The impact of globalization on Taiwan in the 21st century will be at least twofold -- one on traditional cultures and the other on relatively disadvantaged economies as well as disadvantaged classes, regions and ethnic groups (such as Aborigines) within each country. However, most theorists championing "internationalization" and "globalization" do not seriously distinguish between "neo-colonialist globalization" led by the Western world and "critical globalization," which rejects closed-mindedness but not traditions.
In fact, Western-led "globalization" has been in progress for years. It constitutes a comeback of old colonialist powers -- soon after their decline -- in the form of economic colonialism. What follows is an Anglo-American-centered pop culture. Soon after some non-Western countries (including Taiwan) made some gradual achievements in economic development, the West tried to suppress these new economic entities in the name of economic liberalization, strengthening their grip on other, less developed countries (including the exploitation of labor and other resources, and destruction of the environment.) The latest calls for globalization are a new strategy that took shape at a time when the West gradually had lost its absolute economic control and when cultural colonialism had claimed a major victory. Accepting these calls does not necessarily mean keeping abreast with the rest of the world. On the contrary, it amounts to falling into the sphere of Western cultural and economic powers.
A certain level of globalization is inevitable at a time when international relations have become increasingly intense. But that does not mean unilateral acceptance of Anglo-American or Western-centric globalization, which is by no means genuine globalization.
However, the globalization slogans currently popular in Taiwan are only aimed at economic globalization. While they sound extremely progressive and enterprising, they are not based on any cultural understanding. They follow in the footsteps of Western neocolonialist globalization.
Unfortunately, cultural colonialism has long stopped being an issue in Taiwan -- for rather ironic reasons. After tradition lost out in the Chinese-Western cultural debate, American-style (conservative) liberalism and contemporary American culture have become influential. Native activism and literary movements have tried to use socialist thinking to stem the destructive impact of modernization on tradition, but these movements were soon replaced by pro-American movements that worship modernization.
Finally, "post-modern" trends in the economic sphere again led to a "pluralistic cultural potpourri," misinterpreted as not setting up any defenses against Western commercial cultures. This caused the debate over cultural colonialism to die out in the hubbub.
However, the reality is that traditional cultures are rapidly disappearing, turning Taiwan into a "globalized" society where everything is led by commercialized capitalist values. In other words, Western neo-colonialist globalization is almost complete in Taiwan. If the teaching of the English language in lower grades is implemented with no complementary measures to get students firmly rooted in native cultures, then Taiwan is not far off from becoming another Singapore (where the number of people who can speak Mandarin or other Chinese languages is decreasing) or another Philippines (where English-language cultures have become the single greatest influence in the upper class and the country's native-language cultures are put on the back burner).
However, economic monopolization in the name of globalization -- as promoted by the WTO -- further strengthened the clouds that obscure economic, social and environmental justice in both international and domestic spheres. That was also why the Seattle and Bangkok meetings were met with large-scale protests. Despite this, no proactive policy has been made in Taiwan in response to the possible impact on the livelihood of middle and lower-class people.
Therefore, what Taiwan needs is definitely not the kind of globalization led by economic interests. Rather, it is a critical "global nativization" with cultural and humanitarian characteristics. We do not need to absorb more Anglo-American pop culture, but we need to revitalize traditional cultures and get them deeply rooted in their native soil. On this basis, we can then open our heart to the whole world (especially the many cultures we are not familiar with) and start an all-round cultural dialogue. In this way, we can avoid the blinkers imposed by Anglo-American or Western perspectives, as well as an unconscious, internalized colonization. We can also expand our viewpoints and become truly open-minded global citizens. Economic globalization should stop following law-of-the-jungle logic of capitalist expansionism.
Instead, it should slow down its blind pursuit of growth, look from the viewpoint of the weak, and contribute more actively to social, economic and environmental justice in the international as well as domestic spheres.
Liao Hsien-hao (
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