Globalization Produces Winners and Losers

The Process of globalization involves the spread of ideologies, values, ideas, norms, beliefs, and expectations. Globalization shifts economic, cultural, social, and political values throughout nations, regions, and communities. For the common man, it was stated that the world had become a global village. However, throughout the world, it can be noted that globalization has not spread each culture’s ideologies evenly. Globalization has become an instrument for corporate capitalists and has claimed to bring prosperity, yet only shows profiteering. In essence, globalization produces winners and losers, and America is winning amongst the rest of the world.

In describing the self, social theorists often describe the American as rational and conscious. Yet, due to American exceptionalism, Americans remain prejudice and discriminative to other worldview ideas and practices. Having the biggest economy and strongest army, America has taken enormous leaps to persuade the rest of the world to change their lifestyles and Americanize. In so many ways, globalization has become Americanization. Americans have failed to recognize other country’s accomplishments and assimilate them into their own lifestyle, even if that specific culture has positive successes. So, how is the American so rational? Americans have seemed to lose sight of the benefits of other culture’s ideologies. American exceptionalism remains a downfall for many reasons. By pushing America’s beliefs and practices on other cultures, it not only takes away other’s identities, but increases the occurrence of chronic disease and illnesses.

Modern western culture has become a health hazard and due to globalization it is spreading to the rest of the globe. For instance, in Ethan Watters piece, “The Americanization of Mental Illness”, he describes America’s “symptom of repertoire” being shared with the rest of the world. In Hong Kong, western ideas of anorexia have changed the construction of the illness itself. Watters states, “sufferers deliberately shape their symptoms to fit a certain cultural niche”. In other words, individuals that suffer from a specific disease or illness shape their symptoms to fit into their society’s ideologies. Social constructions of diseases and illnesses can be a prime reflection of a culture’s ideologies. In Hong Kong’s case, it reflects the globalization of America’s social construction of beauty, being skinny. The process of westernization has become such a strong enforcer of breeding America’s ideals onto the rest of the world that it is changing the way other countries view health. In the process, Americanization has eradicated older belief systems that once gave meaning and context to specific disease and illnesses.

In Kenneth Tupper’s article, “Ayahuasca Healing beyond the Amazon”, he discusses the process of utilizing a psychoactive Amazonian indigenous brew that is used traditionally for spiritual and healing purposes. The practice of using this brew has been globalized and is present in many other countries. Yet, due to the changing social climate it is used much differently compared to previous generations. Globalization has weakened traditional spiritual beliefs. As globalization creeps in, so does capitalism. In other words, if there is a beneficial brew that can be digested, a capitalist will find a way to make money. This outlook on life recognizes the differences in culture’s values. Indigenous people do not view their knowledge in terms of economic value.

In addition to traditional spiritual beliefs, traditional food systems and dietary patterns have been displaced by big food corporations. Remnants of animals and inexpensive ingredients are being made into foods that look and taste like wholesome foods. In the process, individuals are suffering from diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. The boom of big food companies are undermining public health and institutions in countries that cannot afford treatments from unhealthy food products. By taking advantage of a country’s traditional food system, big corporations not only change a cultures dietary patterns completely, but their health as well.

If Americans were so rational and conscious they would not be destroying other country’s traditional ideologies. Yet, big corporations continue to do so for their economic gains. The United States holds a power over the rest of the world that can ultimately change other country's beliefs and practices. By assimilating America’s beliefs, other countries will change their social constructions of illnesses and disease. All in all, globalization leaves behind losers, and America is not one of them.