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[glocalgirl]

A key aspect of global citizenship is tapping into a ‘shared global identity’. This is attributed to the creation of new social networks that have renewed existing connections globally.

With people’s growing consciousness of the world as a single entity, there has been a heightened level of societal awareness due to amplified levels of interconnectedness. This is mostly implemented via social media, where posts and hashtags are shared instantaneously. This has lead to an inevitable surge of activism with social media fuelling various transnational movements, such as Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March. Such activism is a crucial catalyst for change and advocacy on a global scale.

Nonetheless, it seems to be rather convenient for one to imply that due to advancements in the global network society, people from all around the world have engaged in global citizenship and come together in solidarity for pertinent issues. Would it still be accurate to attribute the remarkable progress of such movements to the occurrence of a common global initiative if one were to analyze the ‘performative’ element of such participation?  

It seems as though individuals capitalize on such platforms in an attempt to get recognition while the actual pertinent activism remains void. When the Black Lives Matter movement began gaining momentum this year, many of my friends jumped onto social media to share posts and took part in the #BlackOutTuesday movement. They momentarily engaged extensively with the cause but did not force themselves to reflect and implement their learnings in real-life environments (such as using it to tackle the issue of ‘Chinese privilege’ that plagues Singapore). This feeds into the ‘performative’ element of advocacy.

As we live in a global network society fuelled by communication power, it is imperative that we build genuine and effective transnational solidarity. This can only be materialized when we move away from performative allyship and take real action to change the status quo. This will allow us to strive towards becoming successful global citizens.

Credits for the pictures used : PSU Vanguard and Daily Bruin

[glocalgirl]

One of the most pertinent debates regarding cultural globalization is whether it promotes homogenization or hybridization.

Heightened levels of cultural interconnectedness can be attributed to globalization forms (such as embodied) being drastically accelerated. Additionally, advancement in technology and its counterparts such as social media has greatly facilitated cultural exchange.

However, in my opinion, the proliferation of consumerist capitalism in today’s society has invariably tainted cultural exchange, causing it to be transformed into late stage cultural imperialism. It may not seem as severe, but the changes in monumental cultural manifestations are evident.

One pronounced example is Arab Street in Singapore. What was once a site of an Arab kampong has now become a major tourist hotspot. Arab Street used to home many Arabic shops, eateries, traditional Arabic textile and handicraft shops. It was a place where Arabic people and others could gather to savour the Arabic culture. However, in recent decades, commercialisation has stripped away its identity. To cater to the tourists better, authentic Arabic shops have been replaced by the generic tourist shops. Shops selling traditional Arabic attire have been taken over by shops that sell westernised outfits.

Although elements of the Arabic culture are still present through the architecture and certain places such as the Kampong Glam mosque, there is still a significant loss of imperative cultural symbolism and representation. In establishing a renewed identity comprising of a blend of various cultural influences that cater to the Western ideals better, the essence of Arabic culture is lost in the midst of societal commodification. Hence, I believe that there is a stark difference between merging cultures in a unique manner and merely engaging in ‘tourism gentrification’. Unfortunately, Arab Street has undergone changes that retained the aesthetically pleasing components of Arabic culture while disposing all the other integral components of tradition.

Credits for the pictures used : MothershipSG, EdgeProp and TravelTriangle

[glocalgirl]

A manifestation of globalization that is so imperative in our lives today is economic globalization. The internationalization of trade, liberalization of financial flows and advances in technology has resulted in the transformation of the ‘global economy’.

One such example is the recent opening of the Apple Store in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. I think that it is highly odd to see major store openings during the pandemic, and yet the opening of a new Apple store makes much sense due to economic globalization. It is not surprising that Apple decides to capitalize on the attractive corporate tax rates and strategic business location that would undeniably boost its sales. Alongside the ever-rising demand for higher-end products (my friends queued up for hours for the latest iPhone), it seems to be a rather rational decision.

With pro-trade governments striving to eliminate existing trade barriers through treaties, transnational entities such as Apple are inevitably gaining power. This occurrence ultimately seems as a win-win situation, given that global wealth and consumer choice are consequently enhanced.

However, for the urban poor, I believe that such rapid acceleration of economic globalization only spells trouble. The opening of posh Apple stores in luxurious areas does nothing more than to further ostracize them from the general community through materialistic and socio-economic differences. The constant catering of the consumerist lifestyle to the middle and upper middle class further amplifies the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged in the city-state. As an individual on neither ends of the socio-economic spectrum (neither the ultra elite nor the marginalized), I feel that it is so critical that governments engage in inclusive economic globalization initiatives. The distribution patterns of economic globalization should be more equitable so that each section of the society reaps effective benefits.

Credits for the pictures used : MustShareNews and SG News Yahoo