Several factors determine the American primacy in defining identity in globalization. This country has the most significant cultural and technological influence on the global world due to its high level of development in various spheres of activity. At the same time, the superiority of the U.S. in the definition of identity is a factor causing discontent among some people. Thus, there are movements against globalization according to the current model, which is nevertheless in the minority. An example of an aggressive protest against the predominance of the U.S. in the globalization process is JosĂ© BovĂ©’s protest in the form of the demolition of the McDonald’s building.
JosĂ© BovĂ©’s protest was against the decisive economic role of the United States, symbolized by McDonald’s. In this case, there is a typical feature of the action of the opponents of U.S. influence by attacking the symbols of globalization defined by anti-globalists. At the same time, anti-globalists do not focus on the actual causes of the problems associated with globalization and ignore the benefits of this process. It is necessary to mention that there are more than 700 such restaurants in France and that BovĂ© was educated in California. Hence, the popularity of American establishments in other countries demonstrates the positive attitude of the population toward the role of the U.S. in globalization. The use of the benefits of globalization by anti-globalists indicates the lack of rationality in fighting against the decisive role of the U.S. in defining identity. Therefore, protests against the influence of the U.S. in using the benefits derived from this country confirm the existence of actual reasons for U.S. primacy in determining the process of globalization.
In the context of my personal views on globalization, this case demonstrates the ambiguity of people’s perception of the process. Globalization seems, at first sight, to be exceptionally positive since it allows the sharing of cultures and achievements among the entire planet. However, some opponents of globalization oppose the excessive influence of certain countries, in this case, the United States. In this aspect, the opponents of globalization are primarily concerned with social and economic inequality. Forms of protest are often irrational, an example of which is JosĂ© BovĂ©’s protest against globalization. Therefore, the information about this incident is somewhat at odds with my perception of globalization as a beneficial process.
Globalization is a process with significant benefits for the entire planet. The United States’ decisive role in this process is determined by its ability to disseminate the achievements of culture and science. Nevertheless, the perception of the influence of this country and the need for globalization varies. The case of JosĂ© BovĂ© demonstrates that the opponents of globalization are ready to protest actively, even with the benefits coming from the United States. Thus, the achievements of the U.S. in various spheres of activity are one of the essential elements of globalization, despite the presence of opponents of the determining role of this country in global development.
Bibliography
Croucher, Sheila. Globalization and Belonging: The Politics of Identity in a Changing World. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
Lieber, Robert J., and Ruth E. Weisberg, “Globalization, Culture, and Identities in Crisis.” International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society 16, No. 2 (Winter 2002): 273–296.