial environment through the composition of global strategy & development. 

Ethnic Identity: - 

Ethnic Identity refers to one’s sense of belonging to an ethnic group and the part of one’s thinking, perceptions, feelings, and behavior that is due to ethnic group membership. The ethnic group tends to be one in which the individual claims heritage. Ethnic identity is separated from one’s personal identity as an individual, although the two may reciprocally influence each other.  

Impact of Globalization on Ethnic Identity: - 

The Oneges are the tribal people living on the island of Little Andaman. They are very oldest in their existence & still struggling with nature in order to keep their own identity in respect of their own region. But due to the process of globalization, self-identity is being hampered thoroughly. Complete strangers on their own land. Globalization damages society's understanding, culture, perception of resources, and above all losing the self-respect. 

For any real development & its sustainability, a micro-unit approach is needed where people can understand their surroundings, participate in their age-old traditions or practices. 

Anti-globalization: - 

For many activists, globalization had lost its broader meaning and become synonymous with the advance of capitalism. Others went further and perceived globalization as Americanization, a new form of cultural empiricism. 

The World Social Forum (WSF) was created in 2001 as a counterweight to the world economic forum, an influential network of government and big business. Participants in the WSF strive to articulate an alternative vision of grassroots globalization that puts people before profits. 

Globalization in Retreat: -

There are already clear signs that economic globalization is in retreat. Some major corporations are openly talking of an end to global production chains, compressing them instead into regional chains in order to reduce transport costs and emissions. 

“Doha Development Round” is the trade –negotiation round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which commenced in November 2001 under then director-general Mike Moore. The aim was to put less developed countries’ priorities at heart. The needs of the developing countries were the core reasons for the meeting. The major factors discussed include trade facilitation, services, rules of origin, and dispute settlement. Special and different treatments for the developing countries were also discussed as a major concern. In Geneva Summits, july18, 2008- the shortcomings of globalization must be amended. 

Conclusion: -

Not all is doom and gloom. The United Nations was about to set up a permanent forum on indigenous rights. Change can be detected in some nation-states that formerly oppressed indigenous people, culture, and dress. Morocco has begun to recognize Berber Culture, Laos, and Vietnam to acknowledge their high ethnic diversity. NGOs are increasingly able to mobilize international opinion in support of indigenous rights & ethnic identity.