What Are Cultural Factors That Promote Caribbean Integration

Globalisation has become a fashionable term used for numerous years amongst humanities and social sciences. Usage of this term has been driven by an academic fascination with the world as an increasingly interconnected place, in which localized forms of culture have become increasingly subject to homogenizing global influences (Maguire, J)

When it comes to globalization, everyone may have a different vision of it’s outcome. For Marcelo Gleiser, the author of “Globalization: Two visions of the Future of Humanity”, a completely globalized world may result in a dystopia. In contrast, Jeffrey Wasserstrom, the author of “A Mickey Mouse Approach to Globalization” and Tanveer Ali, the creator of “The Subway Falafel Sandwich and the Americanization of Ethnic Food” may think of globalization as other cultures sharing each other’s components to interact on a new level and spurring a more “open-minded” (Ali 27) individual.

Today in Australia this cultural diversity means that we are made up of a multitude of different cultures were minority cultures are no longer expected to give away their cultural identity to a dominant Australia culture. Instead these minority cultures influence the dominant culture and modifying it to an extent. Whereas integration expects everyone to adopt the main culture, cultural diversity or multiculturalism focuses on social harmony and accepts that Australia will be a nation of many different cultures and views under one nation.

Globalisation is not new. Australia has been involved in trade, investment, financial flows, technology transfers and the migration of labour since its foundation as a colony. What has changed is the size, direction and influence of these transfers, especially since 1980. There are a number of factors that have aided this transformation. They include:

The phrase of globalisation is becoming very popular around the world, and it gives free movement to communicate with people regarding cultural, economic, social, technological, political, educational and businesses. In the modern society globalisation has impacted on many human lives, which started in the western countries in (1492), according to Kevin H. O'Rourke, Jeffrey G. Williamson, and then it expanded all over the world. The word of globalisation can describe many different aspects such as globalisation of nothing, the making of the global society and the globalisation of wealthy and poor. According to Robert Shuey in (2001), ‘’globalisation is widely and somewhat loosely used a term, intended to describe the recent and rapid process of international, economic, social, and political integration’’. The idea of his words that globalisation is giving an opportunity to people, so they can travel, invest internationally, and communicate this can help many businesses people especially in Australia to invest more widely and internationally. Globalisation has impacted on Australian society in all terms of life, for instance, it has an enormous impact on health and education system, on technology, and on the Australian economy. But one of the categories is increasing so widely among Australian people who affect many young people’s lives is the impact of racism on the health and wellbeing of young Australians. The word racism is the very phenomenon aspect in the Australian society, especially between young people. On the very high percentage of many young Australians are experiencing racism between the nation, most of these racists are because of skin colour, cultural beliefs, different traditions from different countries, speaking another language and gender. Racism plays a significant role in the society, and many people are aware of this because when they face radical discrimination from any individual, they feel angry and frustrated, and sometimes they feel of not belonging to the local community.

Contemporary Australian society. A society that currently appears predicated on an economy and lifestyle that no longer exists – the 1940’s ‘Australian Dream’.

Australia is a nation of immigrants. It has become a vibrant & diverse place where tolerance & equality are both accepted & expected by its people as part of their way of life. It is also considered as one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries. In fact, it was the egalitarian streak in Australia’s national character that facilitated the development of contemporary multiculturalism of Australia.

Donald Horne has raised seven commitments in his book called “An Australian compact.” Two of these that will be discussed throughout this essay are “To uphold the ideal of Australian as a tolerant and fair society” and “To continue to develop Australia as a society devoted to the wellbeing of its people.” Evidence will be explored that shows Australia is committed to being a fair, tolerant society and an increasingly multicultural society; however, the Australian government is not looking after the wellbeing of all of its people today. (The Australian Immigration book, n.d). Australians believe in equal rights and everyone is to be given a fair go. The wellbeing of Australians has changed over the years but the fundamental values have stayed

Australian national identity is a changing view, shaped by the attitudes and values of its citizens, its relationships through trade and alliances with neighbouring countries, the composition of Australia’s society and the rights and freedoms of all Australians. Through Australia’s history during the federation and through to current times our national identity has evolved quite significantly and has come to appreciate what once was frowned upon.

The effects of Globalisation on Australia can be disseminated into a number of different categories. For the purposes of this report five major categories including Economic, Social, Cultural, Environmental and Political have been explored and summarised but is by no means exhaustive.

Australia is a settler nation which is now made up of many ethnic groups who share similar cultural traditions, common language, shared history and a shared identity (ABS, 2016). These groups contribute to what is referred to multiculturalism. Australia has a higher proportion of people born overseas than the US, Canada and the UK, with 49% of Australia’s population (or a parent) being born overseas (Census of Population and Housing, 2016). Compared to other Western nations, Australia has one of the most diverse immigration populations (Collins, 2013, p. 145). The meaning of multiculturalism in Australia has changed significantly over time. Today, Australia is a culturally and ethnically diverse country and therefore is a multicultural society. In terms of public policy, multiculturalism can be defined as policies and practices implemented by the Australian government that aim to manage cultural diversity to benefit the whole of society (Department of Social Services, 2014). Although Australia is a multicultural society, there are criticisms of public policy surrounding multiculturalism.

‘Globalization: What’s new? What’s not? (And so what)’, portrays the speed in which globalism has increased through many different factors; economically, military, environmentally and socially. This is an idealist analytic approach, not set in stone. This leads on to

Globalisation can be defined as the movement toward economic, financial, trade, and communications integration by countries and their populations globally. It is a constant process and it has resulted in the intertwining and generalisation of the needs and wants of people

In this essay I will give a detailed explanation of what sociologists mean by the term ‘globalisation’ and how they have tried to explain it.

Globalization is a major issue in our world today. But it can be seen through many different perspectives, some see it as a negative thing, but some people also see the positives within it and some people have mixed views. Globalization is the spreading of different views, this can political views, social views, and economic views being spread throughout the world where it once wasn’t present. Globalization shapes the way people live and what they do on a day to day basis, or what’s going on around them like technological advancement. Globalization affects everyone, what we do, what we eat all shapes our individual and collective identities.