By: Adriel Madamba
Have you ever come across with the idea of globalization? Or have you even heard of the profound term? Well, to make matters short, globalization is basically the way a country incorporates their local economies, technology, military and cultural practices, languages, ideas, and strategies of development (particularly with popular culture) influencing the rest of the world. United States is indeed an example of a country that uses popular culture to enable a sense of globalizing in international places, with things like American-made music and films (Hip-Hop genre & action packed), Fast food restaurants (McDonalds), clothing lines (Levis), and other life’s essentials or convenience (Crothers). Since United States is pretty much known anywhere in the world, I have decided to analyze the ways in which China too has been a part of the globalization and popular culture industry. China currently influences majority of the Asian hemisphere, and to an extent towards the west as well; with Chinese views on economic growth (trade patterns), political factor, military development, technological devices (Shanzhai), and other assets to their culture (tools, arts, religion). Some of these examples of Chinese globalization will be further discussed in detail to depict how it uses each of these cultural traits to be a step closer of being the most dominant and powerful country in the world, or at least enough to compete with the giants of Russia and the United States.
Before moving on, some facts you might ought to know about China is it’s the fourth largest country in the world and populates roughly more than a 1,000,000,000 civilians(McKinsey). This gets to show you how humungous the Chinese culture might ought to be. As for other intriguing facts, with the rapidly booming economic growth in china, by 2020, 40 billion square meters of floor space will be built (50,000 of skyscraper buildings)(McKinsey). The idea of this depicts the supremacy and wealth China has to offer and capable of gaining in the near future. Now, going back to the influencing factors of China, I would like to begin with their technology. One of the many popular products or now what is considered to be a Chinese lifestyle is called Shanzhai. Shanzhai is primarily like a black market, where electronic products like cell phones, lap tops, tablets, and mp3s are similar to the real marketed products.(Taylor) They are actually made from village workshops, and aren’t as superb as the real gadgets, but still manage to be a successful hit among the Chinese population. Shanzhai has become such a fad that majority of the people supports it and it saves a lot of money and will generally keep people connected with what’s going on in the mainstream culture (affordability). Believe it or not, Shanzhai has also reached international markets, like in the United Kingdom, Africa, South America, and even in America (rare)(Taylor). This whole Shanzhai influence can fall under the term of cultural hybridity because like one of their Chinese programmers had said “There are two levels of design in China, the first is to copy the western market, and the second is to exceed what they’ve done.” (Johnson)So in other words, although they may be getting ideas from the other side of the world, they technically innovate those technology products and meets it demands of, not only in the people in China, but as well as in the United Kingdom and Southern countries. Consequently, satisfaction and profit is gained, just because these programmers and engineers know how to create the possibility of affording a modern device at a reasonable price range (Supply and Demand).
Religion has always been a central portion of peoples lives, and in China, they consider Buddhism and Confucianism as their most popular ones they abide to(Canright). Going back in to ancient times (dynasty ages, 200 A.D.), Japan was heavily influenced by the Chinese, ever since they migrated and bestowed on their territory("Buddhist Studies"). The Chinese culture then introduced their belief system, and eventually forced Japanese civilians to learn and live by it. Buddhism wasn’t really an amusing religion to the Japanese, and therefore adopted Confucianism more. Also in the 16th and 17th centuries, it has been recorded that in the West, Jesuits studied Confucianism, and actually translated some of its philosophical Confucian writings("Buddhist Studies"). Consequently this sparked the beginning of Confucianism access for those Europeans who were attracted. This can be considered as a cultural change for the West because it provokes the idea of associating new values and beliefs to the traditional ones in Christianity. Buddhist imagery has become a modern pop culture, such examples include the Dalai Lama’s image was used in a campaign celebrating leadership by Apple Company, and advertisements in magazines used Tibetan backgrounds for perfume sales("Shakya").
Chinese linguistics and writing, like Cantonese and their traditional Chinese calligraphy or characters, also influenced the Japanese writing system and language. Kenneth, Lieberthal, a professor from the University of Michigan stated “ China is being mentioned everywhere in relation to everything from business, international affairs, even on the war terror. You buy things in the store, they’re made in China” (Groth).So in other words, what he is saying is that learning more about China, more specifically their mandarin language, will indeed become a benefit for the future because with clear communication with other successful countries will only lead to improvements of societies, politically, economically, environmentally, and so forth. Statistics even claim that in the United State, 24,000 students are exposed to the Chinese language(Robolen), and I believe that the numbers will steadily grow in the coming years. In addition, President Bush did indeed mention and spent millions of dollars to invest in multiple classes that teaches Mandarin or Cantonese as a critical language; it’s up there with Arabic(Robolen). Interestingly, although Chinese is accustomed to speaking Cantonese or Mandarin, citizens are considering English, as their second language(Aratani).
