The Impact Of Globalization In Homogenization

While, in the past, many fundamentally associated globalization with the homogenization of cultures, this theory has been relegated in favor of a concentrated focus on the fragmentation and differentiating effects of globalization. Indeed, this trend towards fragmentation can be seen in diverse arenas, from the spread of Nationalism, to the loss of languages across the world. This essay will examine two cases that exemplify globalization’s role in homogenization vs fragmentation: the rise of Nationalism, and the global dominance of the English language. In this analysis of homogenization vs fragmentation, it becomes apparent that both of these phenomena are occurring rapidly, and simultaneously, under the intensified “overheating” of our globalized

One obvious homogenizing trend is the continued rapid loss of languages across the world. Thomas Eriksen states that, “Two hundred of the original two hundred and fifty Australian languages have been eradicated, and most of the remaining ones are on the verge of extinction…” (Eriksen 59). This alarming global rate of language loss is happening at the same time as one language — English — continues to ascend as the standardized global language (Eriksen 88).

Globalization and the space-time compressing technologies that facilitate it are intensifying the spread of English around the world. According to Eriksen, 56% of all webpages are in English, and over 90% of all publications are now in English, with many universities requiring publications to be in English to count as an international publication (Eriksen 88). The trend towards global loss of language diversity, and the rise of English as the global standard, has many implications regarding the homogenizing opposed to fragmenting effects of

The loss of cultural diversity with the loss of language is evident in this statement from a Nisga man from western Canada, “The Nisga 'a language is very important to talk about — you cannot really, cannot use the English language 'cause meanings disappear in English language. Not like when we use our own Nisga 'a language; meanings come out crystal clear when you are speaking [Nisga]" (Brody 171). This quote embodies the loss of cultural complexity that comes with the loss of language contributing to global homogenization.

However, simultaneous with this homogenization, many are reasserting (or constructing) differences between themselves and global hegemony. Obvious indicators of this fragmentation are the rise of nationalism evident today in elections across the world, where electorates are choosing to define and preserve the qualities they perceive as unique to their national identity in the face of intensified movement of people, religion and ideology across the