I´ve recently been asked by a globally aware, if not conscious, individual to express my observations on the views of how "people from [Kenya and Nicaragua] try to hang on to their indigenous culture in the face of impending globalization". In my honest opinion, it´s a bit of a loaded question. I´m sure I am reading far too much into the direction that this question intends, but only for the purpose of providing my answer. Of course there is the point of view that globalization will have the effect of completely erasing unique cultures. There is the remote possibility that everyone on earth, given enough time to intermix, will be the same shade of light brown and have the exact same culture and language and currency. Sure, its a possibility, but thats not my opinion.
In my expereiences over the past two months, I´ve encountered some very interesting questions about life in America. More often than not, they stem from preconcieved notions of unlimited wealth or complete and unregulated freedom in America. I haven´t had many (none actually that I can think of) conversations geared towards the down side of western culture. Maybe it´s because I haven´t been digging deep enough, or maybe it´s because its not what most people think of.
My current observations on globalization have been that people here are very receptive. Granted, I haven´t really experienced what could rightly be deemed an "indigenous culture". I´ve only experienced life in rural villages. Nevertheless, people love to be able to tap into the rest of the world by means of a radio or a television. More often than not, of course, its for mindless entertainment, but it´s still information. People do stick to their ways, but like everyone, they crave something new, they want to see whats on the other side of the fence.
As I was taking the bus from my village to Managua today, I had an interesting revelation. On a side note, to get from my house in Malacatoya (a village of about 100 homes, connected with nothing more than a muddy mountain trail, and only 30 have electricity from the turbine I´m helping to improve) to Managua (the capital city of Nicaragua) I have to walk for 45 minutes, and take two busses, and walk another 20 minutes. On the bus today I was looking at the various other people with me. It dawned on me that the majority of clothing with a brand or label was indeed American. While not as prevalent in Kenya, it was still noticeable. Hat´s people were wearing had names like Oakley, Birkenstock, various college sports teams, Disney, etc. Also, hygeine products like Head & Shoulders and Scott Tissue are very common. While maybe not manufactured in the US, they´re all American brands.
I think what I´m trying to get at is that there seems to be very little resistance to globalization. While it may not be consciously acknowledged and welcomed, it seems that globalization does have a positive effect on development in a third world country. While availability from other factors such as remoteness and lack of income still present a major issue, information and opportunity of frredom of chioce is slowly expanding its reaches to even the most remote of places in both Africa and Central America.
This expanse of information and products, however, doesn´t seem to erase the local culture. It may mix in here and there, but it doesn´t have the dominant effect that many skeptics seem to think it might have. As can be noticed in places in America too, driving two hours out of the city and in to the country you can notice many changes. The accents are different, slang is different, clothes are different, gait si different, the list goes on. Even such a close proximity doesn´t have the mixing effect that people predict globalization will supposedly have. Of course, thats just my opinion from an unformulated, ranting, exhausted, soap box mounted perspective. More unphilosophical stories will come tomorrow.
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Brett,
Thanks for trying to take a stab at my question. I have to say though I'm a little confused by the direction of the response you take.
You mention that what I ask “is a bit of a loaded question.” But I'm wondering why you say so. Trust me when I say I wasn't hoping for an indictment of globalization by you. Obviously it's a complex process with more gray than black or white. But still there has to be some dissenting voices, and I'm curious to know what that backlash is and how it differs from Kenya to Nicaragua. Or maybe you are saying – if I am reading between the lines correctly – that there is no backlash.
You say you haven't had any negative conversations about downsides of Western culture. That's good, (great, in fact). But does that suggest to you that there are none to be had, or merely that people are too polite to mention these downsides to a guest in their community (and a representative of that particular hegemonic institution in question).
I don't think anyone could argue the myriad benefits of globalization. You mention access to information and more freedom of choice, which are certainly true. But I wonder how that access is spread across the economic line: is it equal for poor and wealthy alike? What about in the families you visit? How do they compare with an average American, or even an average Nicaraguan family? Has this new information focused itself in the hands of the wealthy and thus compounded the economic divide, or has it helped to close the gap.
You mention seeing people on the buses with tons of American clothes and that there is an abundance of American products for sale. So how does this help the people. Maybe they look cool (or at least like the characters from Western movies they see). But at what price to their economy – and taking that a step further – to the livelihood of the individual. What effect does the flooding of cheap second-hand clothing on the market have on local or national clothing businesses. Can anyone compete with this? Or is this just another way that a poorer country is forced to become irrevocably reliant on a wealthier country.
If you want a place to start asking people around you, I suggest CAFTA (and it's relationship to Nicaragua's increasingly lopsided trade balance) or the rise in the drug economy. Or maybe, when you're visiting those families, do an informal survey of how many family members are forced to work abroad to send remittances home for lack of local job opportunities. I read somewhere that Nicaragua is more than 50 percent. What effect is the lack of one or both parents having on the families, and how will this manifest itself in the future generations?
You may be correct in saying there isn't a backlash to globalization and that it's benefits outweigh its costs. But I am pretty skeptical of the rosy picture you seem to be painting. Mostly I am surprised because I have never been to a country where people (with a little probing) aren't willing to voice their concerns about the effects that a more dominant culture – be it American, Russian, French or any other former colonial power – have on their own culture. And here you've been to two in the same summer.
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