So now going back to ancient Japan’s rebuilding stage, their own government took place all because of the structured and constant language system they had established. This can depict the idea of the fear that once was instilled in the minds of the Japanese because they were afraid of the initiative of brainwashing and total replacement of what they already knew what their origin was. Japanese government also followed the Chinese method of organization of the Imperial Court (titles, ranks, and practices from Confucianism)("Facts About Japan"). In addition, the thought of “City-Planning” originating from China, also played a big role in constructing supposed boundary lines and irrigation systems for specific cities. ("Facts About Japan")
To be a part of a globalization movement, you must need consistent trading patterns with the help of trans-national corporations for your country. Why? because Trans-national corporations support a country’s economic and political dominance or growth(Crothers ). It also helps control the mobility and intricacy of their operations. Moreover, these trans-national corporations solidify the chances of preventing competition; reduce costs through foreign labor, more reliance on countries local products, and cutting taxes. So, with thorough research, I came across with some companies that are globally known, such as Microsoft and Kodak, are two businesses being integrating factors of China’s globalization. Profit statistics include 95 percent of Microsoft Market Shares and 50 percent of it in the Kodak Film Market("People's Daily"). Speaking of the film market, marital arts movies captured and predisposed the West’s take on Hollywood production significantly. With rising Chinese movies actors and actresses, more Chinese style of fighting cinemas are getting more popularized by the general public. A film that displays such cultural identity is Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, which essentially a film that promoted ideological meaning and emotional of cultural traits of martial arts and love(Tung ). Being New York Film School Alum, he manages to culturally hybrid a sense of western and Chinese martial arts mashed up as one. (Tung )
I also want to include the fact that, there is a guarantee we all used “paper” at least once in our lives, and it’s seen everywhere. Well, did you know that China invented the paper and its machinery? A Chinese native name Cai Lun in 105 A.D. introduced papermaking, and then started to widely spread in Korea and Vietnam during the 3rd century, and to the West in the 8th century(“Chinese Paper Invention”). Now with trade and foreign investments, China’s recent growth helped Japan & India from recessions by exporting local goods to their neighbors. This type of businesses primarily was being sold at steady and sometimes excessive pace. China also has brought American companies new markets and a sense of steady balance, due to fact that cheaper Chinese products usually help out the poorer Americans affordability. Some significant data includes that 10 of the 40 tech companies on Wall Street, are Chinese firms, and majority of them are raking in billions of dollars (Brookes).
People around the world, like the United Kingdom, United States, and other Asian neighbors (Taiwan), is starting to pick up China’s way of practicing direct foreign investment. Direct foreign investments mainly consist of cheap labor costs and tax incentives, despite the unfortunate less benefits for local workers (low pay wages)(Sutter) This is a benefit particularly for U.S. because it determines how the global competition reacts, if consumers are purchasing less-expensive products, its only obvious to lower down prices on goods because more are willing to buy it.
China also has purchases some U.S. treasury bonds, which in turn prevented any more budget declines or trade disadvantages ("Market Watch"). It has also been researched and clarified that much of the world’s electronic devices are being made there (IBM and Haier Companies), and a lot of international engineers are migrating to China all because of success in manufacturing technological products has not been failing recently ("Market Watch"). China also has been a part of foreign institutions like international accounting standards in Britain and U.S., military systems in France, bank structures and regulations in South Korea, Singapore, Latin America, Philippines, and Taiwan("WDLC"). Entirely speaking, China is rising and influencing their success all thanks to their political stability, free trade, and free investment.
Conclusively, China can be undoubtedly considered as one of the driving force icons of globalization, I mean just look at their success they have already and yet to attain. If China continues to do these types of factors; spreading more of the Shanzhai culture, Mandarin or Cantonese language and calligraphy, Buddhism, Mixed-Martial Arts films, distribution of paper, the openness of international investments and agreements, and any sort of Chinese identity, they will be atop of the global market in terms of money making and influential credentials. China is shaping in to what may be an idealistic country, society, and globally known culture, with comparison to America. China may not be as immense or massive as what America has done for the world, but its darn close to it. It is only a matter of time that China will be a Mecca of mutual benefits and an affluent place for other countries. Thus being said, its up to the rest of world to either be affiliated with their idea of globalization, or retreat from what China has to offer, and try to be an even enhanced “individualistic” country.
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