Globalization Is a Good Thing

Vivian Becerra
Eng. 1A
9/14/08

Globalization Is a Good Thing

The Philippe Legrain’s essay explains the positives affects of globalizations on foreign countries, “In Defense of Globalization: Why Cultural Exchange Is Still an Overwhelming Force for Good Globalization.” He argues that globalizations enriches and enlarges all countries cultural repertoires. He identifies Western ideas as a good thing because it reshapes the way people view themselves and the world. I strongly agree with all his arguments of globalization because I can relate to what he is saying.

As the prominent philosopher Legrain put many counter ideas in to question like, “Just because someone is born in France does not mean that person can only aspire to speak French, eat French food, read French books, and so on.” Pg 209, Legrain/ In Defense of Globalization. Globalization increases individual freedom. Everyone should be free to try out new things and expand their cultural enrichment. One example is studying abroad program that’s some colleges offer. What this means is that college students have the opportunity to travel to a different country and learn other from cultures and become more open minded. Although it is unfortunate that’s some people are not allowed to be different according to the country they live in. For example, Cuba is a communist country meaning that the people there are not allowed to be different and express their individuality, for example they way they dress. Compared to my case, I was born in America and I was able be bilingual, eat different kinds of foods and read and learn many languages. I was able to do so because the country that I live in is globalize.


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Western ideas are good ideas, argues Legrain. Think of what life would be like if
People did not get abolish slavery. All over the world people thought that owning a person was okay, it turns out it is not right. Even though slavery still exists in countries there are many attempts to stop it. It is now being called human trafficking and that is very threatening to society because it creates fear for people. This is an example of globalization because the idea of slavery was very common and when it was abolished it made people think of how they see themselves and others.

I strongly believe in globalization because I wouldn’t want to know a person who is identical as me. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone from their own region had the same clothes, ate the same thing. The world needs to conserve the traditions that one culture might have so they won’t disappear. At the same time we need to expand the cultural globalization to be more aware of or surroundings. In the west, we cast off old customs only if they are not relevant. For example, no one forces to shut down night clubs to bring back line dancing. People don’t see how different the world has become, and that is why I feel that globalization is a good thing to be more aware of our actions.

People around the world are seeing images in the media of people acting a certain way in the West and defining themselves but it should not be like that. First one is to learn how other countries culture before acting upon it. Although being born in a country does not symbolize who you are. This means that someone shouldn’t be forced to eat, talk or read the same. People gain more knowledge when they are multi culture by choice. It is okay to love foreign customs and only you can define who you are. As time pass the world is slowly changing but for the best. Thanks to cultural globalization people are enriching their lives and becoming more open minded about tolerance.

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Becerra, 4Works Cited Page:
Philippe Legrain. In Defense of Globalization: Why Cultural Exchange Is Still an Overwhelming Force for Good Globalization. New York: June Johnson: 2007: 209-14