Globalisation can be defined as the elimination of barriers to trade, communication, and cultural exchange. It is said that with advances in technology and communications, the world has come closer and has become one community – a global village.
On the one hand it is said that globalisation leads to greater opportunities for development and cooperation, greater interaction, peace and love among the people of the world. On the other hand, globalisation is also seen as a force which destroys the heritage, individuality and culture.
Impact of globalisation can be seen in people wearing cloths of same brands and style, listening to similar on-line music, watching same on-line shows, eating similar fast food and drinking Starbucks or Coca Cola. Globalisation in a sense had led to dominance of the west and the rich.
In the words of Peter Evans, “Products and ideas developed in rich countries, shape the value and ideas of citizens of poor countries” (Evans, 1971, 638). Nationalism on the other hand refers to the feelings of attachment to one another that members of a nation have, and to a sense of pride that a nation has in itself (Kacowicz, 1998).
Nationalism promotes and defends a particular culture and way of life (Godfrey, 2008). In recent years nationalist groups all over the world have reacted strongly particularly in social media spreading stories of National pride, religious dogma, bravery of nationalists etc.
In modern times nationalism is the main driver of national unity and patriotism. However, nationalism also results in a feeling of superiority of one’s nation and culture as compared to other nations and cultures and sometimes can result in enmity with other nation States. Nationalism contributed to the major wars of the 21st century, for example through border disputes that arise from the division of ethnic groups by territorial borders.
Economic nationalism may result is protectionism, which is costly for the global economy in general (Campe,2008). The interrelationship between globalisation and Nationalism is a complex one.
According to one thought, globalisation diminishes nationalism, through global interdependence and weakening of barriers between countries. Transnational Corporations have created a mixed culture across the Globe resulting in loss of local ethnic cultures and National identities. Some also argue that participation in International organizations like the United Nations of the EU has resulted in partial loss of State sovereignty.
Contrarian view is that the Nation-State is not only still functioning well but is also promoting the global system. It is said that globalisation has promoted nationalism. liberal western thought and western education in the early nineteenth century is said to have promoted National thought in India.
According to this view, both globalisation and nationalism can live together in harmony and benefit from each other. “Their coexistence is not a battle in which only one is destined to emerge as the winner and the other as losers; it is rather a mutually beneficial coexistence of two compatible tendencies” (Natalie, 2010).
There is a third view point that globalization has increased nationalist sentiments. Increased contact between people due to the integration of world societies is often associated with more stereotyping and hatred of others, and increased conflict (Butt, 2012). Globalisation has led to increased immigration which on the one hand leads to better cultural ties but on the other hand also introduces risks like loss of jobs for the locals and security challenges. According to this view globalization has in fact paved the way for national extremism. According to Douglas Kellner, Indeed from the late 1980s to the present, there has been a resurgence of nationalism, traditionalism, and religious fundamentalism alongside trends toward growing globalization. This can be seen in the breaking up of the former Soviet Union, exit of Britain from European Union and greater restrictions on immigration in the United States in recent years.
In light of these developments it would seem that nationalism is stronger than globalization.“Nations have deep roots and they are based on pre-political, cultural, and ethnic identities and their social and moral significance sustain their power and explain their resistance.” (Smith: 1991 quoted in Natalie: 2010). Nationalist leaders talk about moral or ethical decline in modern society due to globalisation and argue that return to traditional values is the only solution.
It is suggested that resurgent nationalism has resulted in the rise of fundamentalism. Barber describes fundamentalist movement as, “Parochial rather than cosmopolitan, angry rather than loving, zealous rather than rationalist, ethnocentric rather than universalizing, fractious and pulverizing, never
integrating” (Barber, 1996). Most fundamentalist movements whether Islamist, Christian or Hindu propagate their ideologies in the garb of Nationalism and are of course strongly opposed to globalisation. With growing globalization and the changes it has brought to the world, minorities, nationalities, and localities have awakened and become more aware of its threat to their existence. This threat emanates from the homogenizing nature of globalization, which makes people and nationalities melt down into one. There is therefore a protective response to the forces of globalisation by nationalist forces. Ultra-nationalism on the other hand leads to xenophobia in which people fear that their nationality and traditions will disappear in the face of globalization.
With ever increasing pace of technology development, business at the seep of thought, development of artificial intelligence (AI), fast travel, global connectivity and free flow of thoughts, globalisation is the inevitable in modern world. This will surely generate responses in the form of right wing radicalism or religious fundamentalism to a certain extent. The world today is passing through this phase of increasing radicalism. Thus we rise of Islamic State and Boko Haram in the Middle East, jihadist movements in Pakistan, and opposition to foreign goods in India. Some business entities have taken advantage of these tendencies in promoting their businesses in the name of Nationalism. Similarly there has been emergence of political entities which thrive on the fears and insecurities of the people. The cries of Nationalism have become louder and shriller as globalisation has progressed.
The hegemonic tendencies of the western world and now even China, the travel bans imposed by the United States, and the
Mis-treatment of ethnic minorities in the west specially after 9/11 have contributed to the feelings of increased insecurity in the less developed world.
It is difficult to predict whether these ultra-nationalist tendencies will harm globalisation in the near term. In the long term however, globalisation and regional identities will find a middle path and survive together. Food habits are difficult to change and ethno-cultural ties are strong. Big international business has come to recognize this. Thus you can get chicken tikka pizza along with coca cola in Pizza hut in India. Fast food outlets in India refrain from serving beef. International clothing brands are working on regional designs. International Airlines have begun serving Indian cuisine on Indian routes.
It is interesting to see that International cosmetic brands now advertise their products as Ayurvedic and International hotels and spas in India boast of Ayurvedic massages. The world of big business is bringing the world together at a much faster pace.
(The writer is a senior IAS Officer in Chhattisgarh. He can be contacted at dr.alokshukla@gmail.com)
