For example, I am part of a community with family, friends, Church, and a social sports club. I am also part of several communities online, such as the Rooster Teeth community, the Halo community, and the Microsoft Xbox live community.
Like a family, a community can be disrupted by unforeseen problems and events. Lately, communities must be extra aware and careful of the affects of globalization.
So how does globalization affect a community?
1. Advancements in Communication Technologies - now that the internet, cellphones, computers, and other sources of media have become common in most households, people are able to access endless amounts of information with the touch of a screen or the click of a mouse. The internet is the most important and useful hub of data the world has ever known. Forums, websites, blogs, emails, instant messenger, audio communications, and video communications like Skype, allow everybody and anybody to join online virtual communities. Although it is unlikely to ever meet a member of an online community in the real world, these communities still form relationships based off of people's interests. However, there is scepticism that online communities shut out people from the real world, destroying real relationships.
2. Advancements in Travelling Technologies - Because of today's fast paced world, travel has become relatively easier. This allows long distance relationships to form. For example, two good friends are split up by one friend moving across to the other side of the city. These people can still remain friends due to travel by car or other transit. They can also plan to meet at a curtain location at a curtain time of day to spend time together.
3. Transnational Organizations - Transnational Organizations can easily affect an entire community, creating new employment that attracts customers and workers alike. Shops, malls, food joints, car dealerships, etc. move into the area, attracted by the spike in population. Because of the Transnational company, the population can afford things they might not have been able to afford in the past. A new community has been created due to the arrival of the transnational organization.
Despite this sudden growth in the community, it isn't necessarily a good thing. Transnational organizations replace good paying jobs with minimum wage employment. Local businesses can be forced to close down because of the competitiveness of the transnational organization.
4. Immigration - Many immigrants enter a developed country such as Canada or the USA from India, China, Africa, and other parts of the world. Places like Canada are being overrun by immigrants. The sudden and drastic change in population can greatly affect a community already established in the area, due to the immigrant's different culture, beliefs, looks, or interests.
Now that the course is almost at a close, my awareness of the negative and positive affects of globalization have indeed changed and grown for the better. I support globalization, but I also support my community.
Hopefully this blog will also widen people's understanding of the global world around us.
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