One Big Global Culture

Is globalization good or bad? Even after our great discussion on this topic yesterday, I am still not sure there is a clear answer.  I recently read an article by Napier (2014) that identified another challenge related to globalization and health.  In the article, Napier (2014) states, “But as globalization continues, cultural diversity decreases, denying us not only the benefits of genuine differences, but also the different kinds of knowledge that characterized humanity in former times.”  Napier (2014) goes on to say, “what constitutes culture in a globalized world where differences are often only annoyances to be ameliorated and leveled?”  In other words, through globalization we are becoming more and more homogenous.  Additionally, difference is no longer a welcomed part of humanity.  It is a barrier or challenge. 

How do these thoughts relate to global health?  I think this prospective on globalization closely aligns with global health and raises some valid questions and concerns.  In fact, I think if Napier’s (2014) prospective is accurate globalization may have a major impact on global health. 

First, let’s consider what diminishing difference across people looks like and means.  Napier’s (2014) argument implies that we are moving from being uniquely distinct people with richly different cultures, to being one culture.  We are slowly evolving into one people.  I cannot deny that in some ways, this seems like an easy solution to some of the social issues that we are facing.  However, I am not sure that is an accurate prediction.  I will save my thoughts on that for another blog.  Instead, I think it presents some interesting challenges, especially related to global health.  Jacobsen (2013) provides some possible evidence of this evolution when she discusses the concepts of  “New World Syndrome”, “McDonaldization”, and “Coca-colonization” (Jacobsen, 2013, p 320).  More and more cultures around the world are adopting diets that consist of processed foods, fats, and sugars (Jacobsen, 2013).  Additionally, globalization has influenced the sharing of attitudes and perceptions about body image and breastfeeding (Jacobsen, 2013).  For example, the prevalence of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia has increased in non-Western societies (Jacobsen, 2013).

Second, what are the future implications of this idea of diminishing difference?  This could possibly result in fewer diseases that have a greater global impact, causing a shift in global health resource allocation.  In other words, preventing and controlling epidemics would become a major priority rather than diseases that affect just one particular part of the world.  A further consequence of this issue is that more diseases may become neglected as the focus shifts.

I return to my original question.  Is globalization good or bad?  I am not sure it can be classified in such black and white terms.  I think there are definitely some benefits that have resulted from globalization.  However, I think globalization may have some unintended consequences to global health.  As we become one global culture, who will be left out of this evolutionary process?  What will happen to the cultures that adopt these new habits? More importantly, what happens to the ones that do not?

Jacobsen, K. (2013).  Introduction to global health.  Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Napier, A. D., Ancarno, C., Butler, B., Calabrese, J., Chater, A., Chatterjee, H., & Woolf, K. (2014). Culture and health. The Lancet, 384(9954), 1607-1639.