Introduction
Globalization is the increased global economic, people and cultural relationship. It may also be viewed as global distribution of services and goods production. There are several barriers to globalization, but they are mainly determined by respective regions, for instance, social and legal barriers among others.
This paper discusses the effects of American media on social and legal barriers to globalization. Furthermore, it highlights resistance to globalization and its nature. Moreover, it also highlights factors that cause resistance to globalization among Muslim dominated regions, for instance, Middle East. American media positively influences globalization leading to controlled resistance to globalization in Muslim dominated areas.
Globalization leads to effective coordination of resources from different regions hence effective production growth in the global industries. It also leads to exchange of knowledge and ideas. American media plays an important role in globalization being the nation with one of the strongest economies globally (Arango, 2008).
However, American role in globalization is greatly affected by social and legal barriers to globalization in certain areas especially Muslim dominated areas. Legal procedures and social values differ in different areas leading to legal and social barriers to globalization. Legal procedures and social values of certain communities in the globe support globalization while others hinder globalization (Murphy, 2007).
Despite differentials in social values and legal procedures in different areas or regions, American media plays an important role in trying to create a fair environment for globalization in all regions irrespective of their social and legal barriers to globalization through promotion of their cultures and values. American media have greatly assisted in harmonizing social values and legal procedures through entertainment among others (Murphy, 2007).
There are several regions that American media have played a great role in globalization by positively countering legal and social barriers to globalization, for instance, the Muslim world. After the September 11th attack in the United States, and attack on Iraq by United States soldiers due to al-Qaida connection with the country, Muslim perception of the United States changed negatively and perceived United States as a Muslim enemy (Arango, 2008).
However, the American media have greatly played a role in promoting globalization through its values and cultures incorporated in entertainment and movies among other Medias. American media have effectively countered social barriers to globalization in the Muslim world through its entertainment and movie industry leading to acceptance of globalization by the region. Socially, the region does not embrace globalization because they fear it can ruin their cultural values (Arango, 2008).
Basically, countries in the Middle East resist globalization because they fear control by the United States due to their perception and relation with the country. The resistance is generally based on their perception of the United States and not globalization itself. Furthermore, most Muslim regions and nations believe that globalization might lead to direct interaction with the United States yet they consider it their enemy hence the strong resistance (Arango, 2008).
However, resistance to globalization by the Muslim community is not due to the nature of globalization and its negative effects as may be alleged, but their perception of the United States and fear of direct relation with the country due to globalization. Therefore, resistance to globalization by the region is not genuine in relation to the effects of globalization, but the media have played a great role in countering the social barrier to globalization in the region hence promoting it to the expense of the barrier (Murphy, 2007).
Resistance to globalization by the region is negative because it may negatively affect the region economically and or socially. Generally, globalization opens up trade and allows sharing of resources through trade and world market. Furthermore, it also promotes technological status of different countries leading to adoption of better production methods. It also improves economies of countries that embrace it because it increases economic activities leading to economic growth and development (Arango, 2008).
However, resistance of globalization hinders increment of economic activities, and may lead to slow economic growth and or economic inferiority due to lack of effective and modern production methods. Resistance to globalization by the region, especially the Middle East, being a Muslim dominated area may negatively affect economic growth and development of the region (Murphy, 2007).
Resistance to globalization by the region may also affect it negatively socially. Globalization not only improves economic status, but also social well being of the globe and peaceful coexistence. Resisting globalization may hinder peaceful coexistence with the rest of the global community due to lack of understanding of the other communities and their values.
It may also affect interaction between the region and the global community hence ends up in isolation. Furthermore, globalization promotes communal existence, but resistance may lead to isolation from the global community union. Therefore, resistance to globalization may not only affect the region economically, but socially too negatively (Arango, 2008).
Conclusion
Globalization leads to peaceful coexistence and even economic development. It also leads to sharing of resources. There are barriers to effective globalization, for instance, social and legal barriers among others. However, American media have played a great role in controlling effects of the social and legal barriers to globalization leading to effective globalization in the globe irrespective of the region and their perception of American people.
References
Arango, T. (2008, November 30). World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America. Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/business/media/01soft.html
Murphy, P. D. (2007). Media and Democracy in the age of Globalization. Albany: State University of New York Press.