Verified Document

Racism And Prejudice In The Age Of Globalization Essay

The Continuum of Globalization Discourse on globalization has flourished in contemporary scholarship, even though the actual forces and phenomena shaping patterns of world trade and the interchange of ideas and culture have extended deep into human history. Technology has invariably shaped the new wave of globalization, with public policy and international interdependency creating formal, legal pathways of global integration. Even as information sharing and intercultural communication have created the means by which to engage in universal, shared discourse on ethics, human rights, and social justice, destructive forces like racism and prejudice threaten to undermine the benefits globalization presents to the modern and future world. In spite of the resurgence of xenophobia and protectionism in some regions, globalization has overall led to the inevitable and unavoidable dismantling of prejudice and racism worldwide.

Discursive Shifts

Discourse on race and ethnicity has undergirded public perceptions, points of view, policies, and practices. The modern era and the rise of the secular nation-state as the fundamental building block of the geo-political landscape brought with it a newfound interest in race, ethnicity, and other rather arbitrary boundaries between societies that had throughout history maintained continuity or cohabitation within the same geographic and temporal fields (Bosworth, Bowling & Lee, 2008). This is not to say that barriers between races, socioeconomic classes, language groups, and subcultures did not define the social order; of course such hierarchies existed and created systematic stratification and formalized oppression and subordination. However, the brand of globalization that flourished in the post World War Two era had a means of showcasing human unity and universal human norms. Perhaps it was the horrors of the First and Second World Wars that first alerted the human public as a whole to the dangers of fragmentation and prejudice. Likewise, technology in fields like transportation and communication created newfound pathways of social and cultural exchange that...

Resulting discursive practices changed, changing the ways people perceived themselves and their role in the world.
The concept of race and ethnicity in the context of globalization can actually be traced to the sixteenth-century and the first real wave of globalization that occurred as the result of exploration and later, imperialism, colonialism, conquest, and subsequent othering (Thomas & Clarke, 2013). Othering was not just iterated in negative means, but also in equally as problematic concepts like Orientalism and the myth of the noble savage. Instead of viewing other cultures as being potential partners in achieving mutual goals, globalization often led to the imposition of power upon societies for exploitation and dominion. Colonization was also grounded in religious and political discourse and its presumed superiority—European colonization but also colonization by other globalizing regimes such as the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, racial discourse and globalization have gone hand in hand for centuries, at least since the first wave of globalization.

Racist discourse flourished in the nineteenth century, especially as it became insidiously fused with the principles of science and empiricism (Thomas & Clark, 2013). The misappropriation of Darwin’s evolutionary theories provided the sinister underpinnings of ardent, radical nationalism and racist political practices—the most obvious of which is Nazism. As anthropology and other social sciences since revealed the spurious connection between biology and race, globalization became much more about economic policy and labor economics than about race or ethnicity.

Migration and Movement

Globalization is partly defined by human population migration, to promote economic interests. Population migration and immigration have dominated recent discourse on globalization and race. Starting in the nineteenth century especially, mass migration movements characterized the modern and post-modern worlds. With increased mobility due to advanced transportation networks, people from around the…

Sources used in this document:

References

Bello, V. (2014). Why prejudice is a global security threat. United Nations University Institute on Globalization, Culture, and Mobility. https://gcm.unu.edu/publications/articles/why-prejudice-is-a-global-security-threat.html

Black, S.E. & Brainerd, E. (2004). Importing equality? The impact of globalization on gender discrimination. ILR Review 57(4): 540-559.

Bosworth, M., Bowling, B. & Lee, M. (2008). Globalization, ethnicity, and racism. Theoretical Criminology 12(3): 263-273.

Kaya, Y. & Karakoç, E. (2012). Civilizing vs destructive globalization? A multi-level analysis of anti-immigrant prejudice. International Journal of Comparative Sociology 53(1): 23-44.

Thomas, D.A. & Clarke, M.K. (2013). Globalization and race. Annual Review of Anthropology 42(2013): 305-325.


Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Racism and Various Forms How Does an
Words: 2589 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

Racism and Various Forms How does an understanding of racism in its various forms inform the counseling professional practice? Racism is regarded as the negative feelings exercised by one ethnic group towards other individuals belonging form a different group. The brutality and attitude towards the group is observed in the behaviors and attitudes of individuals and members of certain group causing major issues in terms of their religious, social, color, or descent.

Racism the Discussion of Racism Was Indeed
Words: 2273 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Racism The discussion of racism was indeed insightful and one of the discussion points raised was whether or not racism would always exist in society -- in some shape or form. This is indeed an intriguing idea, because looking back on world history, racism fundamentally has existed in some shape or form throughout society. As one participant explained, cultural and social norms are always going to vary from place to place

Society's Negative View of Aging Ageism Compared to Racism and Sexism...
Words: 1721 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Society's Views Of The Aging Populace This is not an undisclosed secret that the contemporary society is obsessed with beauty and perfection. A world in which no one ever gets sick, crops and animals grow faster and better and parents choose the physical features of their children sounds great. This perfect way of life has been made possible due to the advancements in genetic engineering. However, this technological modification has both

Overcoming Workplace Prejudice
Words: 645 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Prejudice Reducing Prejudice in the Workplace All forms of prejudice exist in the workplace, with some more apparent than others. Leaders recognize the potential scenarios where prejudice and bigotry can fester and grow, and often define counterattack strategies to these problems by bringing greater involvement and ownership of team success (Kirby, Richard, 2000). Prejudice blinds peers, superiors and subordinates from the inherent valuable contributions of employees regardless of their race. And prejudice

Development of Prejudice in Individuals
Words: 1879 Length: 7 Document Type: Research Paper

Prejudice in Individuals: Prejudice is the rigid irrational attitudes and opinions possessed by individuals or members of a specific group about another individual or group. Consequently, being prejudiced is defined as having preconceived beliefs regarding some people groups or cultural practices. In addition to being preconceived and difficult to change, prejudices can be positive or negative. While is possible to be prejudiced and fail to act upon the beliefs or

Analyzing the Social Cultural Diversity
Words: 2609 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Social and Cultural Diversity The U.S.A. is widely viewed as a unifying state in which immigrants are accommodated and assimilated into the largely 'white' dominant socio cultural structure. This principle has allowed the country to facilitate a friendly environment for the nation to sustain a pluralistic perspective. The immigrants retain and maintain their beliefs and ideals even as they adjust their lives to be practically functional in their new American society.

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now