The Need for Geography Study in the Context of Today’s World

Geography entails the study of the earth and it’s atmosphere, as well as the human activities that it affects and is affected by – a great portion of this has to do with the distribution of populations and resources and political and economic activities. It seems that in the last in century, the advent of globalization has become increasingly prevalent and distinct changes to our daily lives have been seen as a result.

The leaps and bounds that have been traversed in the fields of science and technology have made communication far easier, coupled with the internet that has streamlined the spread of information across borders. This has, in turn, given way to a phenomenon known as the time-space compression: the set of processes that cause the relative distances between places (i.e., as measured in terms of travel time or cost) to contract, effectively making such places grow “closer”. The term was coined by David Harvey in 1989 in an attempt to address the fact that “societies are stretched across time and space and how they interacted with each other, that is, how different relational geographies have been constructed and how they changed over time, and what these changes meant for the people who made these processes unfold”. It has been argued, however, that this relationship has made geography somewhat redundant in an age where borders are often only cited in territorial disputes, and virtual interconnectedness governs our lives. This essay attempts to explore the accuracy of this statement with regard to its implications within the social, cultural and economic spheres of our lives.

Before delving into this, it’s important to first grasp the concept of globalisation. David Held describes globalisation as “a process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions, generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks of activity, interaction and power”. From a practical perspective, it serves to start a discourse between different cultures.

With a chorus of diverse voices chiming in on different issues, one can argue that not everything is skewed towards praising or hailing one culture. The Institutionalist interpretation of globalisation holds an optimistic view of globalisation, positing that it would pave the way for cooperation and understanding between different cultures. Critics of this theory argue otherwise, that the process of cultural imperialism may set in, where the values, practices, and meanings of a powerful foreign culture are imposed upon one or more native cultures. In lieu of all this, overall it has been shown to enable growth in the breadth, intensity, speed and impact of world-wide interconnectedness.

Cultural Homogenisation

As one of the foundations of human existence, culture has a considerable weightage in how human interaction is conducted. Cultural differences can impede the ability of groups and individuals to communicate and cooperate, evidenced historically by many of the world’s bloodiest conflicts.

Many theorists have raised the idea that, as a result of globalisation, the world has moved some steps closer towards the creation of a single world culture. The impact that the internet has had on bridging the gaps between people from all across the world is undeniable. With each passing second, an unfathomable number of bytes of data are being exchanged through satellite transmissions, giving people of various cultures the ability to see how others live and also compare and contrast those living conditions and routines to their own. This may be in the form of, say, different cuisines, ideals and theisms. The significance of this interaction is that it gives way to one culture affecting the system of beliefs and norms of another culture as well as the opposite. Beynon and Dunkerley refer to a situation, coined “cultural hybridisation”, whereby elements of different cultures convergence (across many facets of life including: language, fashion, music etc.). It’s further argued that the elimination of cross-cultural differences works to the favours of Western powers, given their distinct advantage in terms of technological and economic resources in relation to other developing nations. A notable example of this occurrence is the world’s fixation on American pop culture. Blue jeans, soft drinks, movies, music and celebrity icons have become renowned the world over. The spread of American pop culture is a form of cultural globalisation that has resulted in cultural hybridisation.

Economic Homogenisation

Economic globalisation is another topic that has reached the forefront of world affairs. Global financial systems operate on a 24-hour cycle, in tune, ensuring a harmony where business operations can continue all over the world. A rise in free trade has also homogenised the products available in the market – in the long run, this may work to the effect of homogenising peoples’ behaviours as consumer.

Technological developments have bred an inequality between developed and developing countries. The setup of multi-national corporations (MNCs) in developing countries is a tactic that some nations may use to exercise control in that particular region, giving the MNCs the capability to exploit a country’s raw materials and in some cases, implement a degree of political influence. Furthermore, another downside of economic homogenisation is the massive demand for energy and natural resources, that it requires to keep subsisting; in the world’s current state of affairs, with the consequences of climate change looming, the after effects of resource exploitation would only add to global issues.

Political Homogenisation

Within the political landscape as well, there is also room for the homogenisation of political issues to take place – issues that are in need of addressing by a number of nations (major political shifts/divides and economic uncertainty, as well as war, drought, famine and other humanitarian issues) can be dealt with in a systematic way through channels such as the IMF and the UN. The setup of a dialogue between nations is key, in order to facilitate a streamlined approach to problem-solving. The recent climate change summits are an example of the impact of a combined effort. Also, by having an issue reach the world stage, a global awareness is fostered that can have a significant impact in the years to come.

On the other hand, we cannot dismiss the importance that geography has held in a time where the social climate is prone to drastic changes. The influence of America’s culture, as cited previously above, is a concern that many countries and cultures are intent on keeping distance from. This sentiment is also felt within the United States as Native American and indigenous groups have struggled to preserve their language and traditions, in response to the way modern consumerism and the mass media operate(s).

As the distinct lines between culture and lifestyles are being blurred, the need for preservation and the enrichment of one’s regional/national identity becomes ever more important. Human psychology’s intrinsic need to feel a sense of belonging has within a society is something to take into account, especially considering that this feeling is not something that can be easily replicated through technological interconnectivity.

Conclusion

All in all, it can be said that there is a need for geography and geographical study in the context of today’s world. While there are a great many benefits to be accrued from homogenisation, there are also a number of drawbacks (i.e exploitation, political leveraging, economic pressure). The drawbacks, however, are (to some degree) outweighed by the connotations of geographical constructs. By uniting the people of a particular region under a common identity (which may include languages, cuisines, styles of dressing), they’re less inclined to fall victim to the so-called ‘Americanisation’ of global cultures that Held mentions. As a result, some of the more harmful effects of globalisation are kept at bay, while also giving way to a newfound appreciation for one’s own cultural histories and facets.

List of References

• Beynon, J. and Dunkerley, D. (2014). Globalization: The Reader. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
• E-education.psu.edu. (2019). Geography’s Role in a Globalizing World | GEOG 571: Cultural Intelligence. [online] Available at: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog571/node/397 [Accessed 14 Nov. 2019].
• Ervin, J. and Smith, Z.A., 2008. Globalization: A reference handbook. ABC-CLIO.
• Forbes.com. (2019). Is Globalization Creating A Single World Culture. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/08/28/is-globalization-creating-a-single-world-culture/#264329bf3bd3 [Accessed 13 Nov. 2019].
• Greig, J. (2002). The End of Geography?. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 46(2), pp.225-243.
• Held, D., McGrew, A., Goldblatt, D. and Perraton, J., 2000. Global transformations: Politics, economics and culture. In Politics at the Edge (pp. 14-28). Palgrave Macmillan, London
• Tomlinson, J., 2012. Cultural imperialism. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Globalization.
• Warf, B., 2008. Time-space compression: Historical geographies. Routledge.