| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | it’s hard to conclude whether the overall effect |
| The issue concerning whether the Internet plays a | | | | of the Internet is homogenizing. However, it can be |
| pivotal role in globalization is a highly contentious and | | | | clearly stated that the Internet does marginalize those |
| debatable topic. Globalization, often defined as the | | | | who are unable to use this medium. |
| integration of economic capital markets and culture | | | | As usage of the Internet becomes more popular, the |
| throughout the world is seen as a concept that has | | | | debate of homogenizing culture is fiercely debated. |
| both negative as well as positive benefits. The rate of | | | | Some academics argue that because the Internet |
| growth in the globalization of nations and geographical | | | | benefits the rich and the educated, those who are able |
| regions is seen to be heavily assisted by the speed of | | | | to use the Internet usually have a level of mental |
| information knowledge that the Internet provides. | | | | capability, thus, the homogenizing of culture is only |
| However, although in theory, the sharing of knowledge | | | | applicable to a limited extent. For example, the Bengali |
| is supposedly to be beneficial towards the | | | | tribes in Bangladesh practice sustainable living and do |
| development of humanity, the Internet also provides a | | | | not value the knowledge that is presented on the |
| pathway to homogenizing culture and creating an | | | | Internet. They view the Internet as a very negative |
| unequal playing field for developing nations. This | | | | form of communication, as personal contact is not |
| argument can be clearly seen in case studies of Asian | | | | made. Members of the Bengali tribe live by the Hindu |
| nations, especially in Thailand. Hence, the use of | | | | religion and everyone in the tribe has a certain role. |
| Internet and the growth of businesses on the Internet | | | | Thus, the tribe as a whole is self-sufficient and |
| have increased, the question raised is that although | | | | members do not feel the need to adopt the values |
| technology has advanced communication and | | | | and the teachings’ of the Internet. |
| knowledge, has this benefit affected people living in | | | | Furthermore, indigenous Tibetans are another example |
| developing countries, or has the gap between the rich | | | | where the knowledge of the Internet does not reach |
| and the poor widened? | | | | the people. Due to their belief of the Buddhist teaching |
| The Internet is a unique form of media. It has the | | | | of the Livelihood, they believe in living in harmony with |
| power to reach many but this is affected by factors | | | | their surrounding land. Members of these indigenous |
| such as financial status, technological skill, knowledge, | | | | communities do not believe in the Internet as they |
| and the desire for the medium. The Internet is not | | | | would argue that the computer is a want and not a |
| necessarily appropriate or possible for everyone to | | | | need. Hence, in considering the issue of whether the |
| have, and in a country like Thailand, it can be clearly | | | | Internet is a tool for the homogenization of culture, |
| seen that the less fortunate have been marginalized, | | | | although some would say yes’ due to |
| especially the uneducated and those from rural areas. | | | | developing Asian nations becoming westernized due to |
| For example, seventy percent of Thailand’s | | | | propaganda on the Internet, others would argue that |
| Internet users are concentrated in The Bangkok | | | | only Asian communities that have already been |
| Metropolitan Area (Hongladaron, 2003) and only four to | | | | westernized use the Internet. These academics would |
| five percent of Rural Thailand has access to the | | | | argue that some Asian communities, especially those in |
| Internet. In a few of his articles the scholar | | | | indigenous tribal communities, would not use the |
| Hongladaron has also discussed the marginalization of | | | | Internet because of their cultural paradigm, hence the |
| rural Thai citizens. Hongladaron states the benefits of | | | | Internet community is already focused on just one |
| the Internet, but then confirms from his research that | | | | group of culture with one group of people sharing a |
| because these benefits are only accessible by the | | | | common belief: that the Internet is a useful |
| wealthy, hence, due to the poor being marginalized, the | | | | tool’. |
| Internet can be considered to be a discriminatory form | | | | Finally, it is not disputed that the Internet is a place of |
| of medium. However, Hongladaron also argues that | | | | information sharing’ and this sharing of |
| the Internet does not homogenize cultures. He states | | | | knowledge could lead to certain ideologies being more |
| that the relation between computer-mediated | | | | prominent and change the thoughts and practices of |
| communication technologies and local cultures is | | | | other cultures. However, many would argue that |
| characterized neither by a homogenizing effect, not by | | | | although this is inevitable on the Internet, the Internet |
| an erecting of barriers separating one culture from | | | | cannot control the lifestyle of a person’s life and |
| another. (Hongladaron, 1998). Hongladaron came to | | | | beliefs, thus the Internet can only present another |
| a conclusion about the Internet homogenizing culture, | | | | person’s discourse, but cannot force a |
| but only to a limited extent. With limited information | | | | person’s ideology to change. |
| being available on the ways that Thai people interact | | | | Bibliography and References Used: |
| on the Internet, or view the Internet as a medium, | | | | Cooper Wesley 2004. |