Globalization Essay

Jasmine Cameron
Assignment 3 (hard copy)

Globalization & McDonaldization
Globalization is a broad complicated topic containing many definitions and sub-categories. For the purpose of this paper we will be discussing some of the more radical and less studied, or known aspects of globalization “Glocalization” and “Grobalization” discussed extensively throughout Ritzer's book “The McDonaldization of Society.” I will be providing a brief definition of the two providing examples as well as theory behind the relation of the two sects of globalization pertaining to something versus nothing.
Firstly, let's discuss briefly the definition and history of globalization. Globalization in simplest terms is the integration of international free market systems and the global economy. It's basically a process in which major U.S corporations can easily tap into cheap foreign labor by invading the global economy and cultures of foreign underdeveloped countries. For example, the World Wide Web, cellular technologies, transportation, retail, and fast food are all major players in globalization. Where glocalization and grobalization popularized by sociologists' Roland Robertson (glocalization) and George Ritzer (grobalization) delve deeper in to the process of globalization and how it affects global society. Let's first discuss the term glocalization both the meaning as well as, the idea behind the glocalization of something versus the glocalization of nothing.
Glocalization is basically the integration between globalization and localization. In other words, it's where an otherwise predictable standardized system such as; McDonald’s adapts its products to adhere to the preferences, or culture of the locals within a particular region, while still adhering to the standards of the corporation. For example, in India (one of the many countries in which McDonald's has integrated into) the majority of the population does not eat beef because of religious views, so the burgers are made out of lamb instead of beef. Another example of glocalization would be Oregon and Washington's own Burger Ville. The business is designed in almost every aspect to be exactly like a McDonald's following every process of McDonaldization to a T, yet it is very popular within the Pacific North West because of its glocalized way of doing fast food. For instance, the majority of the food comes from local ranchers and farmers, they are big on using compostable packaging, recycling, and focus greatly on sustainability. Now let's take a look at glocalization and something versus nothing. The glocalization of something would be the more indigenous form of gloclaization, stemming from local culture. Something can also be described as a more substantial and meaningful form of glocalization. Where, the nothing side of glocalization severely lacks any sort of deeper meaning or substance, it's literally nothing. For example, we can look at state parks, travel, music, museums, protected wildlife areas, etc. as being on the something spectrum of glocalization because they provide us with substance and deeper meaning while, still compiling within the standardized system. The glocalization of nothing is the process where something becomes in such high demand that it ends up turning into nothing because once everyone wants a piece of the something it becomes more readily available in order to meet the growing demand, thus taking away from the original meaning and substance

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